Game Prediction: TEN 23, IND 20

Update: McNair's sprained MCL has him missing practice but he is expected to play on Sunday. I have lowered his rushing numbers.

The Titans come off a nice revenge win over the Raiders, 25-20, in a game that saw PK Joe Nedney tear the ACL in his right knee in the second quarter. Nedney was replaced by punter Craig Hentrich who split the uprights on all three attempts and won the game for the home crowd. The Titans are looking into possible replacements for Nedney (read as "big leg, works cheaply") as they do not want to overburden Hentrich or risk losing their entire kicking game on a single play.

Steve McNair went 25 of 38 for 269 yards and two scores in the game and most of that went directly to Derrick Mason who ended the night game with ten catches for 99 yards and one touchdown. Frank Wycheck had one catch for 12 yards but suffered his second concussion in only a few months. Wycheck is likely to be held out of this game and Erron Kinney and Shad Meier will be used in two tight end sets.

McNair sprained his MCL in the game though he could not remember when it happened and by now it only seems to make him perform better. McNair is expected to play this week.

Eddie George had 20 carries for only 42 yards as his yard per carry average continues to fall. McNair added 19 yards to the rushing totals on only two runs but both were later in the game.

The Titans defense held Oakland to only 34 yards rushing and while Rich Gannon threw for 269 yards, he spent most of that finding Charlie Garner (8-112) because the secondary was outstanding against the Raiders wideouts. Jerry Porter and Jerry Rice combined for only 52 yards in the game.

The Colts come off a very unsatisfying win over the Browns by a score of 9-6. It was coincidentally the exact same score as another game that Sunday when the Arizona Diamondbacks defeated the San Francisco Giants 9-6 with only one error by Arizona. Conversely, Manning had two interceptions all by himself.

Manning threw for 211 yards and no scores while Marvin Harrison led receivers with nine catches for 44 yards. The game was a surprising defensive match considering neither team is noted for having one and curiously Edgerrin James averaged over four yards per carry but was only given the ball 15 times in the game.

The Colts go into this week's game needing to address why the offense that is normally one of the best, including once again a healthy James, was unable to stick the ball into the endzone in Cleveland. The Titans defense is playing very well in all phases and should be able to stuff James and force Manning back to the air again in this game. Against the Raiders, Tennessee was able to take both Rice and Porter out of the equation and so far Indianapolis does not have multiple star receivers.

The Colts have lost to the Titans the last three meetings and the Tennessee defense looks better than last year when they beat the Colts 27-17. This game will be another ugly one for Indianapolis and one they will lose at the end by the same field goal margin they won with last week.