Colts and Browns is a much more intriguing matchup than in years past
Colts vs Browns: Can Indy stop Gordon?
Ross Weber; @rweberI65
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In Jackson and Richardson's return to Cleveland, the key matchup revolves around one of the players on the home team
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In a game this late in the season between two games on the hunt for the playoffs, any distractions outside of football are a huge negative in preparing for quality opponents. The biggest off the field question for the Indianapolis Colts is whether or not superstar corner Vontae Davis will suit up after suffering a concussion last week (spoiler alert: he’s not), the biggest question for the Cleveland Browns is who will be their starting quarterback.
That’s quite a big difference between those questions.
The Browns are working to make the playoffs for the first time since 2002, Indianapolis is looking to win their second consecutive division title and clinch their eleventh playoff appearance since 2002. Two franchises in recent history who are on different ends of the NFL spectrum, now both headed in the right direction full of young talent and a lot of heart.
The matchup on the field is intriguing, especially with the previously mentioned Davis out for the game. He’s been the anchor of the defense and arguably an All-Pro by season’s end, and the Colts will be playing the best weapon on an opposing offense since Rob Gronkowski in Browns receiver Josh Gordon today. If you look at Gordon’s numbers this season you won’t think too much of him, but last season he led the NFL in receiving yards despite being suspended for the first two games of the year. This season Gordon missed the first ten games due to suspension, but he is still one of the most talented receivers in the NFL and makes the offense better no matter who is throwing him the ball. Vontae Davis vs Josh Gordon would have been a marquee matchup to watch, now it might be a train wreck to see either Greg Toler or Josh Gordy (oh crap) try to guard the All-Pro wide out.
On the Colts side, it is the return of two impact players on the Colts roster to their former home in Cleveland. Some people would think me saying “impact” was in a sarcastic way, because running back Trent Richardson is making his return to the team that traded him to Indy last year. But there’s another player who is making a huge impact on the Colts roster making his return, last week’s AFC defensive player of the week D’Qwell Jackson. Jackson has been arguably the best all-around defensive Colt this season, leading the team with 59 solo tackles (101 total), three fumble recoveries, tied for most negative yards created from sacks (29) and leads the inside linebackers in sacks with 4.0. This is Jackson’s first season with Indy and he spent his first seven seasons with Cleveland, and five of those seasons with the Browns he had 100+ tackles. I expect Jackson, and Richardson for that matter, to come out strong and inspired.
With no one in the secondary being able to match Gordon, the Colts are going to need to get into a shootout with Cleveland, and very few offenses can keep up with Indianapolis in a barn-burner.
Colts 48, Browns 38
That’s quite a big difference between those questions.
The Browns are working to make the playoffs for the first time since 2002, Indianapolis is looking to win their second consecutive division title and clinch their eleventh playoff appearance since 2002. Two franchises in recent history who are on different ends of the NFL spectrum, now both headed in the right direction full of young talent and a lot of heart.
The matchup on the field is intriguing, especially with the previously mentioned Davis out for the game. He’s been the anchor of the defense and arguably an All-Pro by season’s end, and the Colts will be playing the best weapon on an opposing offense since Rob Gronkowski in Browns receiver Josh Gordon today. If you look at Gordon’s numbers this season you won’t think too much of him, but last season he led the NFL in receiving yards despite being suspended for the first two games of the year. This season Gordon missed the first ten games due to suspension, but he is still one of the most talented receivers in the NFL and makes the offense better no matter who is throwing him the ball. Vontae Davis vs Josh Gordon would have been a marquee matchup to watch, now it might be a train wreck to see either Greg Toler or Josh Gordy (oh crap) try to guard the All-Pro wide out.
On the Colts side, it is the return of two impact players on the Colts roster to their former home in Cleveland. Some people would think me saying “impact” was in a sarcastic way, because running back Trent Richardson is making his return to the team that traded him to Indy last year. But there’s another player who is making a huge impact on the Colts roster making his return, last week’s AFC defensive player of the week D’Qwell Jackson. Jackson has been arguably the best all-around defensive Colt this season, leading the team with 59 solo tackles (101 total), three fumble recoveries, tied for most negative yards created from sacks (29) and leads the inside linebackers in sacks with 4.0. This is Jackson’s first season with Indy and he spent his first seven seasons with Cleveland, and five of those seasons with the Browns he had 100+ tackles. I expect Jackson, and Richardson for that matter, to come out strong and inspired.
With no one in the secondary being able to match Gordon, the Colts are going to need to get into a shootout with Cleveland, and very few offenses can keep up with Indianapolis in a barn-burner.
Colts 48, Browns 38