Three Matchups To Watch When The Cleveland Browns Play The Indianapolis Colts

The Browns are feeling energized after beating the Dallas Cowboys on the road last week. Nick Chubb is hurt, but former Pro-Bowler Kareem Hunt looked capable of filling Chubb’s shoes last week. 

The defense allowed several big plays, but they also lead the league in turnover differential. Besides, Cleveland is 3-1 for the first time since 2001 after losing ugly to the Ravens to start the season. Even if the roster isn’t perfect this is the most positive momentum the Browns have built in years. 

Next up are the Indianapolis Colts, winners of three straight after a puzzling Week 1 loss against the Jacksonville Jaguars. Here are three matchups that could determine which team continues its winning streak. 

Browns’ O-line vs. The Colts’ D-line

Through four games, Cleveland’s offensive line has been its biggest weapon. They’re the top-rated run-blocking unit in the league according to Football outsiders, and no team runs the ball more often than the Browns (57 percent of plays). 

The Colts, on the other hand, allow just 77 rushing yards per game, the fourth-best mark the league. Only the Jets have cracked 100 yards against Indianapolis’ defensive front, and it took them 31 carries to gain 119 yards. 

Indy’s defensive numbers are no scheduling fluke, either. Three of their opponents (Jacksonville, Chicago, Minnesota) boast offensive lines that rank top-10 in Football Outsiders’ run-blocking metrics. None of them cracked more than 4.4 yards per carry (the Bears managed just 1.8 last week). 

That makes Indianapolis’ defensive line, led by Deforest Buckner and Justin Houston, the best Cleveland has seen this season. Neither of these units have yet shown any cracks in the run game. That makes for an intriguing matchup come Sunday afternoon. 

Turnovers vs. Turnovers 

Both the Browns (+6) and Colts (+4) enter Week 5 ranked top five in the NFL in turnover margin — Cleveland is first, Indianapolis is fourth — which is funny considering both Baker Mayfield and Phillip Rivers ranked top 10 in interceptions thrown in both 2018 and 2019 (they ranked second and third, respectively, in 2019). 

Both players have cut back on those plays in 2020. Mayfield has thrown just two interceptions; he hasn’t thrown one since Week 2. Rivers has thrown three. 

Will these quarterbacks continue their careful streaks? Or will these defenses continue to impact outcomes dramatically? 

Ultimately, the turnover game involves a lot of luck. The bounce of the ball may be as important as any factor in determining these matchups. 

The Colts’ ‘Next man’ vs. the Browns’ 

Both teams enter Week 5 missing significant players. The Colts will play without left tackle Anthony Castonzo and linebacker Darius Leonard on Sunday. The Browns won’t be able to lean on Chubb for six weeks after he sprained his MCL last week. Defensive tackle Larry Ogunjobi will be out for the first time this season Sunday with an abdomen injury, and Greedy Williams will miss his fifth straight game. 

As capable a backup as Kareem Hunt is, the Browns will miss the dynamism that accompanied having both Chubb and Hunt available. The drop off from Chubb to Hunt may not be steep, but what about he drop off from Hunt to D’Ernest Johnson? 

Ogunjobi will be missed in the run game, which the Colts use the sixth-most of any team in the NFL (50 percent of plays), and the Browns were counting on Williams to be a reliable second corner this season. 

The Colts’ losses are probably more significant, though. No Castonzo means that 2015 third-round pick Chaz Green will sometimes be matched up with Myles Garrett, who’s tied with Za’Darius Smith for the NFL lead in sacks (five). Leonard is the Colts’ best defender and thee Colts allow 26 points per game in the four games he’s missed previously n his career. 

Reich may move inside linebacker Anthony Walker into Leonard’s spot, but the Colts’ defense will be unquestionably weaker up front.