NASHVILLE, Tenn. — Philip Rivers threw for 308 yards and a touchdown, and Nyheim Hines scored twice as the Indianapolis Colts beat the Tennessee Titans 34-17 Thursday night to grab the head-to-head edge atop the AFC South.
The Colts will host the rematch in Indianapolis on Nov. 29 after helping coach Frank Reich improve to 4-1 against Titans coach Mike Vrabel. Indianapolis now is 14-5 at Nissan Stadium.
Indianapolis came in with the NFL’s best defense in terms of fewest yards allowed.
The Colts took control in the third quarter, taking advantage of the Titans' special teams woes that included a blocked punt for a touchdown.
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11:20 p.m. - The Colts moved into a first place tie with a 34-17 win over Tennessee.
11:15 p.m. - Logan Woodside took over at quarterback for Tennessee in an apparent sign of surrender for the Titans.
With just over two minutes remaining, Colts defensive lineman Al-Quadin Muhammad was ejected for taking a swing at an opponent.
11:11 p.m. - The Colts were able to take nearly four minutes off the clock before Rigoberto Sanchez was called on for his first punt of the night with 3:01 left to play.
11:06 p.m. - Up 17 points with seven minutes to play, the Colts defense stopped Tennessee on a fourth-and-3 play to get the ball back and begin to try to grind out the clock.
10:56 p.m. - After a timeout, Jacoby Brissett replaced Philip Rivers at quarterback and scored on a sneak from the two-yard line to put Indianapolis up 34-17 with 9:21 remaining.
10:49 p.m. - The Titans moved into Colts territory, but Stephen Gostkowski missed a 44-yard field goal attempt that would have pulled Tennessee within one score.
Indianapolis takes over with 12:11 left to play.
10:40 p.m. - The Colts will take a 27-17 lead into the fourth quarter.
10:33 p.m. - After the Colts' defense forced a three-and-out by the Titans, E.J. Speed blocked a Trevor Daniel punt, which was picked up and run into the end zone by T.J. Carrie for an Indianapolis touchdown an a 27-17 lead late in the third quarter.
10:26 p.m. - Nyheim Hines scored his second touchdown of the night, a two-yard run into the left side of the line. Rodrigo Blankenship's extra point gave the Colts their first lead of the night at 20-17.
Hines is celebrating his 24th birthday on Thursday.
10:22 p.m. - After Derrick Henry ran for 19 yards on three straight carries to open the Titans first drive of the second half, the Colts defense tightened up, sacking Ryan Tannehill for a 10-yard loss, then pressuring Tennessee punter Trevor Daniel into shanking a 17-yard punt, setting the Indianapolis offense up at the Titans' 27-yard line, trailing 17-13.
10:17 p.m. - A play after Jonathan Taylor was stopped short of the goal line on third-and-goal from the one-yard line, Jordan Wilkins was stuffed on fourth down and Tennessee took over possession.
10:10 p.m. - The Colts converted another fourth down on the opening drive of the second half, moving deep into Titans territory looking to take the lead. Indianapolis passed on a 42-yard field goal try and converted the first down on a pass to Zach Pascal.
They converted a second fourth down inside the Tennessee 10-yard line later in the drive on a Jonathan Taylor run.
Pascal appeared to score two plays later, but replay showed his elbow hit the ground just before the ball crossed the goal line.
9:50 p.m. - They didn't make it easy, but the Colts were able to put three more points on the board before halftime.
After using their final timeout with 21 seconds left inside the Titans red zone, Philip Rivers lost 11 yards on a sack, but was able to spike the ball to stop the clock with a second left.
A false start penalty moved the Colts back five more yards, but Rodrigo Blankenship nailed a 43-yard field goal as time expired to cut the lead to 17-13 at the break.
9:35 p.m. - Tight end Jonnu Smith put the Titans back in top with a one-yard touchdown run late in the first half.
The Titans drive was aided by a pair of Colts penalties in the red zone, which set Tennessee up on the one-yard line.
Tennessee now leads 17-10.
9:18 p.m. - Nyheim Hines got the Colts in the end zone with a 13-yard touchdown catch midway through the second quarter. Hines caught a Philip Rivers pass along the left sideline and extended just across the goal line for the score.
The touchdown was upheld by an extended video review. Rodrigo Blankenship's extra point tied the game at 10.
Hines, who is now tied with Cleveland's Kareem Hunt for most touchdown catches by a running back this season, did a dance to celebrate the score, but declined to show off his gymnastic prowess.
9:09 p.m. - Stephen Gostkowski kicked a 50-yard field goal to give Tennessee a 10-3 lead.
9:01 p.m. - The first quarter ended with the Titans leading 7-3.
8:57 p.m. - Indianapolis moved into the red zone, but had to settle for a 24-yard field goal from rookie Rodrigo Blankenship to cut the Titans' lead to 7-3.
8:48 p.m. - The Colts forced a Tennessee punt and will start their second drive from their own 25.
8:44 p.m. - Xavier Rhodes, who left the game on the Titans' first drive of the game with an injury, returned to the game for the second Tennessee drive.
8:42 p.m. - The Colts converted one 4th-and-1 attempt on their first drive of the game, but Jordan Wilkins came up short on a second try later in the drive, giving Tennessee the ball back at their own 29-yard-line.
Colts quarterback Philip Rivers moved into fifth place in the career passing yardage list on the drive, surpassing Dan Marino. He trails only Drew Brees, Tom Brady, Peyton Manning and Brett Favre on the all-time list.
8:30 p.m. - Tennessee struck first with a 5-yard touchdown pass from Ryan Tannehill to D'Onta Foreman for a 7-0 lead with 11:50 left in the first quarter.
8:26 p.m. - After a 34-yard kickoff return, the Titans moved quickly into Colts territory. Indianapolis cornerback Xavier Rhodes was injured on a 21-yard pass to A.J. Brown that set Tennessee up with a first down at Indy's 33-yard line.
Brown appeared to get hit on the chin by the helmet of teammate Khari Willis. He walked of the field with members of the training staff, but under his own power.
8:20 p.m. - The Colts won the coin toss before the game and elected to defer to the second half. The Titans chose to take the ball to start the game.
7:30 p.m. - Among the inactive players Thursday for the Colts are tight end Jack Doyle, quarterback Jacob Eason and wide receiver Dezmon Patmon on offense and cornerback Tremon Smith and defensive end Ben Banogu on defense.
Kickoff is slated for 8:20 p.m.
(The Associated Press contributed to this story.)