SportsDirect Inc. staff
Oct 21, 2012
Colts 17, Browns 13: Andrew Luck ran for a pair of touchdowns as host Indianapolis handed Cleveland its team record-tying 11th consecutive road loss.
Luck, the No. 1 pick in last April's draft, completed 16 of 29 passes for only 186 yards but did his damage on the ground against the Browns (1-6), who matched their club-record road losing streak set from Dec. 7, 1974-Sept. 26, 1976.
Luck opened the scoring with a 3-yard touchdown run midway through the first quarter. After a mishandled snap by punter Reggie Hodges on the extra-point attempt following a 14-yard scoring pass from rookie Brandon Weeden to Greg Little kept Cleveland one point behind the Colts (3-3), Luck found the end zone from five yards out to open a 14-6 advantage midway through the second quarter.
Vick Ballard gained 84 yards on 20 carries and Reggie Wayne caught six passes for 73 yards for the Colts, who rebounded from a lackluster loss to the New York Jets to win for the ninth time in 12 meetings with the Browns.
Weeden was 25-of-41 for 264 yards and two TD passes for Cleveland, which has lost 12 of 13 overall.
GAME NOTEBOOK: Little had a team-high six receptions for 52 yards while rookie Josh Gordon hauled in a 33-yard scoring strike from Weeden in the third quarter to get Cleveland within 14-13. ... The Browns recorded only 55 yards rushing, led by Montario Hardesty's 28 yards on seven carries. ... Indianapolis LB Robert Mathis missed his second consecutive game and DE Cory Redding also sat out, both with knee injuries.