NFL Week 12 Preview: Titans at Colts

The Tennessee Titans visit the Indianapolis Colts in Week 12 of the 2017 NFL season. PFF previews the top player matchups of the game.

PFFELO Ranking: 16

Coverage by: Sam McGaw

Matchup: Tennessee Titans offense vs. Indianapolis Colts defense

• WR Corey Davis vs. CB Pierre Desir – Davis has struggled during his rookie campaign. In his five games, he’s averaged only 1.11 receiving yards per route run and has a wide receiver rating of 26.1. Davis has run 56 percent of his routes from the left side. He’ll likely often be matched up against Desir on Sunday. Desir has allowed 15 catches on 29 passes into his coverage for 245 yards, three touchdowns and one interception. Quarterbacks throwing into Desir’s coverage average a passer rating of 110.5.
• RB DeMarco Murray vs. LB Jon Bostic – Murray enters Week 12 with a PFF overall grade of 75.7. He’s averaged 2.14 rushing yards after contact and has an elusive rating of 38.3. Murray is at his best when running to the left, where he averages 4.3 yards per carry. When he runs to the right, he averages 3.08 yards per carry. Bostic, who has 21 run stops, possesses a run-defense grade of 79.9. That mark ranks 21st among linebackers.
• TE Delanie Walker vs. S Matthias Farley – Walker has been one of the league’s top pass-catching tight ends since Week 7. In his four games during that span, he’s ranked third at his position with 2.33 receiving yards per route run. Titans quarterback Marcus Mariota has had a passer rating of 86.6 when targeting Walker over the last four games. This season, Walker has been targeted 10 times on throws 20-plus yards downfield, which is tied for the most among tight ends. He turned four of those deep passes into catches for 111 yards. Farley has allowed 21 catches on 33 passes into his coverage for 336 yards, one touchdown and one interception. He has a coverage grade of 64.1.

PFFELO Ranking: 27

Coverage by: Mike Alessandrini

Matchup: Indianapolis Colts offense vs. Tennessee Titans defense

• QB Jacoby Brissett vs. Titans’ blitz – The Colts quarterback has excelled in the deep passing game this season, as these concepts are an important part of his team’s game plan. Brissett’s 128.2 passer rating on deep throws ranks second in the NFL. His 51.7 accuracy percentage on these throws also ranks second and he has thrown four touchdowns to zero interceptions on deep passes. The Titans may want to send an extra blitzer or two on key plays in order to help take away the deep throws and force Brissett into quick passes. The sophomore has a 62.3 passer rating under pressure versus a 97.7 rating when kept clean. His completion percentage drops from 62.7 to 56.7 when blitzed. Tennessee could look to send Logan Ryan (five pressures) or linebackers Jayon Brown (17.0 pass-rush productivity- tenth best at his position) and Wesley Woodyard (10 total pressures) after the quarterback in order to disrupt Indianapolis’ timing.

• T Anthony Castonzo vs. Edge Brian Orakpo – As it was back in Week 6, the Castonzo-Orakpo matchup will be an intriguing one to watch on Sunday afternoon. Castonzo’s 82.7 overall grade ranks seventh among offensive tackles, while his 85.3 run-block grade ranks fourth. Meanwhile, Orakpo has earned an 81.2 overall grade in 2017 while effectively rushing the passer. The veteran has accumulated 40 pressures on 337 pass-rush snaps, giving him an 11.3 pass-rush productivity grade. This mark is 16th best among edge defenders. In the duo’s first matchup, Castonzo held Orakpo to just one pressure while executing sound run blocking on the edge.
• WR T.Y. Hilton vs. CB Logan Ryan – This contest will feature an important matchup in the secondary, pitting Indianapolis’ top receiver against Tennessee’s top cornerback. Hilton has averaged 2.04 yards per route run this season, good for 11th at his position. Jacoby Brissett has a 111.3 passer rating when targeting his speedy wideout. On the other side of the ball, Ryan allowed just one catch in his team’s first matchup with the Colts, while defending a pass aimed for Hilton. For the year, Ryan has an 80.1 overall grade, which leads all Titans cornerbacks. There has been some inconsistencies, however, as the former third-round pick has allowed five touchdowns in coverage this year. Opposing quarterbacks have a 121.8 passer rating when targeting Ryan.