The Indianapolis Colts found themselves facing a deficit of at least 14 points in the first half for the third straight game on Thursday night.
However, the Colts once again manged to come from behind to earn a 30-27 victory over the Tennessee Titans and took a commanding three-game lead over the rest of the AFC South.
Chris Johnson scored a pair of touchdowns in the first quarter to build an early lead for the Titans.
Trailing 17-6 at half, the Colts got the ball to start the third quarter. Indianapolis scored 14 points in less than a minute - taking advantage of a Titans’ special teams turnover - to take the lead for the first time over Tennessee.
Andrew Luck led the Colts on an 11-play, 74-yard scoring drive capped by a 6-yard touchdown run from Donald Brown to pull within four at 17-13.
Devon Wylie, who had been promoted from the Titans’ practice squad earlier this week, fumbled the ensuing kickoff. The loose ball was recovered by reserve running back Dan Herron at the Tennessee 20-yard line.
Luck hit Stanley Havili for nine yards and then scored himself to take the lead. Luck tried to throw a quick screen but Titans’ defensive end Derrick Morgan jumped into the throwing lane. Luck pulled the ball down and took off running and walked in for an 11-yard touchdown to give the Colts a 20-17 lead.
The pair of touchdowns came 57 seconds apart.
Adam Vinatieri and Rob Bironas traded field goals as the Colts held onto the slim 23-20 lead. But the Colts managed to mount another lengthy drive to put the game out of reach. Indianapolis held the ball for nearly five minutes as the Colts marched on an 11-play, 64-yard score drive. Brown scored from 11 yards out, his second touchdown of the night, as the Colts took a 30-27 lead.
Brown rushed for 80 yards on 14 carries and two scores for the Colts.
Ryan Fitzpatrick quickly led a Titans scoring drive with a 19-yard touchdown pass to Delanie Walker to pull back within three, but an onside kick attempt failed and the Colts managed to run out the clock to hold onto the win.