Cleveland is looking for its best start since 1994.
CLEVELAND — It’s still early in the season, but the Browns are about to play in what is arguably one of their biggest games in a long time.
Cleveland is set to take on the Indianapolis Colts Sunday at FirstEnergy Stadium. Both teams enter with identical 3-1 records, and a victory today would give the Browns their best start since 1994, a year that also saw their last win in a playoff game.
The Browns made national headlines last week with a 49-38 win over the Dallas Cowboys, as the running game lit up the field in Arlington and Odell Beckham Jr. both caught and ran for a touchdown. The defense continued to be a concern, however, as what was once a 27-point lead shrunk to three with just minutes remaining.
The Colts have won their last three, but will be without both starting left tackle Anthony Castonzo and star linebacker Darius Leonard this afternoon. Future Hall Fame quarterback Philip Rivers, in his first year in Indianapolis, has an impressive passer rating of 97.3 but just four touchdown tosses in the first four contests.
What follows is a comprehensive live blog of today’s action, with the most recent plays and updates closest to the top. 3News will have updates and analysis all day both on air and on WKYC.com:
2ND QUARTER
0:13: Cody Parkey makes a 36-yard field goal to give the Browns a 20-10 lead. The score was partly set up by a trick play, with Odell Beckham Jr. throwing to Austin Hooper for an 18-yard gain.
4:24: The Colts go three and out (the first of the day for either team) and are forced to put. Donovan Peoples-Jones returns it to the Browns 18, where they will start.
5:58: The next Browns series features another spectacular catch, this time by Odell Beckham Jr. The play was upheld upon further review, and Indianapolis has wasted both of their challenges.
Shortly thereafter, Baker Mayfield hits Rashard Higgins for a 15-yard touchdown, and the Browns take a 17-10 lead.
10:15: Rodrigo Blankenship converts a 32-yard field goal, and the Colts have tied it up at 10. The score was set up by a great catch from Ashton Dulin, who beat Browns safety Andrew Sendejo.
14:06: A 14-play, 81-yard drive bleeds into the second quarter, and ends with Baker Mayfield finding Kareem Hunt in the back of the end zone. The Browns take a 10-7 lead.
The series was kept alive by Jarvis Landry, who made an incredible catch against the helmet of the Colts’ Bobby Okereke.
Right guard Wyatt Teller left the game with a calf injury, but is probable to return.
1ST QUARTER
6:00: Frank Reich decides to go for it on 4th and 2 from the Browns’ 4, and rookie Jonathan Taylor walks in easily for the touchdown. The Colts take a 7-3 lead.
10:24: A promising drive stalls near the Indianapolis goal line, but Cody Parkey nails a 24-yard field goal to give the Browns an early 3-0 lead. Jarvis Landry was shaken up after catching a 32-yard pass from Baker Mayfield, but is back in the game.
PREGAME
12,000 fans will be allowed inside FirstEnergy stadium today, still well below the maximum capacity of more than 68,000 but double the 6,000 allowed for the first two home games. According to 3News’ Ben Axelrod, the atmosphere already looks much different.
Odell Beckham Jr. appears to be in a good mood, as he was seen dancing “The Giddy” before kickoff.