Colts...10 Browns...6
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CLEVELAND — Always overshadowed by their star-studded offense, the Indianapolis Colts’ defense found the end zone on a day Peyton Manning couldn’t.
Defensive end Robert Mathis scooped up Derek Anderson’s fumble and rumbled 37 yards for a touchdown as the Colts stayed in the thick of the AFC playoff chase by winning an ugly 10-6 decision over the Cleveland Browns.
Mathis’ big play helped bail out Manning and Indianapolis’ high-octane offense, which didn’t score a touchdown. The Colts (8-4) got a 30-yard field goal from Adam Vinatieri and improved to 5-0 in November.
The Browns (4-8) lost their fourth straight at home and may be without quarterback Anderson for an extended period. Anderson, starting in place of the injured Brady Quinn, sprained a knee and is probably done for the season.
Quoteworthy: “We still won, but we probably didn’t play winning offensive football.” -- Peyton Manning, Colts quarterback
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