Titans at Colts
THE STORY: The Indianapolis Colts have three more chances to avoid a winless season. But if they suffer their 14th loss Sunday against the Tennessee Titans, they could have the first overall pick in the 2012 draft all locked up. With a defeat and wins by the Minnesota Vikings and St. Louis Rams, the Colts will have secured the pick, which likely will be used on Stanford quarterback Andrew Luck. Tennessee still is vying for a playoff spot and sits one game behind the New York Jets for the second wild card in the AFC. The Titans could be without QB Matt Hasselbeck, who left last Sunday's loss to the New Orleans Saints with a strained left calf. Backup Jake Locker would get the start if Hasselbeck can't go, although he was held out of Wednesday's practice with a sore chest suffered against New Orleans.
TV: CBS, 1 p.m. ET. LINE: Titans - 6.5, O/U 41.
ABOUT THE TITANS (7-6): Coach Mike Munchak believes Hasselbeck will play, although giving Locker his first career start is a very real possibility. “(Hasselbeck) knows if he doesn’t feel right, he will be honest with us, so we still feel good about him and hope that he will be ready to go Sunday,” Munchak said. The Titans ended their five-game losing streak against the Colts with a 27-10 victory at home on Oct. 30. They have dropped seven of their last eight visits to Indianapolis. Running back Javon Ringer will sit out Sunday with a hand injury.
ABOUT THE COLTS (0-13): Indianapolis received a bit of good news Wednesday as coach Jim Caldwell announced Peyton Manning has increased his rehabilitation regimen, which includes more throwing. Manning, who has undergone three neck surgeries over the last 19 months, is unlikely to play this season and may have already appeared in his last game with the Colts, as they are expected to draft Luck, a move that could result in the trading of Manning. Dan Orlovsky is expected to make his third straight start. Orlovsky threw for only 136 yards in last week's loss to the Baltimore Ravens.
EXTRA POINTS:
1. Tennessee is attempting to sweep the season series with Indianapolis for the first time since 2002.
2. Titans running back Chris Johnson needs two rushing touchdowns to become the third player in franchise history to record 40 scores on the ground. Earl Campbell (73) and Eddie George (64) are the others.
3. Indianapolis receiver Reggie Wayne is seven catches away from 850 for his career.