Where: Lucas Oil Stadium, Indianapolis, Ind. (FieldTurf, retractable roof)
When: Sunday, 1 p.m. ET (CBS)
Spread: Colts by 3.5
Records: Browns (Overall: 1-5, AFC North 1-2), Colts (Overall: 2-3, AFC South: 0-1)
Past results: Two most recent regular-season meetings: Sept. 18, 2011: Browns 27, Colts 19; Nov. 30, 2008: Colts 10, Browns 6. Series record: Browns hold 23-14 edge (Colts up 5-1 since moving from Baltimore to Indianapolis).
What matters: Like last week, the Colts are in a predicament where they must be cognizant of keeping last week's game in the past. Heading into the Jets game it was important to keep their emotions in check after the big win over Green Bay; now they will be tasked with trying to erase the memory of an embarrassing 35-9 loss to New York. “That’s the NFL," cornerback Vontae Davis said. "Every week, you have to come out and play with a sense of urgency. Whatever team comes out ready to play, you’ve got to meet each team’s intensity.” It's imperative that a young Indianapolis team bury the memory of last week's bludgeoning.
Who matters: This game will come down to which rookie quarterback -- the Colts' Andrew Luck or Cleveland's Brandon Weeden -- plays better. Both, of course, are prone to turnovers, so protecting the ball will be imperative. Both, too, have been massively productive. Weeden is 10th in the NFL is passing yards -- Luck 13th -- which is tops among rookies. But where Weeden has the luxury of an improving run game, Luck's luxury comes in the form of proven, veteran receivers. Again, protecting the ball will be key, an area where Luck has performed better than Weeden.
Key matchups: Browns running backs vs. Colts front seven. It doesn't really matter which back plays between banged up rookie Trent Richardson and Montario Hardesty, seeing as they are both of the mold of runners that give the Indianapolis defense problems. Similar power runners -- Maurice Jones-Drew of Jacksonville and Shonn Greene of the Jets -- have dominated the Colts to the tune of 338 yards and five touchdowns in two games. Richardson hasn't been as productive as either of the aforementioned backs, but he's certainly capable of busting out and running all over a Colts' defense wracked with injuries.
Injuries of note: Again, the Colts defense will likely be short-handed Sunday, though it's unclear as to where they will be lacking. It appears that ILB Pat Angerer (foot) will see his first action of the season this weekend, which will certainly help in the middle. But any one of DE Cory Redding, OLB Dwight Freeney, OLB Robert Mathis, and nose tackles Fili Moala and Martin Tevaseu could be limited or out Sunday. It looks like it will again be a patched together Colts defense, as it was last week, which didn't turn out well.
Inside stuff: Quite literally inside, in fact, as the Colts will likely keep wide receiver Reggie Wayne in the slot as much as possible to keep him away from Browns cornerback Joe Haden, who prefers playing on the outside. If this is indeed the case, Browns corner Buster Skrine will be tasked with keeping Wayne in check, something that has proven to be a tall order for any corner this season.
Connections: Interim coach Bruce Arians and ailing head coach Chuck Pagano spent time as Browns assistants in the early 2000s.
Stat you should know: T.Y. Hilton was the first rookie wide receiver to eclipse 100 yards receiving in a game this season when he did so in Week 3 against the Jaguars. The Browns will pay extra attention to Wayne, and Haden will likely lock down Donnie Avery, so Sunday could be a chance for the speedy rookie to get loose.
Looking ahead: The Colts will travel to Nashville next week to face the Titans before hosting the Dolphins.
Prediction: Colts 31, Browns 21
For more up-to-the-minute news and analysis from Colts blogger Evan Hilbert, follow @CBSColts.
