But it was all too much for the Titans defense, which was buried by a run game that averaged 6 yards per carry and produced 205 yards, its highest total since Sept. 30, 2007.

The Colts were so successful on the ground that inexperienced quarterback Dan Orlovsky had to do little in the passing game. He threw only 17 times, completing 11 for a mere 82 yards, as the Colts won 27-13.
“Absolutely they ran the ball better than we thought,” Titans cornerback Cortland Finnegan said. “They had 80 yards passing and 200-something yards running. We gave up 200 yards rushing. You can’t win in the NFL doing that.”

Colts running back Donald Brown had topped 100 yards once in his previous 37 games. But he became the sixth runner this season to hit the century mark against the Titans, producing a career-best 161 yards and a touchdown on 16 carries.

“Obviously when you’re missing Peyton (Manning), you’ve got to find a few things that work, and we were able to utilize some guys in the run game a little differently,” Colts tackle Ryan Diem said. “We started using the fullback a little more, and that has definitely opened up some opportunities for us to run a lot. Donald had a fantastic game today.”

The Titans did a decent job in the first half against the run, limiting the Colts to 58 yards on 15 carries. But Brown — who didn’t start — was showing signs that it was his day, evidenced by the 17-yard carry that set up the Colts’ first field goal.

He began to break through with more regularity in the second half.

On the drive that put the Colts up 20-6, Brown accounted for 53 of their 58 yards, including a 39-yard dash up the middle that left them in scoring range. All of this from a player who had topped the 50-yard mark only three times this season.

“It’s very frustrating,” Titans safety Michael Griffin said. “I don’t know what to say. The defense was out there a lot. We were playing good, playing good, playing good. But there’s only so long you can be out there until the offense can get things going.”

It was no surprise that Brown finally sealed victory for the Colts, only one play after the Titans had trimmed the lead to a touchdown with 3:43 remaining.

Brown started out running right, broke linebacker Akeem Ayers’ attempt at a tackle 5 yards in the backfield, and then circled back to the left side — sprinting 80 yards down the sideline to put the Colts ahead 27-13.

Brown’s path was cleared thanks to a couple of surprise blocks: Orlovsky stepped in Griffin’s way as he was about to make a tackle, and wide receiver Reggie Wayne got a piece of Finnegan.

“We just didn’t tackle well,” Finnegan said. “We had him in the backfield for a 5-yard loss. Then I cut him back inside and I felt like it would be a routine tackle, and for whatever reason, we didn’t get the tackle there.”

source: tennessean