THE STORY: The situation is simple for the Indianapolis Colts. If they defeat the Tennessee Titans, they will win their third straight AFC South title and seventh in the nine years of the division’s existence. Their reward would be a home playoff game against Baltimore or the New York Jets. If the Colts lose, they would need Houston to defeat Jacksonville. The Titans don’t appear to have much left – they were crushed 34-14 at Kansas City last week in a very similar situation to what faces them Sunday. This could Jeff Fisher’s final game with the Titans. He became coach midway through the 1994 season, when the franchise was still in Houston and called the Oilers.
TV: 4:15 p.m. EST, CBS
OPENING LINE: Colts -8½, O/U 47½
WEATHER: Dome.
ABOUT THE COLTS (9-6): Indianapolis has won three straight, and looks like it will make the playoffs despite suffering significant injuries. Peyton Manning has been without one of his favorite targets in tight end Dallas Clark for most of the season, but Jacob Tamme has eased the loss with 60 catches and four touchdowns in nine games. Joseph Addai missed eight games with neck and shoulder injuries, but returned last week with 45 yards and a touchdown on 12 carries. Look for the Colts to continue to bring Addai up to speed as they try to establish a running game for the playoffs. The Colts are third in the NFL at 27.5 points per game.
ABOUT THE TITANS (6-9): Tennessee started the season 5-2, and was 13-4 in its last 17 games at that point. But seven losses in eight games later, the Titans are playing out the string. The quarterback position became unstable with Vince Young’s thumb injury in Week 11 and ensuing feud with Fisher. Kerry Collins has started the last four games, but he too was hurt, which forced Tennessee to play rookie Rusty Smith for a forgettable game and a half in Weeks 11 and 12. The Titans are 28th against the pass and were torched for 314 yards and three touchdowns by Matt Cassel last week.
WHO'S HOT/WHO’S NOT: The Titans’ Chris Johnson is third in the NFL with 1,325 yards, but was held to 58 last week. Titans defensive end Jason Babin had 3.5 sacks in his last three games, and a career-high 10.5 this season. Tamme leads the NFL in receptions since Week 8. Colts defensive end Robert Mathis has a sack in two straight games. The Colts have won eight straight home games against the AFC South.
QUARTERBACKS: Manning has completed 66.3 percent of his passes, which is above his career average of 64.9. But he has 17 interceptions, the most since 2002, and is averaging seven yards per completion, the lowest since his rookie season of 1998 when he was at 6.5. Collins needs 99 yards to pass former Baltimore Colts great and Hall of Famer Johnny Unitas (40,239) for 11th on the NFL career passing yards list. Collins is 2-4 in six starts this season.
RECENT HISTORY: The Colts won a tight Week 14 game 30-28 at Tennessee to snap a three-game losing streak and put themselves back in position to make the playoffs. Manning threw for 319 yards and two touchdowns. Indianapolis has won the last four meetings.
KEY INJURIES: Titans: Questionable – LB David Thornton (hip). Colts: Questionable – LB Clint Session (elbow), DB Kelvin Hayden (neck), RB Mike Hart (ankle), S Al Afalava (ankle), DT Daniel Muir (chest).
LAST WORD: The Colts’ offense is No. 1 in the NFL in plays per drive at 6.5; the Titans’ defense is last in the category at 6.2, a recipe for Manning and Indianapolis to celebrate another trip to the playoffs.