NASHVILLE, Tenn. -- Peyton Manning is used to seeing a sea of orange when he plays football in Tennessee. But Sunday, he only saw a few specks of that color in the stands.

The result was rather unfamiliar too, as his Indianapolis Colts fell to the Tennessee Titans, 27-17.

	Manning

The game marked Manning's NFL debut in the state where he starred at the University of Tennessee. But more importantly, it was a battle for control of the AFC South -- the two teams are even now, with the Titans on top because of a tiebreaker after sweeping the season series.

"Obviously it was one that we did want to win," said Manning. "I will take all the responsibility. I would have liked to have done my job better."

Manning's still very popular in this state -- 40,000 fans showed up in Nashville last year when the Colts scrimmaged the Titans. Mixed emotions were obvious outside the Coliseum before the game. One family featured a young boy wearing Manning's Colts uniform with his No. 18 spray-painted in white on the back of his blond head; on his right was a man sporting a Titans jersey; on his left was a man wearing a jacket from U of T.

"Tennessee Volunteer fans supported me well when I was in college and they still support me, and I have always appreciated that," said Manning. "I understand there were a lot of Titans fans here today to support the Titans, but people have always been real good to me here."

Perhaps on purpose, the Colts' defense was chosen as the unit introduced in starting lineups -- so Manning received no standing ovation. But he brought the crowd to its feet in the first quarter, when his third throw of the game was intercepted by Titans linebacker Keith Bulluck.

That was one of three Manning picks on the day. And they all came at the most frustrating of times. No. 2 was on the first play from scrimmage of the second half, after the Colts had crept back to within 21-10 at the half. The third came right after a wide-open Marvin Harrison dropped a gift-wrapped touchdown pass.

	“	You always want to be on top and in control of your own fate, and right now we've got to get some help. That's going to be tough on us, but all we can do right now is try to win our last three and then we will see where that will take us. ”
		— Colts coach Tony Dungy, on making the playoffs

"Obviously that was a big play, but Marvin makes so many plays for us," Manning said. After that play, all Peyton could do was place his hands on his hips and shake his head.

"You have to give him an ever-changing look," said Titans coach Jeff Fisher. "When you have a three interception game against a premier quarterback like Peyton, then you're making some plays."

Harrison, who's en route to shattering Herman Moore's single-season record for receptions, was held relatively in check (9 catches for 76 yards), as was running back Edgerrin James (18 carries for 70 yards). And the much-improved Colts defense was picked apart by Titans quarterback Steve McNair.

"I thought we got outplayed today," said Colts coach Tony Dungy.

The Colts came in on a roll, winners of four in a row. Their last loss -- 23-15, to these same Titans. If they had won their final four games, the road to Super Bowl XXXVII in San Diego would have run through Indy.

But now, with so many teams still in contention, the Colts have a fight on their hands just to make the postseason. They play next week in Cleveland, and finish up at home against the Giants and the Jags.

"You always want to be on top and in control of your own fate, and right now we've got to get some help," said Dungy. "That's going to be tough on us, but all we can do right now is try to win our last three and then we will see where that will take us."

Who knows? Maybe Manning and company will make another trip to Tennessee.

Kieran Darcy covers the NFL for ESPN The Magazine.