3 Defensive Keys to Colts Beating Browns Revealed

The 3-3 Indianapolis Colts will face off on Sunday afternoon to defend Lucas Oil Stadium against the 3-2 Cleveland Browns. While the Browns boast a legitimate number-one-caliber defense, the Colts also have a strong one in their own right.

The Indy defense must be at their best to overshoot the .500 mark and get the team’s fourth win in the young season. With this in mind, it’s time to roll out the three must-haves for the Colts’ defense if they plan to be victorious.

1. Pressure the Passer, Force INTs

However, pressure must happen. The Colts need to get to the field general under center for the Browns.

Currently, the Browns have allowed 18 sacks in five games on the year. This is enough to land them in the back half of the NFL rankings. Also, they’ve shown a proneness to interceptions, albeit with three starting QBs (Deshaun Watson – 2; PJ Walker – 2; Dorian Thompson-Robinson – 3).

Deshaun Watson has been dealing with a shoulder injury that sidelined him for two games but is trending toward returning to face Indianapolis. If this is the case, the Colts defense will have their work cut out.

Regardless of headlines that have faced the Browns quarterback, Watson is a solid signal caller who is mobile and can beat defenses with accuracy and big throws.

With Indianapolis heading into this contest minus their vital defensive tackle Grover Stewart due to suspension, they will have to get good depth performances next to fellow interior tackle DeForest Buckner to help pressure Watson if he plays.

However, even with the Browns losing two-time All-Pro tackle Jack Conklin to the season with a knee injury, they’ve still managed to play well enough to help keep the offense afloat in games. Some of the aforementioned 18 sacks allowed can be partially attributed to the injuries along the offensive line this year for Cleveland.

Despite this, Indianapolis must attack where Conklin was and keep the passing game off the table for the Browns. Watson has shown, along with the backups, that he isn’t against forcing passes.

Get enough pressure on the former Houston Texans QB, and the Colts could find success with a turnover or more.

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2. Stuff the Run, Force Browns to Win w/ Pass

Cleveland’s offense is the strongest when it can run the ball. It shows with the Browns' top-notch numbers on the year, sitting fourth in the NFL in rushing yards per game as a team with 147.0.

Even with only five games played due to having their bye week already, the Browns are still ninth in total rushing yards with 735. That's an impressive stat, considering the Jacksonville Jaguars are only two spots ahead of the Browns and have seven games played.

However, a majority of this success on the ground was due to the destroyer of tacklers, Nick Chubb. The former Georgia Bulldog was on a tear, averaging an insane 6.1 yards per carry on 28 attempts.

Chubb would only play two games but still has 23.1% of the overall rushing yards for the team. His season would be cut short with a brutal knee injury against the Pittsburgh Steelers.

Filling in now is the committee of Jerome Ford and Kareem Hunt, the latter being a veteran of the Browns. Even though both are playing well enough as a tandem, they’re not close to Chubb’s level.

The Colts are coming into this game with a strong enough run defense, even minus Stewart, that they could present issues for the Browns ground game. If this happens, it falls back on Watson.

For the year, Watson isn’t lighting up the numbers, averaging 226 passing yards per game. He adds on four passing TDs, 83 rushing yards, and another score on the ground.

Given that the Browns don’t have a robust corps of wide receivers or tight ends, they almost have to establish something of a ground game to move the offense smoothly.

Look for Gus Bradley to have the Colts defensive front, linebackers, and secondary on high alert to keep the Browns from beating the defense with the running attack.

3. Contain WR Amari Cooper

Nine-year NFL veteran and four-time Pro Bowl wide receiver Amari Cooper doesn’t get enough eyes on him or respect. Through his tenure, he’s grabbed 617 passes for 8,603 receiving yards and 56 receiving touchdowns. So far, in 2023, he’s the undisputed leader in the receiving game for the Browns.

Through five contests, Cooper has pulled in 22 passes (39 targets) for 367 receiving yards and 16.7 yards per catch. Also, he leads the team in all notable receiving categories outside of touchdowns (running back Ford leads with two). This means if the Colts shut down or limit Cooper, others must step up in the absence.

Indeed, Indy hasn’t had the strongest secondary. But the cornerbacks Kenny Moore II, JuJu Brents, and Jaylon Jones, as well as strong safety Julian Blackmon, are all either playing great or finding their stride through rookie experiences.

The next strongest receiving threat is WR Elijah Moore, who has 21 catches, but only 167 receiving yards (8.0 yards per catch), so Indy’s defense emphasizing Cooper is important.

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