Indianapolis Colts: 3 Keys for Sunday's Matchup with the Cleveland Browns

The Colts have nowhere to go but up after a humiliating defeat to the Houston Texans last week. They were outplayed in every facet of the game and they looked thoroughly outclassed by the Texans.

The inexperienced and offensively inept Cleveland Browns seem to be the perfect mouthwash to cleanse away the taste of the Colts' recent defeat. What will be the keys to victory for the Colts this Sunday?

It's almost too early to call this a "must-win" game, but if the Colts lose this one, their season may go into a tailspin.

Losing Manning was supposed to motivate the rest of the team to rally together to prove to everyone that they could win without the franchise QB. They couldn't make that point against the Texans. This week they need to make a statement against the Browns to redeem themselves and reinvigorate their season.

Here's how they can do it.

1. Pressure Colt McCoy on defense.

The Colts first couple of offensive possessions last Sunday resulted in two devastating fumbles that led to touchdowns for the Texans. After that, the Colts defense were in for a heavy dose of Ben Tate and Derrick Ward running the ball down their throats.

The linebackers looked slow and the defensive tackles didn't get much pressure up the middle, which can't happen against the Browns if the Colts expect to win.

The Browns offensive line is a liability, particularly on the right side. Robert Mathis is certainly up to the task of getting around whoever takes Tony Pashos' place at right tackle. Mathis should be able to get to QB Colt McCoy early and often. 

Peyton Hillis can do some damage running the football against a typically porous Colts defense, but if run-stopping defensive ends Tyler Brayton and Jamaal Anderson can see the field on obvious running plays, the Colts may have a better chance of stopping his powerful ground game.

The secondary can continue to be ball-hawks. With one forced fumble from Jacob Lacey and an interception from Antoine Bethea last week, the Colts defense showed that they could be opportunistic in getting the ball back for the offense.

2. Avoid dumb penalties and turn-overs.

The Colts have typically been one of the least-penalized team in the league. They didn't live up to that reputation last week. Against the Texans they committed some uncharacteristic penalties (including an egregious face-mask call on left guard Joe Reitz) that killed a couple of drives.

With two games under his belt as a Colt, Kerry Collins should be more comfortable and less prone to mistakes. The offensive line needs to provide better protection, in particular when the linebacker blitz comes. Mario Williams feasted on Dallas Clark last week, and although the Browns don't have a linebacker of Williams' caliber, the Colts can't let the Browns' 'backers get a good shot at the slow-footed Collins.

3. Get the running game and short passing game rolling early in the contest.

Without Manning at the helm, the Colts offense isn't nearly as improvisational and complex. It was a bizarre thing to see the offensive players huddle up between plays. Collins barely gesticulated at the line at all. He's a pocket passer who is at his best when he can wind up and sling it downfield.

Because the Colts found themselves down big early in the game last week, they never really established the run. I liked what I saw from rookie running back Delone Carter, who showed grit and decisiveness in his first NFL game.

Joseph Addai is one of the best pass-catching backs in the league, and Collins should go to him early and often on screens.

Tight ends Dallas Clark and Jacob Tamme didn't see the ball much against the Texans, but I expect that he'll target them more this week. When he does, those guys should be able to get extra yardage against an unremarkable Browns linebacking corps.

The Colts should be able to knock off the Browns this week. Collins will be better, and he showed glimpses of excellence last week when he hooked up with Reggie Wayne for some nice, long passes. The Colts are the superior team, even without Manning.