LIVE UPDATES: Browns Win WILD Affair In Indianapolis, 39-38
INDIANAPOLIS, Ind. — It hasn't happened often over the last two years, but the Cleveland Browns have a chance on Sunday to string together back-to-back wins and put themselves two games over .500 as they try to keep pace with Baltimore and Pittsburgh. Cleveland is just 3-13 since the beginning of the 2021 season in games following a victory.
The big news of the day for Cleveland is that Deshaun Watson is active and expected to start, barring an unforeseen setback during warmups. If he is not able to play at any point, the team once again has elevated P.J. Walker off the practice squad to serve as this week's backup.
For the 18th time, Cleveland comes to Indianapolis to play the Colts, whom they haven't seen since 2020. The Browns are 16-15 all-time against Indianapolis, including 10-7 when playing them on the road.
Cleveland's defense leads the way this year and they've earned an awful lot of praise nationally over the past week since beating San Francisco. The Browns lead the NFL in total defense, passing yards allowed, points allowed, first downs allowed and third down conversion percentage. In fact, the Browns defense has surrendered just 52 first downs this season, which is 42 fewer than Tampa Bay (who is second in the league).
As for the Colts, they are 3-3 and are playing at home for the fourth time. Rookie quarterback Anthony Richardson is done for the season, so they are pinning their hopes on Gardner Minshew to lead their charge. Minshew has had some success in the NFL in Jacksonville, but last week's game against his former team didn't go well: he threw one touchdown and three interceptions in the loss.
Jonathan Taylor and Zack Moss lead the rushing attack. Together, they form one of the best 1-2 punch combinations in the league. When they're effective, Indianapolis is hard to beat. But when they don't have a good day, the Colts tend to really struggle as a team.
The Cleveland Browns prepare to play the Indianapolis Colts at Lucas Oil Stadium on October 22, 2023.
Brendan Gulick
Welcome to our live updates blog of the game, where I will keep you updated in real time with all the latest news and info this afternoon. I'll also toss in a few highlights and opinions along the way.
I'll circulate the latest information towards the top so that this post moves in reverse chronological order.
Enjoy the game:
4:40 p.m. - The Colts ran a couple plays in desperation to try and get into field goal range, but ultimately came up short. What an incredible, improbable ending to this game. The Browns recovered a fumble to end the game.
4:33 p.m. - In incredibly improbable fashion, the Browns drove up the field, were aided by two defensive penalties on Darrell Baker Jr. (one of which negated a game-sealing strip sack fumble, which had Colts fans irate). After three straight incompletions from the 1-yard line, Kareem Hunt runs in the ball to give Cleveland the lead with 15 seconds to go. They didn't convert the 2-pt conversion, but the Browns have the late lead. BROWNS 39, COLTS 38
4:15 p.m. - Browns are in trouble, but they have a shot. The offense has no yet registered 250 yards, while the defense is struggling to hang in there. They got the stop and forced an Indianapolis punt, but the Browns need to find the end zone. Dustin Hopkins can't help them down five points. Cleveland has one timeout and 2:35 to play.
4:06 p.m. - This game needs to call for an Uber ride home. Two plays after giving up the lead, Gardner Minshew finds Michael Pittman Jr. for a 75-yard score. Greg Newsome and MJ Emerson each missed tackles as Pittman sprinted for the end zone. COLTS 38, BROWNS 33
4:00 p.m. - The reigning AFC Special Teams Player of the Week may have just locked up the award again. Dustin Hopkins just drilled his fourth field goal of the day, his third from at least 54 yards. He just connected from 58 yards with PLENTY of room to spare. BROWNS 33, COLTS 31
3:56 p.m. - The defense does it's job. Colts run three times up the middle, gain five yards total and punt it away to Donovan Peoples-Jones. Cleveland takes over at its own 43 yard line, down 1, with 9 minutes to play.
3:52 p.m. - The Browns offense is sputtering. PJ Walker throws a long ball for Amari Cooper that is intercepted at the 2-yard line. Honestly, while annoying, it doesn't feel like the worst thing in the world. Cleveland wasn't in field goal range and Myles Garrett is lurking. 11:06 left in regulation.
3:35 p.m. - I love the desire to go for it on 4th and 1, but Ford fumbling the pitch was brutal. Browns give it to Indianapolis in great field position and the Colts drove it all the way into the low red zone, but had to settle for a field goal to take the lead. COLTS 31, BROWNS 30
3:28 p.m. - Colts refuse to go away quietly. Jonathan Taylor caps off an 8-play, 75-yard drive (which included five first downs) with a short touchdown run to get Indy back within two. BROWNS 30, COLTS 28
3:16 p.m. - Dustin Hopkins cracks another perfect kick from 54 yards and he has given the Browns a 9-point lead in the middle of the third quarter. Hopkins has scored nine points and Myles Garrett could argue he is directly responsible for 17 Browns points today. What a day. BROWNS 30, COLTS 21
3:10 p.m. - Both teams started the half with quick, ineffective 3-and-outs. Then the Browns defense caused a third turnover of the day, with Denzel Ward interception Minshew's pass over the middle. Cleveland's passing attack hasn't been good, but they're running the ball well and the defense has been even better than advertised.
