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NFL Picks: Colts at Browns

Written by Jimmy Boyd

The Colts try to remain in the playoff hunt this week as they play the Browns in Cleveland. Since opening the season 3-4 the Colts have rattled off 4 straight wins. Indianapolis probably won’t be able to catch the Titans in the AFC South at this point, but they are certainly right in the mix for a Wild Card bid. Cleveland, on the other hand, hasn’t been able to live up to the expectations given to them after a breakout season in 2007. The Browns now sit at just 4-7 on the year, with no end in sight to their troubles on both sides of the ball. The Colts are 4.5 point favorites over the Browns this week with the total set at 45 points.

Offensively the Colts got off to a slow start, but they’ve started to come on as of late. They are averaging 22.5 points per game on 328 yards of total offense. Their 78 yards per game rushing is certainly cause for some concern, but Peyton Manning and the rest of the Colts’ offense have been able to pick up the slack for the most part. The running game has suffered injuries all season, but if the Colts can start to establish someone in the backfield they will be just that much more dangerous on this side of the ball.

The Colts have done just enough on defense to win games. Just like the offense, the defense has had it’s share of injuries and started off the season rather slowly. Overall the Colts are allowing 22.2 points per game on 334 yards of total offense. They are allowing opposing running backs to gain 137 yards per game on 4.3 yards per carry, but they’ve luckily been good enough in their secondary, holding opposing QBs to just 197 yards per game, to keep the Colts competitive this season. Like what you’ve heard? Then bet the Colts -4.5 here.

The Browns certainly aren’t putting up the kind of encore they were expected to on the offensive side of the ball this year. Last year’s starting QB, Derek Anderson was benched earlier in the year for Brady Quinn, but with Quinn down with a broken finger for the rest of the season Anderson will take over once again to see if he can’t finally get something going with this unit. The Browns currently average just 18.8 points per game and are gaining only 283 yards of total offense per game. Those numbers won’t keep them up with the Colts this week.

Defense for the Browns hasn’t been terrible, but it hasn’t exactly been good either. Cleveland gives up 21.5 points per game and 370 yards of total offense. The Browns’ rushing defense has not played well this year, giving up 146 yards per game on 4.5 yards per carry. The pass defense has been slightly better, but the 7.5 yards per pass this secondary has given up so far this year shows a tendency to give up big plays down field. They’ll likely have a hard time keeping Peyton Manning from throwing the ball deep on Sunday. The Browns are 4.5 point dogs at home.

The Colts are playing well again and are still very much in the playoff hunt. They have plenty of holes, but as players return from injury they should start to fill some of those gaps. They way the Browns are playing right now, it would be surprising if the Colts didn’t walk away with their 5th win in a row, but you never know if a guy like Derek Anderson could break out of his slump and take it to the Colts’ secondary.

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