Pittman played 53 of the Colts’ 66 offensive snaps (80 percent), not too far off from his usual workload (he entered Week 6 playing 87 percent of the Colts’ snaps on offense). And then he made some absolutely critical plays late in the game.

With the Colts down by four and facing a third-and-nine at the Tennessee 10-yard line midway through the fourth quarter, the Titans sent an all-out cover-zero blitz. Eight Titans players fired off the ball toward Flacco in the pocket; Flacco backpedaled as safety Quandre Diggs and outside linebacker Harold Landry III dashed toward him. He knew he would have Pittman over the middle in single coverage if he could just get the ball out.

Flacco floated a pass toward the end zone. Pittman out-jumped cornerback L’Jarius Sneed – who the Titans acquired from the Kansas City Chiefs in a blockbuster offseason trade – and then physically held on to the ball as he tumbled to the ground for a touchdown.

“(He’s) the toughest guy I’ve ever been around,” head coach Shane Steichen said.

“I wouldn’t give myself that much credit,” Pittman said when told of Steichen’s comment. “I’m just gonna keep showing up and whatever opportunities come, try to make the most of them, just go out there and try to help us win.”

Pittman’s impact on Sunday didn’t stop with his touchdown. He didn’t celebrate it too hard, knowing there was still plenty of time left in the game – and there’d be another opportunity to get the Colts across the finish line.

That opportunity came just before the two-minute warning. The Colts had just got the ball back after their defense forced a three-and-out, but Tennessee had a shot if they could force a three-and-out.

On second and 10, Steichen opted to throw the ball – the Colts hadn’t generated much on the ground on their previous possessions – with Flacco rolling to his right after a play-fake to running back Tyler Goodson. Pittman created a sliver of separation from Sneed, and Flacco ripped a throw with precision accuracy. Pittman caught it, then out-muscled Sneed – who tried to rip the ball out of his hands as they fell to the ground – for a 16-yard catch.