2:45 p.m. - Kevin Stefanski brilliantly used his timeouts, got the ball back from the Colts and PJ Walker helped lead a drive into field goal range. Dustin Hopkins bangs one home from 54 yards and the Browns extend their lead going into the locker room. BROWNS 27, COLTS 21
2:35 p.m. - Myles Garrett is having the kind of game you would tell your grandkids about some day. The crowd at Lucas Oil Stadium is chanting his name. Garrett with a strip sack fumble in the end zone that the Browns recovered for a touchdown. BROWNS 24, COLTS 21
2:30 p.m. - Cleveland moved the ball to the Indianapolis 43 yard line, but chose to punt on 4th and 4 and trust the defense to make a play. The Colts still lead with 1:55 to play in the half.
2:18 p.m. - Gardner Minshew caps an 8-play 75-yard drive with a 4-yard run to the left to retake the lead. Amazingly, the Browns have scored 17 points with one completed pass in the entire first half. COLTS 21, BROWNS 17
2:09 p.m. - What a sequence for the Browns defense. The Colts had it 3rd and 13, and threw screen pass that got blown up for a six yard loss. Then they tried to kick a 60-yard field goal, which Myles Garrett promptly blocked. Denzel Ward returned it 25 yards, and after the offense stalled, reigning AFC Special Teams Player of the Week Dustin Hopkins connected on a 44-yard field goal to give Cleveland the lead back. BROWNS 17, COLTS 14
1:54 p.m. - The Browns didn't take long to move the ball down the field with P.J. Walker leading the way. Ultimately Kareem Hunt took a direct snap and ran in from three yards out to tie the game. There have been four touchdowns in 15 minutes this afternoon ... hang on to your hats! BROWNS 14, COLTS 14
1:48 p.m. - Myles Garrett makes a huge play, stripping the ball away from Gardner Minshew and forcing a fumble. Anthony Walker recovered and gave Cleveland the ball on the Colts 36-yard line. P.J. Walker has entered to play QB while Deshaun Watson receives more medical attention.
1:40 p.m. - Disaster is looming for Cleveland if they don't get this thing turned around in a hurry. Deshaun Watson rolled to his left after it looked like he was going to be sacked. He threw across his body and back across the field, with the Colts nearly intercepting the pass. It was originally ruled a pick, but ultimately was overturned by replay. Worse than that, Watson was injured on the play and needed attention before coming off the field. It looks like he may have reinjured his right shoulder.
1:34 p.m. - After the Browns offense was stymied and forced to punt from the back of their own end zone, the Colts manufactured a 6-play, 57-yard drive (aided by 1 defensive penalty) that ended in a 17-yard TD run from Gardner Minshew.
The Browns threw the first punch, but they've been on the receiving end of several big blows as the first quarter has progressed. COLTS 14, BROWNS 7
1:17 p.m. - Deshaun Watson tries to rip a deep throw up the right sideline while he's on the run, but he's picked off by Julian Blackmon. Good news, Watson put some heat on the throw and that should quash any concerns of his injured shoulder hampering him this afternoon. Bad news, the Browns have lost the turnover battle in each of their first five games this year, and they give one away early in the first quarter.
1:10 p.m. - Haymakers early on. Myles Garrett jumped offside on a 3rd and 7 play, the Colts got a free play that felt like the Browns gave up on after Myles jumped and it turns into a 59-yard touchdown pass from Gardner Minshew to Josh Downs with 11:38 left in the first quarter. Game on. BROWNS 7, COLTS 7
1:05 p.m. - Wow, talk about a dream start for the Browns. After Deshaun Watson threw an incomplete screen pass on first down and Jerome Ford picked up seven yards on a zone run to the right, Ford bursts straight ahead essentially untouched for a 69-yard sprint to the end zone. Browns take the early 7-0 lead on one of the biggest highlight plays of the season. BROWNS 7, COLTS 0
1:01 p.m. - The Colts one the toss and defer their choice to the second half. The Browns will begin the game on offense and receive the opening kick from the south end zone. The roof is open, the giant north window is closed. The sun is quite bright on a beautiful fall afternoon in Indy. Game time temperature is 54 degrees.
12:45 p.m. - The Browns defense has earned a ton of praise this week, but you've certainly heard the common joke that NFL stands for "Not For Long." It's a "what have you done for me lately" kind of business, and the Browns are ready for another stiff test this week.
Myles Garrett leads the team with 5.5 sacks this season. He is the only player in the league to record at least 16 sacks in 2021 and 2022, and the only player to register at least 10 sacks in each of the past five seasons. Look for Garrett to make a big impact on Sunday.
12:10 p.m. - Looking for another reason to believe it's going to be a good day for the Browns? Kevin Stefanski is 7-0 as a head coach against the AFC South. One of those wins came against the Colts back in October, 2020.
11:35 a.m. - Here are Indianapolis' inactive players today:
- G Ike Boettger
- TE Kylen Granson
- DE Isaiah Land
- T Braden Smith
- CB Ameer Speed
11:30 a.m. - The Browns inactives today are:
- QB Dorian Thompson-Robinson
- WR Cedric Tillman
- CB Kahlef Hailassie
- S Ronnie Hickman
- LB Sione Takitaki
- DE Isaiah McGuire
- DT Siaki Ika
