Cleveland, OH (Sportsbooks) - Robert Mathis' 37-yard fumble return with 9:45 remaining in the fourth quarter lifted the
Indianapolis Colts to a 10-6 win over the
Cleveland Browns.
Mathis finished with two sacks for the surging Colts (8-4), who have reeled off five straight wins after an uncharacteristic start that featured four losses in their first seven games, continuing their push for a Wild Card spot in the jumbled AFC.
Peyton Manning completed 15-of-21 passes for 125 yards for Indianapolis, while Joseph Addai mustered only 57 yards on 15 carries. Manning threw a pair of interceptions and fumbled the ball on the goal line.
"It was a big win for us and they are all tough to get," said Colts head coach Tony Dungy. "It seems like every time we come to Cleveland, it comes down to the last play. The Browns played well on defense today."
Derek Anderson's Pro Bowl campaign in 2007 resulted in a big contract in the offseason and heightened expectations for the Browns, but the Oregon State product endured a slow start and was relegated to backup duty in favor of Brady Quinn. But with the former Notre Dame signal-caller out for the season with a fractured right index finger, Anderson was back under center for the Browns (4-8), who have dropped four of their last five games.
He threw for just 110 yards on 16-of-26 passing before leaving late in the fourth quarter with a sprained ligament in his left knee.
"The team played their hearts out today," said Browns head coach Romeo Crennel. "We held them off the scoreboard. I think the guys can hold their heads up because they gave a valiant effort. We just didn't finish."
Trailing 6-3, the Colts' defense stepped up and made a game-changing play. On 3rd-and-8 from his own 45, Anderson had the ball stripped away by Dwight Freeney and Mathis scooped it up and rumbled to the end zone.
Cleveland was forced to punt on its subsequent series and Indy had intentions of running out the clock, but Addai was stopped on 3rd-and-1, forcing the Colts to punt.
The Browns got the ball back at their own 30 with 1:50 remaining. Anderson completed passes of five and 10 yards to Jason Wright before he was injured on a sack by Mathis.
Ken Dorsey replaced Anderson with 1:07 left and proceeded to throw two incompletions and an interception that ended Cleveland's comeback bid.
It was not a good start for Indy, as Addai fumbled on the game's first play from scrimmage. Cleveland capitalized on the early turnover, gaining three points on a Phil Dawson 34-yard field goal.
The Colts looked to answer on their next series, marching to the Cleveland 12, where on 3rd-and-11, Manning nearly hooked up with the normally sure-handed Reggie Wayne for the go-ahead score. Indy had to settle for 30-yard field goal by Adam Vinatieri, which tied the game with 1:58 to go in the opening quarter.
Cleveland then embarked on an epic 16-play drive that ate up nine 1/2 minutes of the clock before stalling at the Indy eight. Dawson came on and drilled a 25-yarder to give the Browns a 6-3 lead with 7:35 remaining in the second quarter.
A defensive stand coupled with risky play-calling preserved the lead for the home squad. Faced with a 3rd-and-goal from the one, Addai was bottled up for no gain. Dungy opted to go for it on fourth down and the move backfired. Manning tried to burrow his way through a mass of humanity and wound up losing the football with just over a minute remaining. Dallas Clark recovered for Indy in the end zone, but the official said a fumble can't be advanced on fourth down, and Cleveland carried a three-point edge to halftime.
Dawson and Vinatieri both missed field goals in the third quarter.
Game Notes
Cleveland's Jamal Lewis rushed for 77 yards on 24 carries...Wayne had 46 yards on four receptions...Indy has won seven of the last eight meetings with the Browns...Colts linebacker Gary Brackett was carted off the field with an ankle injury in the second quarter...Cleveland tight end Kellen Winslow suffered an ankle injury early in the third quarter and did not return.
