Defense travels, and this Sunday the Cleveland Browns are taking that defense to Indianapolis to face the Colts. The Browns sit at 3-2 and look to put themselves in the conversation as one of the teams to fear in the AFC. The Colts, who are 3-3, are looking to get back on track after dropping two of their last three games.
With the status of Deshaun Watson once again up in the air, the coaching staff needs to get P.J. Walker ready to roll with the starters again. Given how Walker performed in his first start against San Francisco, even Vegas is confident in the Browns chances of leaving Indianapolis victorious. However, this is the same Colts team that walked into Baltimore and handed them a loss the week before the Ravens dismantled the Browns.
Although the Browns are favored to win, there are still things that the team will need to go their way in order to come back to Cleveland with a 4-2 record. The Colts are not going to lie down and acquiesce to the Browns just because they just beat the hottest team in the NFL. So, what are their keys to victory against the Colts in Week 7?
3 Massive keys to a Browns victory in Week 7
Key to Victory No.3: Win the field position battle
When you have a defense playing at the level the Browns defense currently is, punting is not the worst thing in the world. If Cleveland's offense finds themselves just outside of field goal range, as long as you are in a neutral game script, take a delay of game and punt. Let Corey Bojorquez be a weapon for your team and attempt to pin the Colts offense inside of their own 10-yard line.
Ray Ventrone has his kick coverage units playing at a high level right now. Put faith in your punt team to flip the field and force the Colts into first and 90-plus-yard scenarios. Jim Schwartz’ defense is literally playing at historical levels when it comes to total yards gained.
It's difficult to imagine that the Colts will be able to drive the length of the field and put the ball in the endzone more than one time against this defense. Keep it simple and do not do the Colts any favors by handing them a shorter than necessary field.
Key to Victory No. 2: Finding easy answers for the quarterback
Regardless of who the starting quarterback ends up being, whether it's Deshaun Watson returning from four weeks of inactivity, or the second start for P.J. Walker, it's imperative that Kevin Stefanski finds easy answers for completions early. Establishing a rhythm and fostering some confidence for whichever quarterback takes the field has to be a priority.
The best example of Stefanski setting up his quarterback with easy completions this season came back in Week 3 against Tennessee. Stefanski dialed up some quick game looks to Elijah Moore that got Watson firing in rhythm and let his game expand from there. That needs to be the approach this week as well, regardless of who the signal caller ends up being.
However, instead of Moore being used in the quick game role, Stefanski should get David Njoku the easy early touches against the Colts. Even with the Colts having a strong linebacker room, Indianapolis is giving up the 27th most receiving yards a game to tight ends this season. The time is now to make Njoku a larger focal point for this offense and provide the quarterback with another reliable weapon going forward.
Njoku has only been targeted 22 times through the first five games this season and he has hauled in 19 of those attempts. That volume needs to increase if this offense is going to realize its full potential in the 2023 season. Get Njoku some easy touches early to get the quarterback dialed in while at the same time utilizing one of the team’s most dynamic receiving weapons. Bonus points if Stefanski can get creative and create mismatches for Njoku to exploit.
Key to Victory No.1: Stop the run
Colts first-round draft pick, quarterback Anthony Richardson, injured his shoulder back in Week 5 and is now going to undergo season-ending surgery. Luckily for the Colts, they have one of the best backup quarterbacks in the league in Gardner Minshew. While Minshew is a solid backup quarterback, the Colts bread and butter on offense is their running game.
Sunday’s contest will be former All-Pro running back Jonathan Taylor’s third game since returning from injured reserve. While Taylor will receive most of the headlines in Indianapolis’ backfield, Zack Moss can not be slept on. Moss enters Sunday’s contest as the NFL’s second-leading rusher with 466 rushing yards through six games.
Surely Taylor will begin to eat into Moss’ carries, but the Browns must prepare themselves for a two-headed attack at the running back position. However, Cleveland's defense doesn't need to change their overall approach and change their scheme to sell out and stop the run. It will come down to the Browns interior offensive line winning at the point of attack and erasing the line of scrimmage.
If the defensive tackle room, led by Dalvin Tomlinson, can keep Jeremiah Owusu-Koramoah and Sione Takitaki clean, then the rest should take care of itself. This should also be yet another game for standout safety, and overall defensive weapon, Grant Delpit to shine as an in-the-box defender. Fingers crossed that Anthony Walker can clear concussion protocol and get in on the run stuffing fun in his old stomping grounds.