The Sports Xchange

Indianapolis Colts (0-2) at Tennessee Titans (1-1)

Sunday, 1:00 p.m. ET, at LP Field, Nashville – TV: CBS

*TV announcers: Tom McCarthy, Adam Archuleta

*Keys to the game: Chuck Pagano is 6-0 against the Titans, but the Colts’ coach might not recognize this opponent. QB Marcus Mariota adds a new dimension to a run-heavy offense averaging 4.7 yards per carry and 8.8 yards per pass attempt. Mariota has solid possession receivers in TE Delanie Walker (hand) and WR Kendall Wright, a major asset considering coach Ken Whisenhunt doesn’t want the spread-offense product scanning from the pocket for long.

Conservative would be the wrong term to describe the Colts. Protective is what Pagano is after, and to break out of another two-game slide to start the season the Colts have to turn around their league-worst minus-7 turnover ratio. At 3.8 yards per carry, RB Frank Gore hasn’t been the crutch the Colts thought he could be for Luck, whose decision-making can also be blamed for the turnover fest. Luck remains mostly unbridled, and has the personnel to punch the Titans for big plays in the vertical passing game if he steps up in – and doesn’t scoot out of – the pocket.

*Matchup to watch – Titans OLB Derrick Morgan vs. Colts RT Jack Mewhort: Morgan had another sack and forced fumble in Week 2 at Cleveland – 6.0 sacks, two forced fumbles in a five-game stretch – and Mewhort figures to largely go it alone with the Colts eyeballing the rest of the Titans’ active front seven.

*Player spotlight – Titans WR Dorial Green-Beckham: The 40th overall pick in the 2015 draft with immense natural ability and athleticism showed why he could be a red-zone beast last week with a 12-yard TD grab in traffic. If he stacks more positive play and develops confidence, DGB could do great things in a hurry.

*Fast facts: Colts PK Adam Vinatieri is four points shy of third place on the NFL’s all-time scoring list. … The 2014 Colts were one of 11 teams since 2000 to start the season 0-2 and reach the playoffs.

WHO WILL WIN AND WHY

The Colts run their winning streak to eight games over the Titans in a physical affair that comes down to, what else, turnovers.

*Our pick: Colts 23-20.