“Colts’ Michael Pittman Jr.’s toughness and clutch play key to Titans win”

Four days before the Indianapolis Colts took on the Tennessee Titans, it was widely reported that Michael Pittman Jr. would be out for several weeks with the back injury that plagued him for most of the season.

But when it came time to get fit, Pittman was out there making the crucial plays his team needed from its captain and WR1.

“He just showed up,” Steichen said of Pittman. “Like I said, toughest guy I’ve ever been with.”

Pittman was crucial to the Colts’ 20-17 victory over the Titans on Sunday. The box score shows just three catches for 35 yards and a touchdown for the wide receiver. However, Pittman’s performance left a profound impression on the field and in the locker room.

Pittman had just one catch for nine yards early in the fourth quarter. The Colts trailed 17-13 with 8:17 left after making just two field goals since their first drive touchdown. Indy had gotten the ball to the 10-yard line and faced a crucial third down.

The Titans sent an all-out attack on Joe Flacco, who could see him from a mile away. Flacco quickly dropped back and threw a rainbow into the end zone. At that point, Pittman knew what he had to do.

“I just knew it was going to be (Cover) zero because of the way they lined up and Joe (Flacco) just made a great throw,” Pittman recalled. “He just fell back and vomited it up. I had to go up there and get it for him.”

Pittman passed Titans cornerback L’Jarius Sneed to climax the ball and score. Pittman had a bad back and jumped and muscled past Sneed to give the Colts the go-ahead shot. But with 7:27 left in the fourth period, Pittman knew the game was far from over.

“I just knew I wanted to jump before he jumped,” Pittman explained. “And honestly, I didn’t want to get too high because it wasn’t over yet. Obviously I was excited. But I knew, hey, the game isn’t over yet. We still have time. So, you know, just keep it moving. And then I kept it even and then it led to another decent game.

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The Colts defense made key plays to fend off multiple attempts by the Titans to retake the lead. Samuel Womack III and Jaylon Jones had numerous pass breakups, while Julian Blackmon secured an interception. But the Colts still needed to control the clock to end the game.

The Colts faced second-and-10 with 2:12 left. The Titans had just used their second timeout and as the two-minute warning loomed, head coach Shane Steichen decided to make a pass play. Flacco rolled out of the pocket and found Pittman, who came down the field for a 16-yard gain. First down and ball game for the Colts.

“Joe just threw a perfect pass,” Pittman noted of his final catch. “I just dealt a few late hands. But it’s really an honor for our line and for Joe because that was a great throw.”

Pittman’s back injury has been bothering him since Week 3 and the wide receiver clearly hasn’t been himself this season. Pittman has just 25 catches for 273 yards and two touchdowns through the first six games. But Pittman didn’t complain or make any excuses. He overcame the injury to be there for his team and make crucial plays when they needed him most.

“This league is a tough, physical league and he shows that and it’s great that the guys in the locker room see that,” Steichen admitted. “And he fights through these things, especially young players, a guy who goes through something and plays through it. He deserves thanks. I’ll tell you what, he’s just – he’s just a warrior.”

“He has to be one of the toughest players I’ve ever played with,” Flacco said. “I think part of him is probably trying to prove something. I think there was a report on him back in the day, even I saw it on my ESPN app, like “Pittman out” or whatever.

“It’s great, I mean when you have people like that you can go far and those are the kind of people you need to play winning football and he’s incredible for that.”

If the reports had been accurate and Pittman had been sidelined for several weeks, the Colts probably wouldn’t have won on Sunday. Most players would likely have to miss several weeks to play with the injury Pittman is dealing with. But as many in the Colts locker room already know, Pitt is built differently.

For this reason he was nicknamed “The Enforcer”. That’s why people like Steichen and Flacco say he’s the toughest guy they’ve ever been with. And that’s why Pittman is a franchise player for the Colts and a pillar for their future.

“I wouldn’t give myself that much credit,” Pittman said after the game. “I’m just going to continue to show up and whatever opportunities come my way, try to make the most of them and just go out there and try to help us win games.”

Something tells me the Colts aren’t done winning football games because of Pittman.

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