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Michael Baca’s insights:

1. Indy’s ground game dominates the Titans. The Colts didn’t take advantage of their slim playoff chances, running the ball 50 times for a total of 335 yards to earn a seamless victory over a division rival. Run back Jonathan Taylor led the offense with 218 rushing yards and three touchdowns and exaggerated his confident handling of the ball at every score, echoing last week’s faux pas at the goal line. After the Colts’ offensive line opened up big lanes, Taylor ran 65- and 70-yard trots into the end zone virtually unscathed and might have had the best day of his career had he not been rested for much of the second half. Anthony Richardson was the bulldozer in short-yardage situations, rushing for 70 yards on nine carries (TD), and the second-year quarterback scored on Tennessee’s comeback attempt with a big 10-yard gain on third-and-8 in the final one Offensive possession. Aside from the Titans’ late charge, it was a harmonious day for the Colts due to a successful ground game, but they will need help from other teams to secure one of the AFC’s final two playoff spots.
2. Different QB, same problem for Titans. Bricklayer Rudolph the game started on the spot for Will Levisbut Tennessee’s offensive problems remained. Rudolph started well and got along well Calvin Ridley He scored the game’s first score with a deep TD pass, but he led a sputtering offense that totaled four three-and-outs, three of them in the first half. That doesn’t include Rudolph’s interception late in the second quarter, which gave the Colts a real blast and put them right in scoring position. His second pick in the third frame, which led to another touchdown, was part of an unanswered 38-point sequence by the Colts. The Titans got back into the game late with 23 unanswered points and scored three straight drives early in the third quarter, but the defense’s inability to stop the run ultimately prevented a miraculous comeback. Rudolph completed 23 of 34 passes for 252 yards with two TDs and three INTs – the last coming on the final play of the game – but each of his successes came too little, too late for a team seemingly looking forward to 2025.
3. Richardson wavers on the Tebow line. The Colts QB entered this game with a 47% completion rate, putting Tim Tebow’s record for qualified passers – 46.5% in 2011 – in jeopardy. Richardson hasn’t had to pass often thanks to a dominant rushing attack, but he improved his efficiency rate this season by completing 7 of 11 passes on Sunday. However, it was the INT he threw on the second drive of the game that really had coach Shane Steichen calling run plays most of the time. Richardson had a nice TD pass to end the second half – a short, decisive throw Josh Downswho galloped 27 yards untouched on a well-thought-out play call — but there was certainly a governor for the 22-year-old project. To avoid this Tebow line, Richardson will require greater accuracy in the coming weeks. He faces a solid Giants pass defense next week, but ends the season in Week 18 against the league-worst Jaguars.

Next-Gen Stats Insights for the Titans-Colts (via NFL Pro): Jonathan Taylor carried the ball 29 times for 218 yards and three touchdowns, posting a career-high +102 rush yards over expectations in Week 16 against the Titans, the third most of any player this season. Taylor recorded a top speed of over 21 mph on both explosive running touchdowns, two of his three fastest rushing speeds of the season.

NFL Research: The Colts’ 335 rushing yards against the Titans on Sunday broke the franchise team record of 299, set in Week 16 of the 1985 season.