NFL Picks Week 2: Why the Cleveland Browns Will Hand the Colts a Lopsided Loss

When the NFL schedule was released a few months ago, the first two games for the Cleveland Browns were thought to have been easily predictable.

In Week 1, the Browns had a very winnable game against a Cincinnati Bengals team that was forced to start a rookie quarterback since Carson Palmer threatened to retire if the Bengals did not trade him (which they refused to do).

Then in Week 2, the Browns would have to go into hostile territory and face one of—if not the best—quarterback in the NFL in Peyton Manning and the powerful Indianapolis Colts.

Now, fast forward to today—the Browns looked sloppy and disorganized, and extended their horrid home-opener losing streak.

Cleveland held a 17-13 lead for most of the second half until the Bengals caught the Browns off-guard with a quick snap, and backup Bruce Gradkowski found rookie wide receiver A.J. Green wide open for a 41-yard touchdown, destroying any momentum the Browns were holding on to.

However, as bad as the Browns looked in the loss, there is still hope, and their matchup with the Colts has turned into a winnable game.

Manning had offseason neck surgery and because of the NFL lockout, he was not able to work with team physicians to get himself back to 100 percent. This slowed Manning's recovery, and it was not certain whether or not he would be able to play in the first few weeks of the season.

Things went from bad to worse for Manning before their Week 1 matchup against the Houston Texans; he revealed that he had yet another surgery on his neck that would keep him out indefinitely.

The Colts lured quarterback Kerry Collins out of retirement to try and fill the void, but with only a few days to learn the team's offense, Collins struggled in his first game and the Texans dominated in a 34-7 lopsided victory.

Cleveland could have the same success against the Colts, and here are four reasons why.

1. Indianapolis' Struggling Run-Defense

It is clear that the Colts' run-defense is one of the worst in the league, but it has never stopped them from winning.

The Colts' best defense was their offense, and Peyton Manning took the strategy of running the ball several times out of opposing teams' game plans.

Manning and the Colts' talented receiving corps would put teams in an early 14-0 hole, and their coaching staff would have to throw their steady, time-consuming run plan out as they had to try and catch up quickly before the game was out of reach.

No one cared that the Colts had a terrible run-defense because they were still winning games; Indianapolis was the only team in NFL history to finish last in run-defense and still win a Super Bowl.

Yes, Manning is that talented.

But, the Colts do not have Manning—they have Kerry Collins, an aging veteran who had plans of retirement at the end of last season.

Now their offense is not as strong and powerful as it was when Manning was under center and other teams are able to focus on the running game, and the struggling Colts' run-defense is becoming more and more obvious.

Last week against the Texans, talented running back Arian Foster was out of the lineup for Houston, and the team still put up 167 yards rushing. Running back Ben Tate, who was playing in his first NFL game, ran for 116 yards and one touchdown.

Peyton Hillis did not have as impressive first game of the 2011-2012 season as many hoped, but Hillis is hoping the Browns will run the ball more, and they will—if they're smart.

Hillis' numbers should improve as well as those of Montario Hardesty since he is finally healthy and ready to contribute against a struggling Colts defense. The Browns could get out to a big lead if they can keep it simple and stick to focusing on the Colts' weaknesses.

Indianapolis' defense was dealt another blow (as if losing Manning was not enough); linebackers Gary Brackett and Ernie Sims will not be in the lineup on Sunday.

2. Tight Ends Taking Advantage of Hurting Linebackers

With two of their best linebackers, Gary Brackett and Ernie Sims, out of the lineup, as well as Kavell Conner listed as questionable, the Colts' linebacking corps could be slim come Sunday.

Pat Angerer may have been the one bright spot from the Colts' defense last week against Houston with 13 tackles and one fumble recovery, but one player can only do so much.

The rest of the Colts' linebackers are very young, with only one player in Sunday's lineup who is older than 25.

Last week against the Bengals, the Browns showed they may have one of the best tight end tandems in the league with Benjamin Watson and Evan Moore. Both players came up big in the first half, each catching a touchdown and helping the Browns get out to a 14-13 first-half lead.

When Moore is healthy, the two of them give a lot of linebackers headaches and create a lot of mismatches—Sunday will be no different.

Watson and Moore finished second and third in receiving in Week 1 respectively and have become two of quarterback Colt McCoy's favorite targets in the new West Coast offense.

The Browns should focus more on the running game, but when they do go to the air, there is a very good chance that either one of these two will be on the receiving end.

Against a weakened linebacking corps, Watson and Moore could both have big games.

3. The Colts' Offense Is One-Dimensional Without Peyton Manning

When the Colts had Peyton Manning under center, opposing defenses had to focus so much on the passing game because it was so dominant.

Because of this, the Colts' running game and back Joseph Addai would catch opponents off-guard and move down the field with ease over the course of the game.

Without Manning, that passing game is no longer as powerful as it used to be, and the Colts will be forced to try and use the running game more.

The Colts did not have that option in Week 1 since the Texans got out to an early lead and Indianapolis was forced to go to the air. The Colts were only able to put up 64 total rushing yards, as Addai ran eight times for 39 yards.

If the Browns can get out to an early lead with their own running game, the Colts may quickly become one-dimensional, which is where second-year cornerback Joe Haden will take over.

For most of the game against the Bengals, especially after the first quarter, the Browns' defense was able to hold Cincinnati's offense and forced several three-and-outs. Haden knocked down five passes, a bulk of them coming on third down plays, and was the defense's bright spot in the Week 1 loss.

4. Kerry Collins Under Center

There is a pretty good chance that Kerry Collins did not pull a Brett Favre when he retired, working out while still contemplating whether or not he was actually going to retire.

Unlike Favre, Collins knew his time was done playing football, and he had no plans of coming back—well, that was until the Colts came calling asking him to come back to help a team that was hurting.

With only a few days to learn a brand-new offense, Collins struggled in his first game back in the league.

Although he threw for 197 yards and a touchdown, Collins fumbled the ball three times, two of them were lost on successive snaps and led to Texans points. Quickly, a 3-0 deficit had been expanded to a 17-0 lead, and the Colts were quickly out of it.

Collins is no Peyton Manning, who is so dominant because of how he is able to read the defense and call the appropriate audible.

Collins' best days are clearly behind him and he is most likely still trying to learn the team's offense. The coaching staff will be forced to slim down how many plays they call until Collins is up to speed with the rest of the team.

The nice thing for Collins though is that he has one of the best groups of receivers in the league. There is a lot of talent that the Browns are going to have to keep track of, including Reggie Wayne, Pierre Garcon and Austin Collie.

Cornerback Joe Haden, whose confidence could not be higher after holding Bengals rookie receiver A.J. Green to only one catch (the quick snap that was the entire defense's fault, not Haden's), will have the tough test of guarding Wayne.

The Browns will have to focus on putting a lot of pressure on Collins so that none of the above mentioned receivers have a chance to hurt Cleveland's defense.

One player to watch is linebacker D'Qwell Jackson, who had an impressive first game back after a torn pectoral muscle kept him out all of last season.

If Jackson can put together anything close to his 11-tackle, two-sack, one-forced fumble performance in Week 1, Collins will not be passing much.