Cleveland Browns vs Indianapolis Colts Live Game Thread
The Cleveland Browns (3-1) are set to host the Indianapolis Colts (3-1) at FirstEnergy Stadium for their week five matchup. The Browns are coming off a huge road win against the Dallas Cowboys and off to their best start since 2001. Yet there are still questions surrounding the team, how will the offense produce with Nick Chubb on short term IR and will the defense find consistency. Head coach Kevin Stefanski has rolled off three straight wins and will face a very stout defense against his opponent.
The Indianapolis Colts are on a three game winning streak as well and is in control of the AFC South. The Colts are solid team across the board but still suffered numerous injuries to starters and will be without two key contributors on both sides of the ball this week. Arguably the biggest matchup of the game is the number one defense versus the Browns top rushing attack. This game is shaping up to be a major battle in the trenches.
The challenge for the Browns will be compensating missing Larry Ogunjobi in the middle of their defense against an imposing Colts front including Quenton Nelson and Ryan Kelly.
For the Colts, they came in with a relative strength on the offensive line that suddenly is missing their starting left tackle in Anthony Costanzo. Le'Raven Clark will likely have the honor of trying to stop Myles Garrett in this game.
The Colts will also be down their star linebacker Darius Leonard. Along with DeForest Buckner and Xavier Rhodes, he's a top three defender that creates a pretty big hole in the middle of their defense.
Watch the Cleveland Browns Tailgate Show live at 2:30PM for all the information about this week's matchup. Stay tuned throughout the game for live updates.
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First Quarter
Stefanksi starts the game with a run to Kareem Hunt and after a long review for Indianapolis Colts challenge is failed for no fumble.
2nd Down and Baker Mayfield finds Austin Hooper underneath for a first down.
Stefanki calls the first playaction of the game an finds Jarvis Landry deep down field for a big gain.
Landry is shaken up after play after taking a hard hit to the hip, and injury he had surgery on during camp.
2nd & short after a few small runs, Mayfield goes through his progressions and finds Hooper for another reception as he runs down to the endzone.
After three failed attempts to get in the endzone, Cody Parkey walks on the field for a field goal.
Browns 3 - Colts 0
Colts first possesion and Rivers quickly checks down a pass to RB Jonathan Taylor for a 13 yard gain on 2nd down.
Quick to the line for first down and Taylor is tackled at the LOS by Sione Takitaki. Back with another run Taylor takes the hand off and is tackled by B.J. Goodson after a four yard game.
3rd & 6, Philip Rivers finds a WR deep over the Cover 2 as Andrew Sendejo miss plays his coverage for a huge gain.
First play in the redzone and Myles Garrett sacks Rivers for a three yard loss.
3rd & 13, finds T.Y. Hilton underneath for an 11 yard gain creating a fourth down.
4th & 2, the Colts go for it and score a touchdown with Jonathan Taylor on a misdirection run.
Colts 7 - Browns 3
Second possession for the Browns and Mayfield finds Hunt out the backfield for a five yard gain.
Landry makes it back on the field, after a beautiful play action fake Mayfield throws it to Landry for a 18 yard gain on a tough contested catch.
3rd & 10, Mayfield finds Austin Hooper right on the sticks for Hooper's third reception.
Injury Update: Wyatt Teller walks off the field and is replaced by Chris Hubbard
2nd & 8, Mayfield finds Jarvis Landry again in the open zone for a 31 yard gain down into the redzone.
Mayfield empties the backfield motioning Hunt to the near sideline and finds Odell Beckham for a 7 yard gain.
3rd & 1, Mayfield runs a short read option and is tackled short in the open field by FS Justin Blackmon.
To end the first quarter, Stefanski goes for it on 4th & 1, and Mayfield finds Beckham in the flat for a 3 yard gain.
3rd & Goal, Mayfield maneuvers the pocket and throws a laser to Kareem Hunt in the back of the endzone.
Browns 10 - Colts 7
Second possession for the Colts and Mitchell is flagged for holding on T.Y. Hilton.
Colts utilize the quick screen game and for a first down by Zach Pascal.
Second down and the Colts get a deep ball over the middle past Andrew Sendejo for 38 yard to Dulon.
Browns buckle down in the redzone and force the Colts offense to a field goal. Blankenship knocks it in to tie the game.
Colts 10 - Browns 10
2nd & 11, Mayfield finds Beckham underneath for a ten yard gain after a shifty run after the catch.
1st & 10, Mayfield continues to find huge success throwing the ball and finding Odell Beckham deep off playaction.
HC Frank Reicht uses his second challenge of the game on a juggled catch.
The call stands and Reicht is out of timeouts for the half.
2nd & 10, Mayfield finds Rashard Higgins for his first reception of the season for a 7 yard gain.
3rd &3, Mayfield moves around the pocket and then scrambles for a 16 yard gain.
Hunt empties the backfield again by motion and Mayfield finds Higgins for the second time this drive for a 15 yard TD.
Browns 17 - Colts 10
Colts try an end around and rookie Jacob Phillips make a solid open field tackle to limit Dulon to only a three yard gain.
