Titans' attempt to establish 'identity' falls short against Colts

Sep 27, 2015; Nashville, TN, USA; Tennessee Titans fullback Jalston Fowler (45) is tackled by Indianapolis Colts strong safety Mike Adams (29) to prevent the tie score on the two point conversion attempt during the second half at Nissan Stadium. Indianapolis won 35-33. Mandatory Credit: Jim Brown-USA TODAY Sports

With the Tennessee Titans down two with 47 seconds in Sunday's 35-33 loss to the Indianapolis Colts, the team had the ball on the one-yard line with a chance to tie. But for Titans head coach Ken Whisenhunt, it also presented an opportunity to send a message to the Colts and the rest of the NFL.

"It's a play where we are trying to establish our identity there, that we are a physical football team and we know that we can get it in," Whisenhunt said, per the Tennesseean. "And we didn't."

The Colts were able to stuff fullback Jalston Fowler's attempt and Indianapolis held on to win the game.

"There are going to be a lot of questions about that," Whisenhunt said of the play call. "If it works, it's a good call. If it doesn't, it's not. ... We wanted to push it in. We felt confident in the play. We felt confident in the guy running it. That's why we ran."

While the play failed, Whisenhunt and the Titans had reason to believe it would succeed, since it worked earlier in the game, including just seconds earlier when Fowler pulled the Titans to within two on a one-yard run. However, some Tennessee players said the team may have tipped its' hand going back to the play one time too many.

"It's the fourth time we ran that play in that formation," Titans left tackle Taylor Lewan said. "Maybe they saw it coming. Maybe they read it. But if a play is called, we have to run that play and do our best job as players."

Tennessee center Brian Schwenke said even if the Colts knew what was coming, the Titans still should have been able to push the ball over the goal line.

"It's a good play," Schwenke said. "I don't know what happened. I don't know what went wrong. It's one of those plays where if you block it up right, and you come off the ball harder than they come off the ball, there should be an opening for the back."

Unfortunately for the Titans, the end result was Tennessee's 13th loss in their loss 14 games against Indianapolis.