VICTORY PULSE / THE PULSEColts Let a Winnable Game Slip Away—and That Is What Makes This Loss Frustrating
I expected Daniel Jones’ return to give Indianapolis a chance to recapture the promise it showed last season. That expectation is why Sunday’s 26–20 loss to Tennessee is so frustrating.
The Colts led 13–0 at halftime against a Titans team still looking for its first victory. They finished with a loss that dropped Indianapolis to 2–4. [C1]
Noah’s reaction captured the problem: the Colts had the lead and could not hold it.
That is the part that sticks with me. Indianapolis had put itself in position to win at home against a division opponent. The first half gave the Colts something to protect and build on. The second half left them explaining how it got away.
Jones’ story makes the disappointment feel sharper. His resurgence last season gave me reason to believe Indianapolis was moving in the right direction. Then he suffered a season-ending torn Achilles against Jacksonville in December 2025. [C2] With him back this year, I hoped the Colts could pick up where that encouraging stretch had left off.
That was an expectation, and Sunday showed how much work remains before Indianapolis can meet it consistently.
Tennessee deserves credit for coming back. The Titans turned a halftime deficit into their first win of the season. But from the Colts’ side, this was a chance to turn a promising opening half into a result that could build confidence. Instead, it became another reason for frustration.
I still want to see the Colts recover the direction that made Jones’ first season in Indianapolis encouraging. For now, Noah’s point is the fairest place to start: when you have a game in your hands, you have to finish it.
Reporting sources: C1 — Reuters, Titans erase Colts’ 13-point lead; C2 — Colts official confirmation of Jones’ season-ending injury.