Browns force a three and out as Ronnie Harrison almost picks off Philip Rivers on third and short.
Injury Update: Wyatt Teller downgraded to Questionable to return.
2nd & 7, Mayfield continues to build on his chemistry with Higgins and find him for a first down reception.
2nd & 9, Mayfield escapes a blitz and dumps it off to Hunt for a 13 yard gain after breaking a tackle.
1st & 10, Stefanksi pulls out the end around trick pass and Beckhams finds Austin Hooper for a first down.
After creating a neutral zone infraction on 3rd & 6, Stefanksi calls on FB Andy Janovich to convert 3rd & 1.
3rd & 10, Mayfield finds Jarvis Landry for 8 yards and quickly back to the line for a hard count but no jump by the defense. Cody Parkey in to kick the field goal.
Parkey knocks in the field goal and stays perfect on the season.
Browns 20 - Colts 10
Halftime
Third Quarter
First play of the second half Rivers finds T.Y. Hilton for a 8 yard gain and follows it up with a run by Jonathan Taylor for 5 yards.
Olivier Vernon is flagged for offsides on first down to 1st & 5.
Jordan Wilkins is tackled quickly by Myles Garrett on 2nd &5 for a one yard gain.
3rd & 4, Ronnie Harrison jumps his second out route and this time picks it off for a 49 yard pick six!
Browns 27 - Colts 10
Colts KR Isaiah Rodgers takes the kickoff return for 101 yards and give the Colts life.
Browns 27 - Colts 17
The special teams coverage units have not been good this season and the kickoff return seemed likely to happen at some point.
Browns offense starts the second half with three straight runs by Kareem Hunt for a first down.
1st & 10, Mayfield drops back for a pass and is sacked by Muhammad and fumbles but recovers.
Mayfield forces a pass into the zone and is picked off by LB Bobby Okereke. Colts have all the momentum,.
Colts start the drive after the turnover with a 5 yard run by Nyheim Hines.
The Colts go back to the run and Malcom Smith blows up the run at the LOS to force third down.
Colts run it again with a 10 yard run by Jonathan Taylor.
Taylor gets his number called again and rumbles forward for a 7 yard run.
Injury Update: Both Browns DTs Sheldon Richardson and Jordan Elliot are dealing with injuries.
Following a holding penalty by Jack Doyle on first down, the Colts run it for the seventh consecutive play for ten yards.
2nd & 10, Rivers dumps the ball off to Hines for a short gain.
3rd & 4, Rivers is pressured on a stunt by Richardson and Garrett to force an incompletetion. Blankenship comes on to kick the field goal and it's good.
Browns 27 - Colts 20
Browns start the drive with two runs by Kareem Hunt to 3rd & 1. Mayfield then finds David Njoku for five yards to move the chains.
2nd & 11, Mayfield throws a bullet to Odell Beckham for a first down. Hunt runs for 5 yards on first down to end the quarter.
Fourth Quarter
Browns are forced to punt after a dropped pass by Jarvis Landry on second down and a broken up pass targeted to Odell Beckham on third down.
Jamie Gillan first punt of the game and pins the Colts inside their four yard line.
First down, Rivers gets called for intentional grounding in the endzone and it is a safety from pressure by Myles Garrett.
Browns 29 - Colts 20
Stefanski starts the drive with a run to Kareem Hunt as he gains 3 yards.
The drive quickly ends as Jarvis Landry drops his second pass in a row. Another concentration drop.
2nd & 7, Rivers finds T.Y. Hilton for 15+ yard gain and a first down.
Injury Update: Ronnie Harrison being evaluated for a concussion
3rd & 6, Rivers escapes the pressure from Myles Garrett and is picked off by Sheldrick Redwine on his first play of the game.
Browns start the drive with a six yard run by Kareem Hunt and followed up by a 3 yard pitch.
After Hunt's first down run on 3rd and short, RB D'Ernest Johnson is stuffed on back to back runs.
3rd & 3, Mayfield takes a hard hit in the pocket and throws his second interception of the half. Colts are still in the game.
To start the drive, Denzel Ward is called for holding after a T.Y. Hilton catch. Two plays later Rivers finds Hilton for a 13 yard gain.
2nd & 10, Rivers finds Trey Burton for six yards and hurries back to the line. Rivers finds Johnson for a 13 yard gain on third down.
1st & 10, on a screen call Quenton Nelson is flagged for holding. Rivers finds Burton two plays on a row, both ten yard gains for a first down from 1st & 20.
3rd & 10, Rivers bobbles the shotgun snap and Kevin Johnson makes a strong open field tackle to force fourth down.
Blankenship kicks the field goal and its right down the middle.
Browns 29 - Colts 23
Hunt runs for one of his carries of the game and gain ten yards on first down.
3rd & 9, D'Ernest Johnson makes the biggest run of the game for 28 yards behind great blocks by Chris Hubbard and Rashard Higgins.
Browns run the ball three straight times to run the clock low as possible. Parkey comes in on fourth down for a 46 yard field goal.
The kick is up... and it is GOOD, bounces it in off the left post.
Browns 32 - Colts 23
Browns move to 4-1 and have won four straight!
