Michael Pittman Jr. on Colts’ 3-0 start: ‘We thought we were this team’

INDIANAPOLIS — It was business as usual Sunday in Nashville, Tennessee.

Except for, that is, Anthony Richardson Sr. taking meaningful snaps for the first time this season and Rigoberto Sanchez finally launching a punt that’s in the official box score.

“It was a helluva punt,’’ Shane Steichen said of Sanchez’s first punt after 19 consecutive possessions. “Got them backed up.’’

He smiled and added the staff was “kinda pissed about’’ requiring Sanchez to do more than hold for kicker Spencer Shrader when the offense failed to convert a third-and-5 in the second quarter.

Richardson’s first appearance came in mop-up time, long after Daniel Jones and the Indianapolis Colts — individually and collectively — overwhelmed the Tennessee Titans 41-20 at Nissan Stadium.

“They’re locked in,’’ Steichen said one, two, at least three times in his postgame press conference.

As a result, the Colts also are 3-0 for the first time since 2009 and performing at a historic level.

Consider:

*The offense has scored 103 points, most in the first three games of a season since 1967 (117 points). It’s piled up at least 29 in each of the first three games for the first time since ’67.

*The offense hasn’t turned the ball over in the first three games for the first time in franchise history.

*Jones added Chapter 3 to his fresh start in Indy by passing for 228 yards with a 20-yard touchdown to wide receiver Michael Pittman Jr., who continues to seek out contact after a catch. He added 27 yards on four rushes, including escaping interior pressure and scrambling for 17 yards to convert a third-and-7 in the second quarter. The Colts led 10-3 at the time, but the conversion led to the first of three Jonathan Taylor TD runs.

*Jones’ 816 passing yards in the first three games are the most by a Colt since Andrew Luck in 2016 (913). He’s been sacked just twice, has yet to suffer an interception, is completing 71.6% of his passes and averaging 9.3 yards per attempt.

“Just trying to take advantage of what the defense is doing,’’ Jones said. “It helps to have a lead, and when you have a lead and especially in the second half, then you can run the ball and hit some explosive runs.

“And it’s been fun to watch.’’

*Taylor wore down the Titans with 102 yards and the three TDs on just 17 carries. He’s cracked the 100-yard barrier in six of his last seven games and his 338 yards are the most by a Colt in the first three games since at least 1970. His 46-yard TD was a thing of beauty.

 *The defense set the tone on the third play when Kenny Moore II stepped in front of Cam Ward’s check-down to Tony Pollard and returned the interception 32 yards for a touchdown. Moore’s four career pick-6s are tied for second-most in team history.

“I thought it sucked the life out of the whole stadium,’’ Pittman said.

*The defense sacked Ward four times — two from Tyquan Lewis — and had eight tackles for loss, three from Lewis.

“It starts with the players,’’ Steichen said. “This league is all about the players. Always has been, always will be.’’

A successful business trip to Nashville, collectively and individually.

The Colts’ response? No one was surprised with just the seventh start of at least 3-0 in the Indy era. The previous six teams all reached the playoffs. According to the CBS broadcast, since 1990, teams that open a season 3-0 have reached the postseason 75.3% of the time.

“I felt really good,’’ Steichen said of heading into his third season. “Obviously, there’s the outside noise, but in our locker room, our guys knew what we had.’’

Pittman was less diplomatic.

“We saw it throughout camp,’’ he said. “We thought we were this team.

“Everybody kind of just kept throwing us under the bus for whatever reason. It’s nice to be 3-0, but we’ve gotta keep doing it.’’

Steichen and general manager Chris Ballard emphasized the need for the Colts to develop an edge and a physicality during training camp. That, along with a preciseness of execution.

Look no further than Taylor’s 46-yard TD late in the third quarter that pushed the Colts in front 34-13.

Steichen called it an “old-school iso play’’ that had Tyler Warren lined up in the backfield in the I formation as a fullback in front of Taylor.

The rookie tight end led Taylor through the left side of the line and sealed off linebacker Cody Barton. The rest showcased the uniqueness of the NFL’s leading rusher.

Taylor cut to his right and left a defender grabbing air, spun through the tackle attempt of safety Amani Hooker, ran through safety Mike Brown’s attempt and ran away from cornerback L’Jarius Sneed.

“It was a helluva job up front,’’ Steichen said. “Warren leading and then obviously 2-8 breaking the tackles and getting there for the big run.

“It was fun.’’

Warren had another busy day with three catches for 38 yards, but his blocking caught Steichen’s eye.

“It was like old-school, smash-mouth football,’’ he said, adding Warren is “just an old-school, throwback freakin’ baller. The toughness, the grittiness he plays with, it’s awesome.’’

The trip to Nashville could have been one of those “trap’’ games. It was the 2-0 Colts vs. the 0-2 Titans.

Linebacker Zaire Franklin insisted the Titans were casual observers.

“At the end of the day,’’ he said, “it really wasn’t even about them. It was about us. Today was just an opportunity for us to play our brand of football. Offensively, be efficient and take care of the ball. Defensively, play physical, execute and take the ball away.

“And then we even got a punt today, so congratulations to Rigo. I think it was just a complete team win and we just got to continue to build on it.’’

Injury update

The Colts exited the game with at least two injuries of note.

Wideout Alec Pierce suffered a concussion in the third quarter and was ruled out. It’s his third concussion and he’s missed one game after each of the first two.

On the play, Pierce made what appeared to be a contested catch of a 42-yard reception against Hooker, but the officials ruled he didn’t maintain possession when he hit the ground. Pierce finished with four catches for 67 yards.

In the fourth quarter, Moore was ruled out with a calf injury.

The Colts look to start 4-0 with a Sunday trip to the Los Angeles Rams.

You can follow Mike Chappell on Twitter at @mchappell51.