Joe Flacco has played in the NFL long enough to know that a backup quarterback should always be ready to step in.
At 39 years old, Flacco also understands to ignore rumors about a teammate possibly going on injured reserve and focus on wide receiver Michael Pittman Jr. when it counts.
Flacco took a few steps back to create time and then threw a 10-yard touchdown pass to Pittman in the end zone, with Titans cornerback L’Jarius Sneed covering him. This play with 7:27 left in the game helped the Indianapolis Colts secure a 20-17 victory over Tennessee.
“He’s got to be one of the toughest players I’ve played with,” Flacco said about Pittman, who only practiced on Friday due to a back injury that made his participation uncertain. “I think part of him was probably trying to prove a point.”
Flacco is now 1-1 in his second consecutive start for the Colts (3-3), who managed to split their back-to-back road games in the AFC South while second-year quarterback Anthony Richardson was sidelined again due to a right hip injury.
“You just got to stay on your toes and prepare, and that’s kind of how it was, you know?” Flacco mentioned.
The Titans (1-4) have now lost three straight games to their division rivals. They will have to wait until November for their chance to win their first home game this season under first-year coach Brian Callahan, who believes his team is better than its current record.
“We also aren’t making enough plays to win tight games, and we’ve got to find a way to do that,” Callahan said about the Titans’ third loss by a touchdown or less. “And I got to find a way to help us get there because right now, losing games in one-score games is tough.”
Tony Pollard scored a 23-yard touchdown run that put Tennessee ahead 17-10 during a drive that took up more than half of the third quarter. Flacco then led the Colts to 10 consecutive points, giving them a lead they wouldn’t lose.
He set up Matt Gay’s second field goal, a 22-yarder, at the start of the fourth quarter. Pittman, who did not practice on Wednesday or Thursday, knew he would play and credited Flacco for the excellent throw on the winning touchdown.
“I had to go up there and get it for him,” Pittman said.
