Blocked punt keys Colts' second-half implosion, fall 26-20 at home to Titans
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Blocked punt keys Colts' second-half implosion, fall 26-20 at home to Titans
Cameron Cocquyt, Indianapolis Star·Indianapolis Star
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2 min read
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Indianapolis Colts quarterback Daniel Jones (17) drops back to pass Sunday, Oct. 18, 2026, during the game against the Tennessee Titans at Lucas Oil Stadium in Indianapolis.
(Grace Hollars/IndyStar)
Indianapolis Colts wide receiver Deion Burks (80) pulls in a pass Sunday, Oct. 18, 2026, from quarterback Daniel Jones (17) during the game against the Tennessee Titans at Lucas Oil Stadium in Indianapolis.
(Grace Hollars/IndyStar)
Indianapolis Colts safety Jonathan Owens (38) gets a hug from his wife, Simone Biles, on Sunday, Oct. 18, 2026, ahead of the team’s game against the Tennessee Titans at Lucas Oil Stadium in Indianapolis.
(Grace Hollars/IndyStar)
The Tennessee Titans punt Sunday, Oct. 18, 2026, during the game against the Indianapolis Colts at Lucas Oil Stadium in Indianapolis.
(Grace Hollars/IndyStar)
Indianapolis Colts wide receiver Josh Downs (2) pulls in a pass and reaches the first down marker Sunday, Oct. 18, 2026, during the game against the Tennessee Titans at Lucas Oil Stadium in Indianapolis.
(Grace Hollars/IndyStar)
Indianapolis Colts fan Vicky Parks watches pregame activities Sunday, Oct. 18, 2026, ahead of the team’s game against the Tennessee Titans at Lucas Oil Stadium in Indianapolis.
(Grace Hollars/IndyStar)
Indianapolis Colts quarterback Daniel Jones (17) drops back to pass Sunday, Oct. 18, 2026, during the game against the Tennessee Titans at Lucas Oil Stadium in Indianapolis.
(Grace Hollars/IndyStar)
An Indianapolis Colts fan cheers Sunday, Oct. 18, 2026, during the game against the Tennessee Titans at Lucas Oil Stadium in Indianapolis.
(Grace Hollars/IndyStar)
Indianapolis Colts quarterback Daniel Jones (17) warms up Sunday, Oct. 18, 2026, alongside running back Jonathan Taylor (28) ahead of their game against the Tennessee Titans at Lucas Oil Stadium in Indianapolis.
(Grace Hollars/IndyStar)
Indianapolis Colts Blue pies a Tennessee Titans fan Sunday, Oct. 18, 2026, during a break in the game at Lucas Oil Stadium in Indianapolis.
(Grace Hollars/IndyStar)
Indianapolis Colts wide receiver Keenan Allen (10) can’t pull in a pass Sunday, Oct. 18, 2026, during the game against the Tennessee Titans at Lucas Oil Stadium in Indianapolis.
(Grace Hollars/IndyStar)
1/11
Indianapolis Colts photos vs Tennessee Titans in NFL Week 6
Indianapolis Colts quarterback Daniel Jones (17) drops back to pass Sunday, Oct. 18, 2026, during the game against the Tennessee Titans at Lucas Oil Stadium in Indianapolis.
(Grace Hollars/IndyStar)
1/11
Indianapolis Colts photos vs Tennessee Titans in NFL Week 6
Indianapolis Colts quarterback Daniel Jones (17) drops back to pass Sunday, Oct. 18, 2026, during the game against the Tennessee Titans at Lucas Oil Stadium in Indianapolis.
(Grace Hollars/IndyStar)
2/11
Indianapolis Colts photos vs Tennessee Titans in NFL Week 6
Indianapolis Colts wide receiver Deion Burks (80) pulls in a pass Sunday, Oct. 18, 2026, from quarterback Daniel Jones (17) during the game against the Tennessee Titans at Lucas Oil Stadium in Indianapolis.
(Grace Hollars/IndyStar)
3/11
Indianapolis Colts photos vs Tennessee Titans in NFL Week 6
Indianapolis Colts safety Jonathan Owens (38) gets a hug from his wife, Simone Biles, on Sunday, Oct. 18, 2026, ahead of the team’s game against the Tennessee Titans at Lucas Oil Stadium in Indianapolis.
(Grace Hollars/IndyStar)
4/11
Indianapolis Colts photos vs Tennessee Titans in NFL Week 6
The Tennessee Titans punt Sunday, Oct. 18, 2026, during the game against the Indianapolis Colts at Lucas Oil Stadium in Indianapolis.
(Grace Hollars/IndyStar)
5/11
Indianapolis Colts photos vs Tennessee Titans in NFL Week 6
Indianapolis Colts wide receiver Josh Downs (2) pulls in a pass and reaches the first down marker Sunday, Oct. 18, 2026, during the game against the Tennessee Titans at Lucas Oil Stadium in Indianapolis.
