BROWNS VS. COLTS

WHEN: Today, 1 p.m.
WHERE: Cleveland Browns Stadium
RECORDS: Browns 4-7; Colts 7-4
LAST WEEK: Browns lost 16-6 to Texans; Colts beat Chargers 23-20
SERIES: Browns lead 14-11; 2-2 in playoffs
SERIES AT CLEVELAND: Colts lead 6-5
LAST MEETING: Colts won 13-6 on Sept. 25, 2005, in Indianapolis
COACHES: Romeo Crennel is 24-35 with Browns and overall; Tony Dungy is 80-27 with Colts and 134-69 overall
TV/RADIO: Channel 19, with broadcasters Dick Enberg and Randy Cross; WMMS 100.7-FM
NFL RANKINGS (OUT OF 32 TEAMS): Browns — offense 27th (22nd rushing, 27th passing), defense 27th (28th rushing, 20th passing); Colts — offense T-16th (32nd rushing, 6th passing), defense T-18th (25th rushing, 12th passing)
BROWNS UPDATE: RB Jamal Lewis is ninth in the NFL with 195 carries. He’s 14th with 716 yards and is looking for his first 100-yard game. He’s 179 yards shy of 10,000 for his career.
• After today, the Browns will have hosted the last three Super Bowl champs. They beat the Giants (2007) and lost to the Steelers (2005).
• S Sean Jones had his first interception of the year vs. Houston.
• LB Kamerion Wimbley has two sacks in the last three games, giving him three for the season.
• Fans are asked to bring a new, unwrapped toy valued at $10 or more to the stadium for the Toys For Tots program.
COLTS UPDATE: Dungy has taken nine straight teams to the playoffs, tying Tom Landry
(1975-83) for the most consecutive playoff appearances by a coach since the 1970 merger.
• The Colts have won four straight games.
• WR Reggie Wayne leads the team with 58 catches for 824 yards and five touchdowns.
• The Colts have converted a league-best 49.0 percent on third down. They’ve allowed 47.9 percent to be converted.
• They have one lost fumble on the year and have allowed four passing TDs and four return TDs.
BROWNS INJURY REPORT: Out: TE Darnell Dinkins (ankle); Questionable: DE Shaun Smith (calf), FB Lawrence Vickers (ankle), TE Kellen Winslow (shoulder); Probable: Charles Ali (rib), RB Jerome Harrison (hamstring), S Sean Jones (ankle), NT Shaun Rogers (shoulder), DE Corey Williams (foot).
COLTS INJURY REPORT: Out: C Jeff Saturday (calf); Questionable: CB Antoine Bethea (ankle), LB Gary Brackett (hamstring), CB Melvin Bullitt (rib), LB Tyjuan Hagler (knee), CB Bob Sanders (knee); Probable: T Tony Ugoh (quadriceps).
THE PICK: The Colts are streaking, and the Browns are in no position to slow them down. Colts 30-20.

MARQUEE MATCHUP

Colts QB Peyton Manning vs. Browns secondary

Of all the amazing statistics regarding Peyton Manning — and there are dozens — one might be the most worrisome for the Browns. In four games against Cleveland, Manning has never had a 300-yard game or 100 passer rating.
He’s due.
Manning is one of the all-time greats. He’s an eight-time Pro Bowler, two-time league MVP and was the Super Bowl MVP in the Colts’ victory in 2006.
“He’s a future Hall of Famer,” Browns defensive end Shaun Smith said.
Manning’s most notable feats:
• Has started 171 straight games to begin his career, and has missed just one snap because of injury.
• The all-time leader with eight 4,000-yard seasons.
• Fourth on the career touchdown list with 325.
• Eighth on the yardage list with 44,449.
• Only quarterback with 25 touchdown passes in 10 straight seasons. Dan Marino and Brett Favre are second with five.
Yet none of his 45 300-yard games have come against the Browns. He could end that drought today.
Manning’s season started slowly after he missed training camp while recovering from knee surgery. Manning threw 10 touchdowns and nine interceptions and the intricate offense took awhile to get going as the Colts stumbled to a 3-4 start.
But as Manning has found his groove, so have the offense and the team. In four straight wins, he has nine touchdowns, one interception and no rating lower than 92.5. The Colts have played their way into playoff contention and may end up the favorite to represent the AFC in the Super Bowl.
“Everybody feeds off him,” said cornerback Brandon McDonald, who’s had an up-and-down season. “They’ve always been a high-powered offense and they’ve got it rolling now.”
Manning will test cornerbacks McDonald, Eric Wright and Terry Cousin, along with safeties Sean Jones, Brodney Pool and Mike Adams. The Colts have a variety of receiving targets in Reggie Wayne, Marvin Harrison, Anthony Gonzalez and tight end Dallas Clark.
“Peyton knows exactly where to go with the ball,” linebacker D’Qwell Jackson said. “He’s a technician.”

NICKEL COVERAGE: Five points of interest in today’s game

1. Slot machine

Colts receiver Anthony Gonzalez could have a huge day in his hometown. Gonzalez, who grew up in Avon Lake, has 46 catches for 568 yards and three touchdowns. He’s especially effective on third down, with 19 catches (tied for fifth in the NFL) for 278 yards and two TDs.
He spends much of his day in the slot in a three-receiver set and will be matched up against nickelback Terry Cousin, who’s struggled all year. Peyton Manning makes a living on mismatches and will have no trouble spotting this one.

2. Catching up

Receiver Braylon Edwards had a hand — er, stone hand — in Derek Anderson losing his job to Brady Quinn after eight games. Quinn’s out for the year, so Anderson is back in the lineup, and Edwards could help resuscitate his career.
Anderson and Edwards had great chemistry last year and teamed up for 16 touchdowns. A repeat performance in the last five games could salvage Edwards’ lost season and earn Anderson a starting gig here or elsewhere for 2009.

3. Speed kills

Texans defensive end Mario Williams (6-foot-7, 291 pounds) got the best of left tackle Joe Thomas last week, and Colts end Dwight Freeney offers another challenge today.
He’s 6-1, 268, and relies on his speed and agility to beat tackles around the edge. Freeney has seven of the Colts’ 16 sacks and had three the last time he played the Browns — but Thomas was still at Wisconsin. Thomas’ best asset is his footwork, so he might fare better against Freeney than he did against the strong Williams.

4. Catching a break

The Colts will be without center Jeff Saturday (calf), and safety Bob Sanders (knee) is expected to miss his third straight game. Saturday has been a Pro Bowl starter the last three years and is in his ninth year working with Peyton Manning. Sanders is the heart and soul of the defense and was the NFL’s defensive player of the year in 2007.
Indy doesn’t look the same without Sanders, especially against the run. It ranks 25th, allowing 136.8 yards a game.

5. Pride matters

General manager Phil Savage called last week’s 16-6 loss to Houston the worst game in his four years. “We just didn’t show up,” he said. The lifeless performance ended any talk of the playoffs and likely was the beginning of the end for coach Romeo Crennel.
The Browns have five games left to prove they have heart and they respect Crennel enough to play hard. A fast start today would keep the players and fans interested.
— Scott Petrak

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