In a roller coaster of a game, the Indianapolis Colts found themselves on the bad end in the final result after the Cleveland Browns scored the game-winning touchdown with just 15 seconds left in the game.
There will be a lot of chatter about that game after the Browns got inside the five-yard line after a pair of highly questionable penalties. Darrell Baker Jr. first got hit with a ticky-tack illegal contact penalty on a play where E.J. Speed forced a fumble and DeForest Buckner recovered it.
On the following play, Baker Jr. was called for defensive pass interference when the ball was clearly uncatchable. It sailed over the receiver’s head into the stands. This loss wasn’t just on the refs. It was self-induced turnovers by Gardner Minshew that led to the Browns getting 17 points off of three of his four turnovers in this matchup. There was also a questionable decision by Shane Steichen to kick a 60-yard field goal, which got blocked by Myles Garrett and led to three points for Cleveland.
It’s woulda, coulda, shoulda, game for Indy but if you take away one of those turnovers or if Steichen elects to punt in that situation, then the contest wouldn’t have came down to the poor officiating on Cleveland’s game-winning drive.
This is a game the Colts should have won. Here are five takeaways from the loss:
1
Jekyll and Hyde day for Gardner Minshew
The game started out strong for Gardner Minshew after last week’s disappointing performance against the Jacksonville Jaguars. On the offense’s first drive of the game, he took advantage of a free play (Myles Garrett offsides) and found a wide-open Josh Downs for a 59-yard touchdown.
3rd-and-7. Gardner Minshew gets Myles Garrett to jump offsides but takes advantage of the free play to connect with Josh Downs for a 59-yard touchdown for the #Coltspic.twitter.com/8c43mpLo1l
— Cody Manning (@CodyTalksNFL) October 22, 2023
On the third series of the game for the offense, Minshew guided the unit to the 17-yard line, and on a third-and-two, he took a QB read for a touchdown to give Indianapolis their first lead of the game.
Gardner Minshew with the wheels on a 17-yard touchdown for the #Colts 💨💨💨pic.twitter.com/tng48UTmuE
— Cody Manning (@CodyTalksNFL) October 22, 2023
The bad Minshew showed up on their next drive. Myles Garrett beat Bernhard Raimann to hit Minshew to force a fumble to give the Browns a great field position. This set up a touchdown drive for Cleveland.
It seemed to settle down for Minshew after that point. He got the offense in field goal position but shot themselves in the foot (penalty/six-yard loss) which set up the blocked 60-yard field goal attempt but he was able to lead a touchdown drive on the following series.
He kept that drive alive with a 34-yard pass to Josh Downs on a third-and-eight and put the offense inside the five-yard line on an eight-yard completion to Michael Pittman Jr. on a third-and-seven.
Minshew capped it off with a four-yard QB scramble touchdown run.
Gardner Minshew continues to create plays with his legs for the #Colts
Gets his 2nd rushing TD of the game.pic.twitter.com/coxW6c2Blg
— Cody Manning (@CodyTalksNFL) October 22, 2023
Then Mr. Hyde showed up again for Minshew. He took two straight sacks on the offense’s following series and fumbled the second one in the endzone, which Cleveland recovered for a touchdown.
His woes continued to start in the second half. After the defense forced a three-and-out, he ended up throwing a badly placed ball on third down, and Denzel Ward took advantage of it to get the interception.
.@denzelward read it like a book 🧐📖#CLEvsIND on CBS & NFL+ pic.twitter.com/APOa0XnG4E
— Cleveland Browns (@Browns) October 22, 2023
The Colts would end up scoring on their next two drives but there was a missed opportunity on their fourth drive of the second half. Michael Pittman Jr. had a walk-in touchdown but another badly placed ball by Minshew led to a drop and they ended up having to settle for a field goal.
Those six points also would have been a difference-maker for Indianapolis.
Minshew would end up tossing a 75-yard touchdown to Pittman Jr. to give the Colts a lead in the fourth quarter but that play was mostly on MPJ’s effort to break a pair of tackle attempts.
The game ended on what cost the Colts the game outside of the officiating, Minshew fumbled the ball on the final play of the game, which gave him eight turnovers in the last two games.
Minshew finished going 15-of-23 for 305 yards, two touchdowns, and an interception. He’s the first quarterback to throw over 300 yards against the Browns’ defense this season.
He also added 29 rushing yards on three attempts and a pair of touchdowns on the ground. On what could have been an outstanding day for Minshew, his performance has a stink on it because of the four turnovers.
