Source: Justin Casterline / Getty
**5 Things Learned: Colts Embarrassment Reaches New Height**
**INDIANAPOLIS –** One of the more embarrassing recent days in Colts franchise history took place on Sunday inside of Lucas Oil Stadium.
The Colts blew a 13-0 halftime lead, losing to the winless Titans, 23-20.
What did we learn from the Colts at 2-4??
**FIVE THINGS LEARNED**
**\-Fireable Loss:** Who is losing their job on Monday? I can’t imagine I’ve typed that sentence after any other October loss for the Colts. But that question is entirely worth asking when a team having missed the playoffs for 5 straight years, starts the next season 2-4, with a home loss to a winless divisional team that had dropped 11 straight AFC South games by an average score of 18 points. NFL firings midway through October are very rare. But there’s plenty of merit to do something here. Would it improve the outlook of the 2026 season? Probably not. However, it would be the first step in accountability this organization has failed in for several years now. Shane Steichen was asked about his job security after Sunday’s loss: “Obviously, my job is to get this team ready. And that’s what I’m focused on right now.” Any potential staff changes? “I’m looking at everything, but right now I’m good with our staff.” For those that care, it was easily the most pissed off I’ve seen Steichen in a post-game press conference as he approaches the mid-way point of 4 years as Colts head coach. Steichen said his conversations with Carlie Irsay-Gordon have not been focused on his job status. But if Irsay-Gordon is ready to hand out in any pink slip this week, she has plenty of reason to do so, starting with the highest members of her organization.
**\-How Did They Lose?** It’s really hard to lose an NFL game when you outgain your opponent by more than 200 yards. But the Colts found a way to do that on Sunday. Nothing sums up Sunday’s collapse like a stretch where the Colts went holding penalty, drop, errant high pass, blocked punt, which was returned for a touchdown. Even the reliable Colts special teams was anything but that on Sunday. It started with giving up a 52-yard punt return in the third quarter, which led to the Titans first touchdown of the afternoon. On the next failed drive, personal punt protector Jonathan Owens got steamrolled, as Rigoberto Sanchez was smothered for the blocked punt return. Through 5 weeks, the Titans hadn’t scored 26 points in a single game all season. They did that on Sunday, in one half of football.
**\-Bad QB Play, No Pass Rush:** Leading into Sunday, I pointed to two items I wanted to see in a Colts win. That was the Colts not only winning, but doing it because of better quarterback play and necessary defensive end playmaking. Well, the Colts didn’t even get the win on Sunday, and I would point to two specific troubling spots that continue to plague this team. Daniel Jones continues to have a turnover problem with two more coming on Sunday afternoon. Jones was picked twice, with one in the third quarter being particularly head scratching. In looking for tight end Will Mallory, Jones threw a 1st\-and-10 pass into a sea of Titans white shirts. It’s these types of turnovers that had Shane Steichen fielding questions postgame if Jones is still his starting quarterback (Steichen stood by Jones). And on the defensive end playmaking front, the Colts got yet another game with 0 QB hits/0 sacks from that position. In total, the Colts had just a single quarterback hit on Sunday, and 0 sacks. Conversely, the Titans sacked Jones 6 times and hit him 11 times. A turnover pumpkin at quarterback and a defensive line unable to disrupt enough has been a common theme for the ’26 Colts, and it could very well cost people their jobs.
**\-Jonathan Taylor Offers Something:** Pointing out any individual after such an embarrassing loss seems like a stretch, but Sunday was the most productive day Jonathan Taylor has had this season (21 carries for 94 yards and a touchdown; 2 catches for 57 yards). The Colts added some wrinkles offensively on Sunday, operating without Alec Pierce and Tyler Warren. You had some jet sweeps to Deion Burks and Josh Downs. They sparked a 20-yard Jonathan Taylor run by bringing him in motion to rev up into a jet sweep on a 3rd\-and-2. It was a little more perimeter base in trying to create some more plays. Remember, arguably the only item the Titans were somewhat good in through the first five weeks was their run defense. Well, Taylor got things going. After the Titans took a 20-13 lead in the 4th quarter, Taylor showed impressive yards after catch by stiff arming through multiple tackles and then tiptoed down the sideline for a 19-yard gain. Taylor capped that drive with a 4-yard touchdown. Of course, Taylor also had a huge third-quarter fumble, which helped start the Titans getting back into this one.
**\-Massive Loss For 2026:** We focused above on the big picture nature to such a horrifying loss, but let’s concentrate here on the 2026 ramifications, for those that care. This is yet another conference loss, with more sting on it being a home divisional game, too. At 2-4, and with trips to Minnesota (5-0) and Jacksonville (4-2) next up, this season has the chance to derail by early November. Under Shane Steichen, the Colts have typically won these games—taking care of a lowly opponent in their own building. Sunday is a new low and it’s a massive loss if you are hoping for this team to get back into any glimpse of a playoff picture. The crowd on Sunday was one of the smaller I can recall for an early-season game. And the boo birds were more than understandable for a team that looks to be heading towards another year of watching the postseason, while also not having a precious 1st round pick.
**QUICK HITTERS**
**Inactive Players:** TE-Tyler Warren (groin), WR-Ashton Dulin (hamstring), LB-Jaylon Carlies (ribs), OL-Dalton Tucker
**Injury Report:** The following Colts left Sunday’s game due to injury: CB-Sauce Gardner (left calf), WR-Anthony Gould (concussion), P-Rigoberto Sanchez (foot), S-A.J. Haulcy.
**Stat Of The Game:** The Colts lost to the Titans on Sunday, despite outgaining them by more than 200 yards.
**What’s Next**: The Colts (2-4) are back on the road in Week 7, taking on the undefeated Vikings (5-0), who will be coming off a bye. Next Sunday’s matchup will take place at 1:00.