Can the Browns continue their momentum heading into the bye?
This Sunday, the Cleveland Browns take on the Los Angeles Chargers. Below, we analyze a few advantages, disadvantages, or general thoughts about the two teams before getting to our predictions for the game.
Game Analysis
The Chargers’ Defensive Performances
- Week in and week out, the Browns have been facing defenses with flaws in 2024. That changes this week with the Los Angeles Chargers, as they have a defense that is allowing a league-low 13 points per game.
- They rank 8th in yards allowed, 11th in rushing yards allowed (but 25th in rushing yards allowed per play), and 9th against the pass. They are 10th in interception rate, 11th in sacks per pass attempt. Altogether, those stats make them sound decent, but not dominant, on defense.
- Digging deeper into situational things, though, they allow the fewest number of first downs per game, are 5th in third down defense, 4th in the red zone, 8th in goal to go situations.
- They’ve beaten the Raiders, Panthers, Broncos, and Saints, all teams that feature (or featured at the time) below average quarterback play. The Chargers are 4-0 in those games. They’ve lost to Pittsburgh, Kansas City, and Arizona, three teams that would be in the playoffs if the season ended today. Still, the most points that the Chargers have allowed all season is 20 points, and that only happened once.
- Los Angeles is solid, and I think it’d be naive to think that can be walked over. However, I think there is a formula with a greater commitment to the run, and better execution in the red zone, that can get them for 23 points and a path to victory.
Ignorance is Bliss?
- We are a bit over the moon over what Jameis Winston did with the Browns’ offense last week. As Barry Shuck asked this week, are fans ready for a possible roller coaster ride as opposed to the consistency that Joe Flacco showed a year ago? We already saw it in last week’s game with all of the dropped interceptions by both teams — but let’s be honest, Winston threw a game-ending interception right to a defender that is probably picked 95% of the time, yet somehow, Baltimore dropped it. Winston then got the game-winning touchdown on the next play.
- The key is that Winston gives the Browns a chance to do something on offense, and adds a big degree of explosiveness, compared to the offense under Deshaun Watson that was beginning to struggle to even get a single field goal on the board.
- One thing to also factor in last week is that the Ravens’ secondary was really bad. The Chargers won’t make a lot of those same mistakes. Still, though, I like the formula of getting back to some more plays under center, utilizing playaction, and the anticipation throws that Winston makes. I still hated some...
Dawgs By Nature