If Minshew can’t clean that part of his game up, then the Colts will continue to struggle to find ways to win for the remainder of the season.
2
Kenny Moore II had a day
It’s been a bounceback season for the veteran of the Colts cornerback room. Kenny Moore II was making plays all over the place for the defense. He impacted the ground game and played a factor against Cleveland’s passing attack.
Moore II led the team in sacks (one-and-a-half) and TFLs (three). He now leads all defensive backs across the NFL with seven TFLs for the season. His sack contributions came on third downs that forced two three-and-outs for Indianapolis.
He finished tied for the most QB hits (two) and had the second most tackles (10 total/seven solo) for the defense. Moore II also just missed an interception but the ball hit the ground right before he was able to secure it.
If Moore II can continue this level of play then he should earn some honors by the end of the season.
3
No answer for Myles Garrett
It’s no secret that teams understand they need to limit the impact from Myles Garrett but the Colts didn’t have an answer for him in this matchup. He got things kicked off by beating second-year left tackle Bernhard Raimann to force his first fumble of the game.
95 turning the tides 💪#CLEvsIND on CBS & NFL+ pic.twitter.com/QbmGfSxtZ6
— Cleveland Browns (@Browns) October 22, 2023
This led to seven points for Cleveland.
Garrett didn’t stop there. On the following drive, he made a huge play on special teams by jumping over the Indy line to block Matt Gay’s field goal attempt.
HE HOPPED RIGHT OVER HIM 🤯#CLEvsIND on CBS & NFL+ pic.twitter.com/Bz3YZgkdiH
— Cleveland Browns (@Browns) October 22, 2023
His first-half dominance was capped off when he breezed by a chip block and a bad blocking attempt by rookie Blake Freeland to force his second fumble of the game, which resulted in a fumble recovery for a touchdown.
what more can you ask from @Flash_Garrett#CLEvsIND on CBS & NFL+ pic.twitter.com/lkDtabgZYs
— Cleveland Browns (@Browns) October 22, 2023
Garrett joined the history book with his first-half performance.
Myles Garrett is the first player since at least 2000 with multiple sacks, multiple forced fumbles, and a blocked field goal in the same game.#DawgPound @Browns @Flash_Garrett @NFLResearch
— Tony Holzman-Escareno (@FrontOfficeNFL) October 22, 2023
He ended the game with nine tackles (seven solo), one TFL, one pass deflection, two QB hits, two sacks, two forced fumbles, and a blocked field goal. It was a Defensive Player of the Year-type game for Garrett.
4
Jonathan Taylor's first 100+ total yard game of 2023
Jonathan Taylor had just 20 touches entering this contest. Shane Steichen finally took the leashes off his star player and he ended the game touching the ball 21 times. When it looked like things weren’t going to go the Colts way being down 30-21, Taylor showed up to get his team back in the game.
On the third drive of the second half, Taylor touched the ball seven straight times from the 50-yard line. He picked up 30 yards on the ground and had a 20-yard reception that put the offense inside the red zone.
Taylor would end up getting his first touchdown of the season with a five-yard run.
Jonathan Taylor's first touchdown of the season for the #Coltspic.twitter.com/bVDSMUDEvy
— Cody Manning (@CodyTalksNFL) October 22, 2023
Taylor led the team with 75 rushing yards on 18 attempts. He also grabbed three balls for 45 yards on four targets. JT ended the game with 120 total yards and a touchdown.
This is the type of game that Shane Steichen needs out of Taylor and will have to lean on him going forward to help his offense protect the ball.
5
Josh Downs first career 100-yard receiving game
The rookie receiver for the Colts offense has found his role and is continuing to be an impact player for Shane Steichen. He’s been great at helping the offense pick up first downs in third-down situations, which was a big factor on the opening drive for the offense.
Downs kept the drive alive with a six-yard reception on a third-and-two and on the next set of downs he showed up big on another third down. As I previously mentioned, Gardner Minshew and Downs took advantage of a free play to create a 59-yard touchdown.
This was the longest play of the season for him. Downs would show up later for the offense on third down later in the first half. He picked up 34 yards on a third-and-eight on the first set of downs for the Colts to keep the drive alive. This would lead to Indy’s third touchdown of the game.
Downs finished with five receptions for 125 yards and a touchdown on six targets. He’s just the second player to go over 100 receiving yards against the Browns’ defense this season. Also finds himself as the second player for the Colts to go over that mark through seven games.
He’s stacking up performances and is proving to be a vital piece for the Indy passing attack in 2023.