(Grace Hollars/IndyStar)
6/11
Indianapolis Colts photos vs Tennessee Titans in NFL Week 6
Indianapolis Colts fan Vicky Parks watches pregame activities Sunday, Oct. 18, 2026, ahead of the team’s game against the Tennessee Titans at Lucas Oil Stadium in Indianapolis.
(Grace Hollars/IndyStar)
7/11
Indianapolis Colts photos vs Tennessee Titans in NFL Week 6
Indianapolis Colts quarterback Daniel Jones (17) drops back to pass Sunday, Oct. 18, 2026, during the game against the Tennessee Titans at Lucas Oil Stadium in Indianapolis.
(Grace Hollars/IndyStar)
8/11
Indianapolis Colts photos vs Tennessee Titans in NFL Week 6
An Indianapolis Colts fan cheers Sunday, Oct. 18, 2026, during the game against the Tennessee Titans at Lucas Oil Stadium in Indianapolis.
(Grace Hollars/IndyStar)
9/11
Indianapolis Colts photos vs Tennessee Titans in NFL Week 6
Indianapolis Colts quarterback Daniel Jones (17) warms up Sunday, Oct. 18, 2026, alongside running back Jonathan Taylor (28) ahead of their game against the Tennessee Titans at Lucas Oil Stadium in Indianapolis.
(Grace Hollars/IndyStar)
10/11
Indianapolis Colts photos vs Tennessee Titans in NFL Week 6
Indianapolis Colts Blue pies a Tennessee Titans fan Sunday, Oct. 18, 2026, during a break in the game at Lucas Oil Stadium in Indianapolis.
(Grace Hollars/IndyStar)
11/11
Indianapolis Colts photos vs Tennessee Titans in NFL Week 6
Indianapolis Colts wide receiver Keenan Allen (10) can’t pull in a pass Sunday, Oct. 18, 2026, during the game against the Tennessee Titans at Lucas Oil Stadium in Indianapolis.
(Grace Hollars/IndyStar)
INDIANAPOLIS --- After another unsuccessful second-half drive, theColtslined up to punt from their own 37-yard line. After Indianapolis gave up 13 consecutive points, the game was now tied and beginning to unravel from beneath them in the fourth quarter. Indianapolis needed a play from its usually excellent special teams unit to stop the bleeding.
They got the opposite.
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AsRigoberto Sanchezbegan his punting motion, Tennessee's Julius Chestnut ran through the Indianapolis blocking making his way to Sanchez just as he made contact with the ball, blocking it clean and into the backfield. Emerging from the crowd,Oluwafemi Oladejoscooped up the loose ball and took it 14 yards for theTitans' touchdown.
Looking to get back on track, theColtsimploded on a routine special-teams play, and it proved to be pivotal. The Titans took the lead for the first time in the game and the Colts would not regain it.
The Titans' special teams unit nearly got to the previous two punts. Colts head coach Shane Steichen addressed the issue, and why it went unfixed, leading to the costly error.
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"It has to be (fixed), and of course we're going to look at that really freaking hard on this week," he said.
The absence of an in-game adjustment proved critical, at a time when the Colts needed the complete opposite.
After holding Tennessee scoreless for more than half the game, the Colts' defense and special teams were responsible for 20 straight Titans points.
Indianapolis Colts quarterback Daniel Jones (17) drops back to pass Sunday, Oct. 18, 2026, during the game against the Tennessee Titans at Lucas Oil Stadium in Indianapolis.
(Grace Hollars/IndyStar)
Indianapolis Colts wide receiver Deion Burks (80) pulls in a pass Sunday, Oct. 18, 2026, from quarterback Daniel Jones (17) during the game against the Tennessee Titans at Lucas Oil Stadium in Indianapolis.
(Grace Hollars/IndyStar)
Indianapolis Colts safety Jonathan Owens (38) gets a hug from his wife, Simone Biles, on Sunday, Oct. 18, 2026, ahead of the team’s game against the Tennessee Titans at Lucas Oil Stadium in Indianapolis.
(Grace Hollars/IndyStar)
The Tennessee Titans punt Sunday, Oct. 18, 2026, during the game against the Indianapolis Colts at Lucas Oil Stadium in Indianapolis.
(Grace Hollars/IndyStar)
Indianapolis Colts wide receiver Josh Downs (2) pulls in a pass and reaches the first down marker Sunday, Oct. 18, 2026, during the game against the Tennessee Titans at Lucas Oil Stadium in Indianapolis.
(Grace Hollars/IndyStar)
Indianapolis Colts fan Vicky Parks watches pregame activities Sunday, Oct. 18, 2026, ahead of the team’s game against the Tennessee Titans at Lucas Oil Stadium in Indianapolis.
(Grace Hollars/IndyStar)
Indianapolis Colts quarterback Daniel Jones (17) drops back to pass Sunday, Oct. 18, 2026, during the game against the Tennessee Titans at Lucas Oil Stadium in Indianapolis.
(Grace Hollars/IndyStar)
An Indianapolis Colts fan cheers Sunday, Oct. 18, 2026, during the game against the Tennessee Titans at Lucas Oil Stadium in Indianapolis.
