Soft part of the schedule begins with the Colts

If there can be such a thing as a soft part of the schedule for a team that has won one of its last 21 games, these next three games should be like dining on a bag of marshmallows for the Browns.

The Browns play the Colts in Indianapolis on Sept. 24, and then host the Bengals and Jets in back-to-back games at FirstEnergy Stadium.

Not only are all three opponents 0-2 (as the Browns are); ESPN in its weekly power rankings ranks the Colts 30th, the Bengals 28th and the Jets 32nd.

The Browns are ranked 29th, but would nudge upward by beating the woeful Colts, who are down to their third quarterback.

Andrew Luck, the first pick of the 2012 draft, has taken a beating behind the Colts offensive line most of his career. That led to shoulder surgery in January, and he is still isn’t ready to play.

Scott Tolzien started at quarterback in the Colts opener and was a disaster in a 46-9 loss. That leaves it up to Jacoby Brissett, who was acquired in a trade with the Patriots on Sept. 2. Brissett started last week in a 16-13 OT loss.

“This (Browns) defense poses a huge, huge challenge for everybody on the offensive side of the football and a young center and our quarterback that

has only been here a short period of time,” Colts head coach Chuck Pagano said on a conference call. “Everybody has to raise their level of play, because they do a great job defensively and they have a bunch of guys around the football.

“They play as hard as anybody I’ve seen play in a long, long time. They have a bunch of free runners going at the quarterback and guys making plays. (Brissett) has to play extremely well for us to have a chance.”

Don’t expect fireworks from the Browns’ offense

against the Colts — or against the Bengals or Jets for that matter. The more tape teams get on Browns rookie quarterback DeShone Kizer, the tougher it’s going to be for him.

The Browns are favored to beat the Colts and will likely be favored to beat the Bengals and Jets. The players don’t think about that, but they have to know people are expecting better results in the next three games.

“A win on the road would be huge for us,” linebacker Christian Kirksey said. “We’re all focused to head up to Indy, to beat a good team. We’re focused. We’re excited about this opportunity. I’m just ready to hit the road and finally get a win under our belt.”

Hue Jackson still has

his players’ attention and respect, which is a tribute to him considering his record of 1-17. It isn’t his fault Executive Vice President of Football Operations Sashi Brown has given him the youngest team in the NFL, and it isn’t his fault he is coaching the only team whose three quarterbacks combined have as many NFL victories as The Three Musketeers.

Still, if the Browns don’t come out of this threegame stretch with at least two victories, doubt is going to start creeping into the locker room. It would make a long season seem even longer.