Mistake-prone Colts feeling the pressure after losing 26-20 to Titans

INDIANAPOLIS (AP) — Indianapolis Colts co-owner Carlie Irsay-Gordon sent a clear, concise message in January — make the playoffs or changes would be made.

Six weeks into the season, the pressure is mounting with the Colts holding a 2-4 record after a second-half collapse against previously winless Tennessee.

Indy blew a 13-0 halftime lead by turning the ball over twice in the second half, failing to protect quarterback Daniel Jones and giving up two game-changing plays on special teams.

The result was a crescendo of boos that started midway through the third quarter and grew increasingly louder until the field was cleared. They're likely to continue booing until the results improve.

“We've got to give them something to cheer,” coach Shane Steichen said after the 26-20 loss.

“Like I said, we have got to get a lot of things fixed. We jump out to a lead, we can't, you know, hold on to the lead, We've got to score in the red zone. I thought our defense did a really good job in the first half, but again, turnovers, special teams, a blocked punt, a huge kick return and we had some huge P.I. (pass interference) calls down there. There are a lot of things we have to fix.”

Jones went 22 of 42, was sacked six times and threw two interceptions — both inside the Titans 20-yard line to cost them scoring chances. The turnovers ended the team's 32-game streak without one in the red zone, going back to Week 7 of the 2024 season.

Jonathan Taylor caught two passes for 57 yards, rushed 21 times for 94 yards and tied the score at 20 on a 4-yard TD run with 5:32 to play but also lost his second fumble of the season.

The defense allowed just 64 yards in a scoreless first half, but gave up points on every Titans possession in the second half.

And the special teams units allowed two game-changing plays — Chimere Dike's 58-yard punt return that led to Tennessee's tying score, and a blocked punt that Oluwafemi Oladejo returned 14 yards for a touchdown and a 20-13 lead — before Joey Slye sealed Indy's fate with a tiebreaking 49-yard field goal with 2:03 to go and the game-sealing kick in the final minute.

“I'm sick and tired of the same song and dance every year,” defensive tackle DeForest Buckner said.

Steichen's postgame news conference had a different tone, too.

He spoke with more urgency about finding solutions. He fielded questions about Jones' play, whether he'd make a quarterback change, even midseason staff changes. Steichen wasn't ready to announce or even promise personnel changes yet.

“Yeah, I love Daniel, but we've got to get the turnovers cleaned up,” Steichen said.

Jones concurred.

“I don’t think it’s been consistent enough," he said when asked to evaluate his own play. “I think certainly today wasn’t consistent enough. I thought we did some good things offensively, moved the ball well, and then some bad stuff.”

So after two historically bad defensively performances to open the season followed by two wins — over then-winless Houston and a Washington team missing its starting quarterback — and now last week's double-digit loss at Pittsburgh and Sunday's second-half collapse, the heat is on the Colts.

“Yeah, they’re upset,” Buckner said as he responded to the booing. “We lost to the Tennessee Titans, who were 0-5, and now they’re 1-5 or whatever it is. So, yeah.”

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Indianapolis Colts head coach Shane Steichen looks onto the field during the first half of an NFL football game against the Tennessee Titans, Sunday, Oct. 18, 2026, in Indianapolis. (AP Photo/AJ Mast)

Indianapolis Colts running back Jonathan Taylor (28) runs for a first down past Tennessee Titans linebacker Cedric Gray (33) during the first half of an NFL football game Sunday, Oct. 18, 2026, in Indianapolis. (AP Photo/AJ Mast)

Tennessee Titans place-kicker Joey Slye (6) celebrates his field goal with punter Tommy Townsend (3) during the second half of an NFL football game against the Indianapolis Colts, Sunday, Oct. 18, 2026, in Indianapolis. (AP Photo/AJ Mast)

Tennessee Titans linebacker Anthony Hill Jr. (53) and safety Tony Adams (29) celebrate a fourth down defensive stop during the second half of an NFL football game against the Indianapolis Colts, Sunday, Oct. 18, 2026, in Indianapolis. (AP Photo/Jeff Roberson)

CLEVELAND (AP) — Yandy Díaz has sparked the Tampa Bay Rays to the verge of their first World Series trip since 2020.

Díaz had three hits, including a double, and scored the first run in Sunday's 3-1 win over the Cleveland Guardians that gave the Rays 3-2 lead in the AL Championship Series.

Díaz has hits in seven of eight postseason games and is batting .314 with four doubles, a home run and an .847 OPS as the Rays' leadoff hitter.

“I’m probably a little biased, but Yandy is one of my favorite players to watch,” Rays closer Bryan Baker said. “When he gets going, we’re a different team with the way he works at-bats.”

Game 6 is Monday at Tropicana Field in St. Petersburg, Florida, where the Rays are 58-27 during the regular season and playoffs. A potential Game 7 would be Tuesday in the same stadium.

“Momentum is big in this sport and we have it — and we're going to keep it,” Tampa Bay outfielder Jonny DeLuca said. “Once bats get hot, they say it's contagious and it's true. It carried over from yesterday.”

Díaz went 5 for 10 in the last two games with a homer, two RBIs and three runs. The 35-year-old led the AL with 180 hits in the regular season and earned his second All-Star selection. He has played in a franchise-record 33 postseason games.

“I've said it for many seasons, as he goes, we go,” Rays manager Kevin Cash said. “We talk about leaders on the team and how they go about their business. And what he does at the top of our lineup, it ignites everybody. He comes up and comes up with a big hit.”

Díaz doubled against Parker Messick in the first and scored on DeLuca's bases-loaded walk .

“I'm just trying to get on base as much as I can, I'm not necessarily counting the hits,” Díaz said. “A positive mindset is the biggest thing. Just being aggressive with our pitch selection, just jumping on good pitches. Both of those things.”

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Tampa Bay Rays' Yandy Díaz celebrates a double against the Cleveland Guardians during the first inning in Game 5 of an American League Championship Series baseball game in Cleveland, Sunday, Oct. 18, 2026. (AP Photo/David J. Phillip)

Tampa Bay Rays' Yandy Díaz hits a double against the Cleveland Guardians during the first inning in Game 5 of an American League Championship Series baseball game in Cleveland, Sunday, Oct. 18, 2026. (AP Photo/David J. Phillip)

Tampa Bay Rays' Yandy Díaz scores on a walk against the Cleveland Guardians during the first inning in Game 5 of an American League Championship Series baseball game in Cleveland, Sunday, Oct. 18, 2026. (AP Photo/David J. Phillip)

Tampa Bay Rays' Yandy Díaz celebrates a two-run home run against the Cleveland Guardians during the ninth inning in Game 4 of an American League Championship Series baseball game in Cleveland, Saturday, Oct. 17, 2026. (AP Photo/Phil Long)