Sunday, October 11, 2020, FirstEnergy Stadium, Cleveland, Ohio, 4:25 p.m. ET
Colts at Browns Betting Preview: Colts (-2/-115), Browns (+2/-106)
Indianapolis Colts
The Colts (3-1) surrendered 27 points in a season-opening loss before allowing a total of just 29 during their three-game winning streak. Defense is the name of the game in Indianapolis, which leads the league in total defense (236.3 yards per game), passing yards permitted (159.3), points allowed (14.0) and first downs per game (15).
Four-time Pro Bowl defensive end Justin Houston boasted earlier this week that “We really believe we’re the best defense playing this game right now,” and he done his part to back it up with a team-best 3.5 sacks.
All-Pro cornerback Xavier Rhodes has a team high-tying two interceptions for the Colts, who may be without All-Pro linebacker Darius Leonard (team-high 27 tackles) as a groin injury prevented him from participating in practice on Wednesday.
Philip Rivers completed 72 of 92 passes (78.3 percent) in his first three games, however he has averaged just 207 yards passing over his last three contests — including 190 in last Sunday’s 19-11 win over Chicago. Rivers needs just four completions to join Drew Brees, Tom Brady, Brett Favre and Peyton Manning with at least 5,000 to his credit.
Cleveland Browns
Like the Colts, the Browns (3-1) responded to a season-opening flop versus a division rival by winning their next three games to clinch their best start to a campaign since 2001.
Cleveland, which owns the AFC’s top scoring offense (31.0 points per game), sports an NFL-best 5.88 yards per carry while averaging a robust 204.5 rushing yards per game.
The Browns gashed their way to 307 rushing yards — their highest game total in 11 years — and three touchdowns during last Sunday’s 49-38 victory over Dallas.
Former NFL rushing champ Kareem Hunt and third-stringer D’Ernest Johnson combined for 166 yards and two scores in place of Pro Bowl running back Nick Chubb, who sustained an MCL injury in his right knee that is expected to sideline him for several weeks.
Odell Beckham Jr. answered three lackluster performances with a scintillating one, reeling in two touchdown receptions before sealing last Sunday’s win with a 50-yard reverse for a score. Baker Mayfield has thrown for two touchdown passes in each of his last three games, although he has only eclipsed 190 yards on one occasion this season.
Colts at Browns Betting Pick for Week 5
The Browns and Colts joined the Bears, Rams, Steelers and Buccaneers as teams that followed up missing the 2019 playoffs by winning three of their first four games.
Cleveland can thank its opportunistic defense for a league-best 10 takeaways and plus-6 turnover margin, with defensive end Myles Garrett earning AFC Defensive Player of the Week honors after forcing a fumble among collecting a pair of sacks and three tackles.
With a win, the Browns will secure their best season-opening start since beginning the 1994 campaign with a 6-1 mark.
Colts at Browns Betting Pick:
Browns 21, Colts 20
Colts at Browns Best Bet for Week 5
This one will be close, and the Browns’ ability to churn out the hard yards on the ground serving as the edge they need to pull out the victory.
Colts at Browns Best Bet: Browns winning margin 1 to 6 (+370)