(Grace Hollars/IndyStar)
Indianapolis Colts quarterback Daniel Jones (17) warms up Sunday, Oct. 18, 2026, alongside running back Jonathan Taylor (28) ahead of their game against the Tennessee Titans at Lucas Oil Stadium in Indianapolis.
(Grace Hollars/IndyStar)
Indianapolis Colts Blue pies a Tennessee Titans fan Sunday, Oct. 18, 2026, during a break in the game at Lucas Oil Stadium in Indianapolis.
(Grace Hollars/IndyStar)
Indianapolis Colts wide receiver Keenan Allen (10) can’t pull in a pass Sunday, Oct. 18, 2026, during the game against the Tennessee Titans at Lucas Oil Stadium in Indianapolis.
(Grace Hollars/IndyStar)
1/11
Indianapolis Colts photos vs Tennessee Titans in NFL Week 6
Indianapolis Colts quarterback Daniel Jones (17) drops back to pass Sunday, Oct. 18, 2026, during the game against the Tennessee Titans at Lucas Oil Stadium in Indianapolis.
(Grace Hollars/IndyStar)
1/11
Indianapolis Colts photos vs Tennessee Titans in NFL Week 6
Indianapolis Colts quarterback Daniel Jones (17) drops back to pass Sunday, Oct. 18, 2026, during the game against the Tennessee Titans at Lucas Oil Stadium in Indianapolis.
(Grace Hollars/IndyStar)
2/11
Indianapolis Colts photos vs Tennessee Titans in NFL Week 6
Indianapolis Colts wide receiver Deion Burks (80) pulls in a pass Sunday, Oct. 18, 2026, from quarterback Daniel Jones (17) during the game against the Tennessee Titans at Lucas Oil Stadium in Indianapolis.
(Grace Hollars/IndyStar)
3/11
Indianapolis Colts photos vs Tennessee Titans in NFL Week 6
Indianapolis Colts safety Jonathan Owens (38) gets a hug from his wife, Simone Biles, on Sunday, Oct. 18, 2026, ahead of the team’s game against the Tennessee Titans at Lucas Oil Stadium in Indianapolis.
(Grace Hollars/IndyStar)
4/11
Indianapolis Colts photos vs Tennessee Titans in NFL Week 6
The Tennessee Titans punt Sunday, Oct. 18, 2026, during the game against the Indianapolis Colts at Lucas Oil Stadium in Indianapolis.
(Grace Hollars/IndyStar)
5/11
Indianapolis Colts photos vs Tennessee Titans in NFL Week 6
Indianapolis Colts wide receiver Josh Downs (2) pulls in a pass and reaches the first down marker Sunday, Oct. 18, 2026, during the game against the Tennessee Titans at Lucas Oil Stadium in Indianapolis.
(Grace Hollars/IndyStar)
6/11
Indianapolis Colts photos vs Tennessee Titans in NFL Week 6
Indianapolis Colts fan Vicky Parks watches pregame activities Sunday, Oct. 18, 2026, ahead of the team’s game against the Tennessee Titans at Lucas Oil Stadium in Indianapolis.
(Grace Hollars/IndyStar)
7/11
Indianapolis Colts photos vs Tennessee Titans in NFL Week 6
Indianapolis Colts quarterback Daniel Jones (17) drops back to pass Sunday, Oct. 18, 2026, during the game against the Tennessee Titans at Lucas Oil Stadium in Indianapolis.
(Grace Hollars/IndyStar)
8/11
Indianapolis Colts photos vs Tennessee Titans in NFL Week 6
An Indianapolis Colts fan cheers Sunday, Oct. 18, 2026, during the game against the Tennessee Titans at Lucas Oil Stadium in Indianapolis.
(Grace Hollars/IndyStar)
9/11
Indianapolis Colts photos vs Tennessee Titans in NFL Week 6
Indianapolis Colts quarterback Daniel Jones (17) warms up Sunday, Oct. 18, 2026, alongside running back Jonathan Taylor (28) ahead of their game against the Tennessee Titans at Lucas Oil Stadium in Indianapolis.
(Grace Hollars/IndyStar)
10/11
Indianapolis Colts photos vs Tennessee Titans in NFL Week 6
Indianapolis Colts Blue pies a Tennessee Titans fan Sunday, Oct. 18, 2026, during a break in the game at Lucas Oil Stadium in Indianapolis.
(Grace Hollars/IndyStar)
11/11
Indianapolis Colts photos vs Tennessee Titans in NFL Week 6
Indianapolis Colts wide receiver Keenan Allen (10) can’t pull in a pass Sunday, Oct. 18, 2026, during the game against the Tennessee Titans at Lucas Oil Stadium in Indianapolis.
(Grace Hollars/IndyStar)
The Colts were able to string together an eight-play, 72-yard touchdown drive on the next possession to re-tie the score but that was the final bright spot of the afternoon and marked their lone scoring drive in the second half.
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As the Colts continued to struggle, the displeasure among fans grew louder and louder. It was an all-around abysmal half of football for Indianapolis, and the blocked punt seemed to be the catalyst that pushed the Colts to their breaking point in this divisional matchup.
