Titans vs. Colts: 5 Burning Questions

Only two weeks after sitting at 1-3, the Titans find themselves in the thick of the AFC South race as they ready for Indianapolis on Sunday (noon, WTVF-5).

A win against the Colts could land the Titans in a first-place tie if Houston loses at Denver on Monday.

This game is another opportunity for the Titans to make a statement, not only because they’ve lost nine straight to Indianapolis but also because Tennessee has gone 1-5 in the division in each of the past two seasons.

Here are five burning questions for the Titans as they prepare for the Colts:

Can the Titans finally stop the skid?

The Titans haven’t beaten the Colts in almost five calendar years, losing nine straight games dating to Oct. 30, 2011. Six of those games have been one-possession losses, and it’s hard to imagine any were more frustrating than last year’s 35-33 defeat in Nashville. In that game, the Titans led 27-14 with less than seven minutes remaining, only to see the Colts score three straight touchdowns in less than four minutes. Colts quarterback Andrew Luck led that miraculous rally, and he has a 7-0 career record against the Titans. Tennessee is an early 2.5-point favorite in this game.

Will the Titans’ 'D' feast on Luck?

The Colts are last in the league at protecting their quarterback, allowing Luck to be sacked an NFL-high 23 times through six games. That has to excite the Titans, who’ve had back-to-back, six-sack games for the first time since 2010. The Titans’ 18 sacks this season are fifth-most in the league. Outside linebacker Brian Orakpo leads the Titans’ sack attack with seven — the same total he had in 16 games last year. Defensive end Jurrell Casey and linebacker Derrick Morgan each have three sacks.

Can Mariota make it three in a row?

After posting two of his worst statistical efforts in losses to Oakland and Houston, Titans’ second-year quarterback Marcus Mariota has rebounded with a pair of beauties in wins the past two weeks. He’s completed 70 percent of his passes during that stretch, while throwing for six touchdowns (versus one interception) and running for 124 yards and a score. The Colts’ defense should provide Mariota another tempting target. Indy has the NFL’s 29th-ranked pass defense, allowing close to 300 yards per game through the air. The Colts have mustered just eight sacks, 28th in the league.

Will Henry see more action?

Titans rookie running back Derrick Henry was on the field for just nine snaps last week against Cleveland, and he carried a season-low two times for 7 yards. It’s easy to see why the Titans want to keep DeMarco Murray on the field as much as possible, since Murray is third in the league in all-purpose yardage and fourth in the league in rushing. But it’s also worth wondering whether Henry should have gotten a few more attempts last week, when Murray was having a hard time making headway against a Cleveland defense that was stacked against him.

Can Wright help Sharpe?

In the aftermath of Kendall Wright’s eight-catch, 133-yard, one-touchdown performance last week, it appears Mariota now has two very productive options — Wright and tight end Delanie Walker. Maybe the attention likely to be paid to Wright and Walker will create more opportunities for rookie Tajae Sharpe, who didn’t have a catch while playing 47 snaps last week. Sharpe has just four catches over the past three weeks after making 14 in the first three weeks. On the other hand, if Mariota finds himself throwing more often to Wright, Walker and the improving Rishard Matthews, then the chances for Sharpe may shrink.

Reach John Glennon on Twitter @glennonsports.