The last game of the 2018 NFL regular season will decide the playoff fate of the competitors and could determine the division winner in the AFC South.
Houston’s loss to the Eagles in Week 16 dropped them to within a game of the Titans and Colts. With the Ravens losing in all tiebreaker scenarios, the winner of this game will take a wild card spot.
If Houston loses earlier in the day, Houston will fall from its perch as the division winner and become the second wild card entry behind the winner of the Sunday night game.
Houston plays at home against the Jaguars, who were expected to be the team on top at the end of the season. Instead, they will try to turn the Colts-Titans game into a title game.
In any event, the playoffs start Sunday night for these two teams led by rookie coaches. Tennessee made the playoffs last season, pulling off a wild-card upset of the Chiefs before their season ended in the next round.
Expectations were understandably higher for Mike Vrabel coming into this season. But injuries to Marcus Mariota and a weak set of receivers made his task more difficult. The Titans came up with game plans that started the fall of the Jaguars and shocked the Patriots along the way.
Indianapolis enters this game off a two-score, fourth-quarter comeback against the Giants. Andrew Luck is throwing the ball as well as ever, benefitting from a quarterback-friendly strategy of Frank Reich.
Marlon Mack’s emergence in the last quarter turned the Colts offense into one of the best-rounded headings into the postseason.
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Injuries and notes
Tight end Eric Ebron suffered a concussion in the Giants game. The team re-signed Eric Swoopes as insurance this week.
Colts center Ryan Kelly (neck) is also questionable.
Marcus Mariota left last week’s game with a stinger in his throwing arm. It sounds similar to the injury that numbed his hand earlier in the season. He is questionable, at best, for this week.
Coaching matchup
Neither of these first-year head coaches has done anything to make their bosses regret signing them. Indianapolis is especially pleased after being spurned at the last minute by Josh McDaniels.
Frank Reich is among those who doesn’t care if he wasn’t the first choice of the Colts. He has made excellent adjustments to his offense on the fly. As his defense rounds into shape, his team will be dangerous if they make it to the postseason.
Mike Vrabel’s game plans have been radically different, at least on the surface, week-to-week. His defense has shut down some potent offenses and his offense has had moments of invincibility.
But in between, both units have failed enough to make the Titans one of the most unpredictable teams in the league.
How to watch the Titans-Colts game
NBC will broadcast this game nationally. That means fans around the country can watch it for free on DirecTV Now.
DirecTV Now is a leading internet TV provider. With a simple USB connection, you can watch Sunday Night Football on your flat screen TV. You might also choose to watch it on your smartphone, tablet, or computer.
DirecTV Now, like Sling and Fubo TV, will send the live stream feed of this game to your favorite internet-connected device, anywhere you have a signal.
But life isn’t all about football. DirecTV Now, Sling, and Fubo TV include dozens of movie channels and entertainment networks in their basic, low-cost subscriptions. That means you can follow your favorite TV show or catch the latest releases anywhere you have internet.
Check out the DirecTV, Fubo TV, and Sling websites to sign up for a free trial and see why so many NFL fans have already torn up their cable and satellite contracts.
Read More: NFL Week 10 Game Preview: Jaguars at Colts
Who will win the Titans-Colts game?
Each of these teams has been surprising in its own way and has made it to this point largely under the radar. Tennessee has the home-field advantage, but Indianapolis has a, healthier and more experienced leader. That will be the difference Sunday night.
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