Indianapolis Colts Prepare for Cleveland Browns in NFL Preseason

For the third season in a row, the Cleveland Browns will travel to Lucas Oil Stadium, to face the Indianapolis Colts. The Browns got the best of the Colts in 2011, and the Colts won a close game against Cleveland last season. This year’s situation will be a bit different, as their 2013 match-up will be an NFL preseason game.

Although the game doesn’t technically count, the energy has been amped up for this encounter. The third game of the preseason usually marks the most time that fans and coaches get to see the starters on the field. The Colts’ starting lineup is expected to play into the 3rd quarter of Saturday’s game, unless something unforseen happens. This game is also the final chance for the players on the fringe of the roster to make an impression on the coaches, before the team is forced to make cuts.

For the first time in a decade, the Browns seem to be trending upward. With second-year players Brandon Weeden and Trent Richardson in tow, the future looks bright for the Browns. Weeden, the 29 year-old quarterback has looked good so far this preseason, leading the team to scores on five of his six trips down the field. Richardson has been held back in the preseason due to health, but cooks to be ready to carry the load a lot for this young team. Both players were taken in the 1st round of last year’s NFL Draft, which was headed by Andrew Luck. Weeden was selected by the Browns with the 22nd overall pick, and Cleveland drafted Richardson with the 3rd overall selection.

These two young teams could clash several more times in the near future, as well. Both franchises have had face-lifts recently, and look ready to be cemented in success of the AFC. Saturday’s game may not mean much in the long run, but we will get a glimpse of what’s to come from both of these teams.