Cleveland Browns score predictions vs. Indianapolis Colts in Week 5

Writer: Dan Gilinsky

A 3-1 start for the Orange and Brown? Not too shabby, huh?

Few seemed to have predicted a victory at Jerry World, but Cleveland took advantage of the mistake-prone Cowboys, ran it until the cows came home and got it done. The Browns are rolling along, and after four weeks, are atop the NFL in turnover differential at plus-six. What a start it’s been for head coach Kevin Stefanski, who has circled the wagons after Cleveland had a blowout first L in Week 1 at the Baltimore Ravens.

This week, the Browns will face a tough test against Indianapolis, and namely their top-ranked defensive unit. This being the first week sans Nick Chubb of the 2020 campaign will make that even more so the case, and Indy trade addition DeForest Buckner is off to a heck of a start.

For the Orange and Brown, though, their offensive line has played at an elite level to this point, and as this one progresses, we should see some pop runs from Kareem Hunt in a starting role. And the same could very well go for D’Ernest Johnson in relief once that o-line over time begins to wear down the Indy defense.

While Baker Mayfield will need to get the ball out, he’s shown encouraging signs in recent weeks, and to aid in slowing down Justin Houston, Denico Autry, Buckner, and that rush, look for Stefanski to use misdirection in the run game, which should help.

Odell Beckham Jr., Jarvis Landry, Austin Hooper, and the pass catchers should be able to get some solid looks off Mayfield boots in some sequences from there, too, and while Cleveland won’t be putting up 49 points here, they’ll be efficient enough.

Defensively, if the front seven does a decent job in containing rookie Jonathan Taylor, of which they’ve done a commendable job of against rushing attacks thus far, that should be enough. Philip Rivers and that Indy passing attack isn’t especially high-powered, and though Mo Alie-Cox will give Cleveland’s linebackers, most notably, issues, Cleveland doesn’t give up close to as much through the air this go-round as the defense rebounds after a tough start.

And in winning time, Rivers holds it a bit too long, and the Myles Garrett strip-sack streak continues.

Then, the Browns get a few first downs from there, and Cody Parkey gets his second field goal of the game late to cap off the scoring in a hard-fought six-point W. The Cleveland special teams unit is beginning to come on after a rough start, too.

Prediction: Cleveland 27, Indianapolis 21