Skip to main content
Indiana Nights
Advertising

Colts Defeat Browns, 31-28, For First Win Of 2017

Intro: The Indianapolis Colts take on the Cleveland Browns today in their 2017 regular season Week 3 matchup in Indy. Check back here for updates from the game.

092417_brissett-browns-td-celebration-ap_622.jpg

INDIANAPOLIS —Which team will leave Lucas Oil Stadium with its first win on Sunday?

The Indianapolis Colts (0-2) wrap up an early two-game home swing today, when they play host to the Cleveland Browns (0-2).

Here are some of the major plays as they happened each quarter:

FIRST QUARTER7:56:
The Browns appeared to come through huge on a 3rd and 3, when rookie quarterback DeShone Kizer connected with tight end Seth DeValve for a 25-yard pass play to the Indianapolis 27. But a pick play (pass interference) called on the Browns negated the big play, and set up a 3rd and 13. John Simon made sure Cleveland wouldn't convert again, as he threw off his man after being stuffed initially to get the sack, his second of the season, to force the Browns to punt for a second straight possession to open the game.

**

Photos from the week 3 game between the Cleveland Browns and Indianapolis Colts

INJURY UPDATE: **The Colts announce wide receiver Kamar Aiken is being evaluated for a concussion. He was involved in a helmet-to-helmet hit earlier in the quarter, though he was able to jog off on his own power.

0:24:Jacoby Brissett, in his second straight start for the Colts, leads the team on its first scoring drive of the game, going 70 yards in 10 plays — and running 4:13 off the clock — and ending on a five-yard run by the second-year quarterback, his second-career rushing touchdown. The big play of the drive? A 31-yard pass from Brissett to T.Y. Hilton on 3rd and 7 from the Cleveland 36 that got all the way to the 5; Brissett showed some touch on the pass that we didn't really see last week.

0:00:At the end of the first quarter, the Colts lead the Browns, 7-0.

SECOND QUARTER13:22:The Browns respond quickly to the Colts' first score of the day, going 75 yards in just five plays, taking just 2:02 off the clock to reach the end zone via 19-yard touchdown run by Duke Johnson, who evaded several Indianapolis defenders on the play before one final dive towards the pylon. Cleveland got into Indianapolis territory on a big play on 1st and 10 from their own 35, when Kizer found wide receiver Kenny Britt down the sideline on a nice touch pass of his own for a 38-yard gain to the Indy 27.INJURY UPDATE:Aiken has been ruled out with a concussion. Tough break, considering he had actually started the game as the No. 2 wide receiver. Donte Moncrief now goes back into that spot for the Colts.

12:14:Brissett to Hilton again, this time for 25 yards to the Cleveland 30. Hilton has now passed Colts great Lenny Moore (6,039) for the fourth most receiving yards in franchise history.

**

10:06: **Brissett knows where his juke button is. On 3rd and 2 from the Cleveland 7, Brissett scrambles to his right before taking off, hitting the spin to evade one defender, and then sprinting into the end zone for his second rushing touchdown of the day, becoming the first Colts quarterback to accomplish that feat since Andrew Luck did it twice in 2012 (vs. the Browns and vs. the Jacksonville Jaguars). Indianapolis takes a 14-7 lead.

5:14:Touchdown, Colts. Brissett finds Hilton, again, for a 61-yard touchdown pass, and now Indianapolis leads, 21-7. It's the first passing touchdown of Brissett's career, and he now has completed 9-of-12 passes for 206 yards with a touchdown, while also adding his two previous rushing touchdowns. Hilton, meanwhile, has five receptions for 145 yards and the touchdown; his 145 receiving yards in the first half are the third most in a game in franchise history (Hilton had 156 on Oct. 9, 2014).

2:41:Four straight possessions, four touchdowns for Indianapolis. This time, the Colts take advantage of a big pass interference call on a deep pass attempt to Hilton to get to the Cleveland 11, and three plays later, Frank Gore rumbles his way in from four yards out to make the score 28-7 as we approach the two-minute warning. It's the second rushing touchdown of the season for Gore, who is now the ninth player in NFL history with 3,000 career rushing attempts. Credit the Colts' defense for getting quick stops and keeping this hot Indy offense on the field.

0:27: Kizer finds tight end David Njoku for a one-yard touchdown pass, and the Browns trail 28-14. On the 10-play scoring drive, Cleveland wide receiver Jordan Leslie made an insane, one-handed catch at the Indianapolis 2-yard line that you'll see on all the highlight shows. Wow.

0:00:At halftime, the Colts lead the Browns, 28-14.

THIRD QUARTER8:39:The Browns looked like they were getting in good position to make this a one-score game, getting to the Indianapolis 17-yard line. But that's when Rashaan Melvin had enough. His interception of Kizer near the goal line at the 3-yard line was not only his first of the season, but it was the first in his five-year career. Melvin has played his tail off filling in at the No. 1 corner spot for the injured Vontae Davis, and that play was just the latest example.

0:11:Have a ballgame, Rashaan Melvin. His second interception of the quarter negates a lost fumble by tight end Jack Doyle on the Colts' previous possession. What timing.0:00:At the end of the third quarter, the Colts lead the Browns, 28-14.**

FOURTH QUARTER10:23: **Adam Vinatieri connects on his first field goal of the day, a 33-yarder, to extend the Colts' lead to 31-14. Brissett & Co. did a nice job milking some clock after Melvin's second pick of the afternoon, as the 10-play, 34-yard scoring drive takes a total of 4:53.

6:56:Kizer connects with Britt, who has Melvin draped all over him (pass interference was called, but declined) to hang on for an 11-yard touchdown play. Browns cut the Colts' lead to 10, 31-21, and scored in just 1:52 on that five-play, 58-yard drive. Cleveland attempts an onside kick, but it's recovered by Doyle at the Browns' 47.

2:04:After getting to the 1-yard line on a scramble, Kizer keeps it himself again and gets into the end zone, and things have officially gotten interesting. The Colts now lead by just three points, 31-28. It was an 11-play, 70-yard drive that took just 2:01 off the clock for Cleveland. Another onside kick lands in the hands of the Colts, this time by Matthias Farley, and the Colts need a first down to really put this one away against a Browns team without any timeouts (but with the two-minute warning coming after the next play).

0:00: We're final — the Colts (1-2) have earned victory No. 1 on the season with their 31-28 win over the Browns (0-3).

*[

The Colts have teamed up with Uber and ICJI](https://www.uber.com/info/uber-and-the-colts/) to help fans ride responsibly on game day! Download the Uber app and enter code COLTS2016 for a free first ride up to $15. Make the right call — get home safe with Uber!*

This article has been reproduced in a new format and may be missing content or contain faulty links. Please use the Contact Us link in our site footer to report an issue.

Related Content

Single Game Tickets On Sale Now!

Single Game Tickets On Sale Now!

Our 2024 schedule is set! Secure your seats to all home games at Lucas Oil Stadium now.

Advertising