Colts Lose Wild One to Browns, Turnovers Doom Them Once Again

The Indianapolis Colts lost an incredibly entertaining game to the Cleveland Browns, 39-38, but turnovers are the story once again.

The Indianapolis Colts will go as far as they allow themselves to go.

On Sunday at home against the visiting Cleveland Browns, the Colts (3-4) were 3.5-point underdogs but controlled much of the game. They hit huge chunk plays in the passing game, they churned out 168 yards on the ground, and the defense generated a handful of big plays.

The problem? Four turnovers. Again. For the second straight week.

Ultimately, it became a 39-38 loss for the Colts against the Browns (4-2), who have played overall well enough to win but succumbed to the giveaways. Turnovers alone will doom a team, but mix that with the Colts' final-drive lapses in coverage on defense and it was too much to overcome.

However, let's not take away from a nail-biting game that kept viewers on the edge of their seats. Here are my takeaways.

OFFENSE

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— The Gardner Minshew Experience. After turning the ball over four times in an ugly loss to the Jacksonville Jaguars last week, Colts quarterback Gardner Minshew did it again on Sunday (1 interception, 3 fumbles), and it likely cost the Colts the game like it did last week. The difference is that Minshew played much better in between the turnovers against the Browns than he did against the Jags. He kept plays alive and totaled 305 passing yards with a yards-per-attempt of 13.3 and 4 total touchdowns. If he can find a way to smooth things out and become more consistent, the Colts can flip some of these losses into wins.

— Minshew's veteran touch. As unfortunate as it is that the Colts will be without Anthony Richardson's playmaking ability for the rest of the season, Minshew had a terrific veteran moment on the Colts' first drive of the day. As All-World defender Myles Garrett jumped offsides, Minshew knew he had a no-risk, high-reward play at his disposal as he found Josh Downs alone down the right sideline for a 59-yard catch-and-run touchdown. While Richardson very well may have done the same thing, it was a savvy, veteran move by Minshew nonetheless that put six points on the board in a matchup that would require that kind of attention to detail in order to win. Garrett jumped offsides again late in the third quarter and Minshew went downfield to Alec Pierce for a 32-yard pickup. The Colts would reclaim the lead with a field goal at the end of the drive.

— Jonathan Taylor is back. An ankle injury limited Colts running back Jonathan Taylor to just 11 games in 2022 and the rehab from it kept him from returning until Week 5 of this season. As the Colts ramped up his involvement the last few weeks, he's now showing burst, the ability to break tackles, and his signature agility. Even more refreshing is how the Colts and head coach Shane Steichen are using him in a diverse fashion in the passing game and taking direct snaps. He's an explosive player, an asset, and a mismatch; use him as such. On Sunday, he finished with 21 touches for 120 yards from scrimmage and a touchdown.

— Odd choices in pivotal moments. Early in the second quarter, the Colts offense had a 3rd-and-13 on Cleveland's 36-yard line and went with a short catch-and-run for tight end Mo Alie-Cox, who is probably the least nimble of the Colts' skill position players. The play went nowhere and the following play was a 60-yard field goal attempt that was blocked by Garrett. Later near the end of the first half, Minshew was sacked in the Colts' own end-zone and fumbled, which was then recovered by the Browns for a touchdown. The Colts attempted to block Garrett on the play with a chip from tight end Drew Ogletree and then with rookie right tackle Blake Freeland. Garrett breezed by with ease. Going out of the shotgun from their own 5-yard line, the end result being a sack-fumble-touchdown is not to be expected. 

— Career day for Josh (First) Downs. Whether it's Richardson or Minshew, Colts quarterbacks love to look for their rookie slot receiver. After putting up 97 yards a couple of weeks ago, Downs cashed in his first-career 100-yard game on Sunday, totaling 125 yards on 5 catches and his second consecutive game with a touchdown.

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DEFENSE

Mandatory Credit: Bob Scheer-USA TODAY Sports

— Grover Stewart, you are missed. Colts nose tackle Grover Stewart, who could be considered the defense's most important run defender, was suspended this week for six games for violating the NFL's policy on performance-enhancing substances. On the Browns' first drive of the day, running back Jerome Ford took a handoff and ran right up the middle of the Colts' defense in the spot vacated by Stewart, untouched for a 69-yard touchdown. The Colts often used Taven Bryan at the nose in Stewart's absence and he did not hold up as strongly as Eric Johnson did.

— Julian Blackmon starting to get the breaks. Throughout the first several weeks of the season, safety Julian Blackmon has been a part of a few near-takeaways that have been called back due to penalty or the ball being down by contact, etc. However, those plays are starting to turn his way as he came down with an interception against the Browns, which is his second in three weeks. He also nearly had a spectacular one-handed interception near the end of the game.

— Good timing for Rodney Thomas' first interception of the season. With 11:06 remaining in the game and down 31-30, the Browns had the ball in Colts territory and were driving. However, as Browns quarterback P.J. Walker lofted a ball for receiver Amari Cooper down to the Colts' goal line, Colts safety Rodney Thomas leaped up and snatched the ball out of the air, recording his first interception of the season after leading the team with 4 last season.

— A rough day at the office for Darrell Baker Jr. Colts starting cornerback JuJu Brents was forced out of the game in the second quarter with a quad injury, and it didn't start biting the Colts until late in the fourth. On the Browns' final drive, Colts linebacker E.J. Speed sacked Walker and forced a fumble, which was recovered by the Colts. That should have ended the game. However, Brents' replacement, Darrell Baker Jr., was flagged for a questionable penalty away from the play that extended the drive. Another defensive pass interference penalty against Baker shortly after helped allow the Browns to score the game-winning touchdown.

SPECIAL TEAMS

Mandatory Credit: Bob Scheer-USA TODAY Sports

— Synergy between Tony Brown and Rigoberto Sanchez. Some special teams appreciation: Early in the first quarter, Colts punter Rigoberto Sanchez lofted a punt toward the Browns' goal line, which was tracked the entire time by gunner Tony Brown, as he caught it out of the air before anyone else had a chance at it, downing it at Cleveland's 3-yard line. The Browns had a 3-and-out on the ensuing drive.

— Dustin Hopkins does his best Matt Gay impression. It was a close game throughout, and Browns kicker Dustin Hopkins deserves a huge pat on the back. He converted all four field goal attempts, from 44, 54, 54, and 58 yards. Earlier this season, Colts kicker Matt Gay set an NFL record with four field goals of 50-plus yards in a single game.

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