Titans Rally Past Colts 26-20
By Brian Hradsky
The Tennessee Titans defeated the Indianapolis Colts 26-20 on Sunday at Lucas Oil Stadium, overcoming a 13-0 halftime deficit to earn their first victory of the season. Tennessee’s defense recorded six sacks and three takeaways, while a blocked-punt touchdown helped transform the second half. The Titans improved to 1-5, and Indianapolis fell to 2-4 after losing control of a game it had led comfortably.[1][2][4]
How the game turned
Joey Slye gave Tennessee a 23-20 lead with a 49-yard field goal with 2:03 remaining. He later added another field goal before the Titans’ defense supplied the final stop. Tennessee scored on all five of its second-half offensive possessions, demonstrating a level of sustained execution that had been missing during its winless start.[1][2]
The most dramatic special-teams play came when Julius Chestnut blocked a punt and Oluwafemi Oladejo returned it 14 yards for a touchdown. That score gave Tennessee a contribution beyond its offensive possessions and increased the pressure on Indianapolis to respond. The Titans’ official postgame notes identified it as the NFL’s first blocked-punt touchdown of the 2026 season.[2]
Key performances and context
Jeffery Simmons led the defensive effort with two sacks, a forced fumble and a fumble recovery. His disruption helped make an early Indianapolis advantage increasingly difficult to protect. Tennessee also avoided allowing a sack, giving the game a sharp contrast in how the two offenses handled pressure and protected their possessions.[3]
Indianapolis had limited Tennessee to 64 total yards in the first half, making the turnaround especially damaging. Jonathan Taylor lost a fumble on the Colts’ first play after halftime, and the mistakes continued to provide Tennessee opportunities. Cam Ward and Carnell Tate connected for a touchdown during the comeback, while the Titans combined offensive improvement with decisive work from their defense and kicking units.[2][4]
NFL Sports Blog Take
Tennessee finally produced the kind of complete response that can change the mood of a struggling team. The defense and special teams created momentum, but scoring on every second-half possession showed that the offense also earned its share of the win. Indianapolis must treat this as a broad execution problem, because a 13-point halftime lead should have put the Colts in position to control the finish.