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INDIANAPOLIS –Not often in the NFL do you get matchups of starting rookie quarterbacks and running backs on both teams but that was the case when the Browns traveled to Indianapolis.
First round picks Andrew Luck, Trent Richardson and Brandon Weeden headlined the quartet.
Fittingly though, it was the play of fifth round pick Vick Ballard that dominated the headlines after the Colts 17-13 victory.
Ballard rushed for a career-high 84 yards and the Colts rushing attack put together their finest performance of the 2012 season.
"It was just assignments and attention to detail," Ballard said of the key to the run game success. "Last week, I think we kind of shied away from some of those things and we weren't successful running the ball. (We) just got back to basics, and that was the key to the game."
The Colts took a 17-13 with 3:19 to play in the third quarter following Adam Vinatieri's 38-yard field goal.
After two home games that included numerous late game heroics, the fourth quarter would not have the same heart-stopping moments.
Instead. it was the Colts defense standing tall in allowing just three first downs the rest of the game with the victory sealed after cornerback Jerraud Powers defended a fourth-and-six pass at the Indianapolis 39-yard line with just under two minutes remaining.
The Colts dominated the trenches as they shut down Richardson and the Browns rushing game.
2011 leading tackler Pat Angerer returned to the lineup and helped the Colts even their record at 3-3 and ignite a four-game winning streak.
"To start off with, we're obviously excited about the win," Arians said. "To get to 3-3, be in the hunt now in the AFC with a bunch of other teams and start to get healthy hopefully next week and see if we can take this on the road."
"A lot of mistakes today that can be corrected, myself included, and we'll go from there. But pretty happy locker room to get to 3-3, that was our goal no matter what."OFFENSIVE HIGHLIGHT:In just the second start of his NFL career, Ballard stole the show in a matchup of rookie running backs.
Coming into the Browns game, Ballard had 29 carries for 67 yards through four games and the Colts were coming off a week in which they garnered just 2.4 yards a carry.
Ballard made the most of his first home start with 20 carries for 84 yards and supplanted himself as the starter for the rest of the regular season.DEFENSIVE HIGHLIGHT:Richardson was the headliner at the running back position in last year's rookie class but that wasn't the case at Lucas Oil Stadium on Oct. 21.
The No. 3 pick in the 2012 NFL Draft was held to eight yards on eight carries, which ended up being a season low in both attempts and yards for Richardson.
In total, the Browns backs gained averaged just 3.2 yards per carry against the Colts which would go on to be Cleveland's third fewest outcome of the 2012 season.QUOTE OF THE GAME:Moving the Colts record to 3-3 was one thing but interim head coach Bruce Arians brought even better news to the pots game press conference.
"Great news, Coach Pagano celebrated this one at home. He was at the house, released. We're really excited about that. That's probably as big as the win today," said Arians. "He's been released to his house. The treatments will go on from there. I'm sure he's doing great right now. Hopefully, he didn't get too dag-gone exhausted again coaching."
INTERESTING FACT:In a season that was marred by offensive line injuries, the Browns game marked the first time that Indianapolis had the same starting five on the field in consecutive weeks.
The Colts out-gained their opponent in the rushing department (148-55) for the first time all season and the 37 rushing attempts were also a high in 2012.**[
CLICK HERE FOR A PHOTO GALLERY OF THE COLTS 17-13 VICTORY OVER THE BROWNS](http://www.colts.com/media-center/photo-gallery/Colts-vs-Browns---HIGHLIGHTS-Colts-PhotoMatt-Bowen/d83a9fa4-52c2-426a-952d-1f8496c264c2#9b7538bc-93a7-4365-9587-3cd92b398c7a)VIDEO HIGHLIGHT**:
