The Indianapolis Colts took advantage of the Cleveland Browns’ lack of a running game to play ball control and win 17-13 at Lucas Oil Stadium on Sunday.
Browns vs. Colts final score: Indianapolis uses run game to hold off Cleveland
The Indianapolis Colts used 148 yards on the ground to Cleveland’s 55 as they won the time of possession battle Sunday.
Brian Spurlock-US PRESSWIRE
Winning the time of possession by nearly 11 minutes, the Colts rode a mistake-free performance by Andrew Luck, who completed 16-of-29 passes for 186 yards to go with two rushing touchdowns. Meanwhile, the Browns got solid play from Brandon Weeden and his 247-yard, two touchdown performance, but they could only muster 55 yards on the ground as Trent Richardson only played one unproductive half due to a rib injury.
Vick Ballard led the Colts with 84 yards on 20 carries, while Reggie Wayne caught six balls for 73 yards on the day.
The Colts (3-3) started off the scoring on Sunday with a prolonged drive that ate more than 7:30 off the clock as Luck finished it off with a 3-yard scramble for a 7-0 lead. Cleveland responded with an even longer drive, scoring with 14:07 left in the second quarter on a Weeden pass to Greg Little for a 14-yard touchdown. The Browns botched the extra point try to trail 7-6.
Indianapolis then used its next offensive possession to score on Luck’s second touchdown run of the game to go ahead 14-6 heading into halftime.
The Browns used an 80-yard drive to start off the third quarter as Weeden completed all four of his throws for 80 yards and capped a scoring drive with a 33-yard pass to Josh Gordon that cut the Colts lead to 14-13.
Both defenses tightened up, but Indianapolis added a 38-yard field goal by Adam Vinatieri to go ahead 17-13 with 3:24 left in the third quarter.
With seven minutes left in the game, Browns receiver Josh Gordon dropped a deep pass on a 3rd-and-1 near the goal line that would have given Cleveland the go-ahead touchdown, and Indianapolis managed the game clock to drop the Browns’ record to 1-6 on the year.
Fantasy dud: Josh Gordon was targeted 10 times but only came up with two catches for 51 yards and a touchdown. His dropped pass could have given him another touchdown and the Browns a victory.
Odds: The Colts were favored by 3.5 points in Vegas when the lines opened, and that total was only at one point by Sunday.
Injury update: Trent Richardson had eight carries in the first half for only eight yards, and he was seen on the sideline with his helmet off in the second half. He had come into the game with a rib injury and was questionable to return in the second half.
Cleveland cornerback Sheldon Brown injured his ankle in the third quarter but returned.
Next on the schedule: The Browns host the San Diego Chargers on Sunday while the Colts head to Tennessee to play the Titans.
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