Week 5 Browns at Chargers Pregame Discussion

[Formula 21]

Home team wins the close one.

[Formula 21]

NFL Week 5 picks: Bills shock Chiefs in Kansas City, Chargers win thriller over Browns in Los Angeles

Wondering which NFL teams are going to win in Week 5? You've come to the right place to find out





By John Breech
6 hrs ago 13 min read

Cleveland (3-1) at L.A. Chargers (3-1)


4:05 p.m. ET (CBS)

Latest Odds: Los Angeles Chargers -1.5


I'm not going to say that Browns coach Kevin Stefanski can turn water into wine, but I do know that he can work miracles and that's because he's worked one in Cleveland. Stefanski hasn't even been on the job for one and a half seasons and he already has more wins (15) than the Browns three previous coaches COMBINED (14).

The next miracle he's going to have to work is figuring out how to win a game in the pacific time zone, because that's something the Browns seem to struggle at. In their past 10 trips out west, the Browns have gone 1-9 straight-up and that only win came in 2012, which is like 27 coaches ago for the Browns.

The Browns will also be going into this game with a QB who's struggling with his accuracy. Since completing 90.5% of his passes against the Texans in Week 2, Baker Mayfield has forgotten how to throw the football. Over the past two weeks combined, Mayfield has thrown 30 incompletions (34 of 64) and completed just 53.1% of his passes. Of those 30 misses, I'm pretty sure 29 of them were thrown over Odell Beckham's head on Sunday against Minnesota.





Normally, when a quarterback is playing that badly, I'd pick his team to lose by three touchdowns, but this isn't a normal situation. For one, although the passing game isn't up to par, everything else seems to be clicking for the Browns from their defense to their running game to their special teams.

That middle one is probably the most important and that's because the Browns will be going up against a Chargers team that currently has one of the worst rush defenses in football. With Mayfield struggling, I won't be surprised if Stefanski calls 45 run plays in this game.

The Browns have played in two road games this year and they've both been decided by one score, so I guess that means that I should assume that this game is also going to be decided by one-score.





The pick: Chargers 23-20 over Browns

[Lone Bolt]

Its a loseable game, sure...the Browns arent cupcakes...but if we play a clean game, we take it. Staley sells out on the run, makes Baker put it in the air with our secondary...and sooner or later he turns it over. Keep Herbert clean most of the game, and the defense we saw last night shows up, we should see similar results to Monday night...Bolts win 24-13.

[UglyTruth]

And Justin went on IR yesterday, so he's out for three more games.

Strange because wasn’t he practicing in the first two practices last week? Must’ve had a pretty bad set back.

[cmplxgal]

Strange because wasn’t he practicing in the first two practices last week? Must’ve had a pretty bad set back.

Yes, he was limited but was practicing. I guess they figure he just needs to shut it down for a few weeks to completely heal.

[Heatmiser]

Same thing for me. Slow their running game and get pressure on Baker and he is like Carr but he will run more.

Mayfield has similar issues with pressure and is not anywhere near as good as Carr. But that OL is tremendous. And both Chubb and Hunt are phenomenal RB. And they have 3 really good TEs and use that package a lot. Browns are a very, very good team. And they are 3-1, easily could have been 4-0, just like our team. This is not the old Browns.

TG

[Charge!]

Maybe I'm over-confident, but I think the Browns are going to be less of a problem than the Cowboys, Chiefs and Raiders. Mayfield has limitations as a QB, and Staley sure was prepared to shut down the Raiders' run game last night with the return of Jacobs. My confidence in Staley to prepare this team for each week's opponent grows exponentially after every game.

I agree.... mayfield is not a great QB.... more of a solid game manager type..... this game should be slower and lower scoring with all the running that will occur whether successful or not..... runs drain the clock....

[like54ninjas]

I agree.... mayfield is not a great QB.... more of a solid game manager type..... this game should be slower and lower scoring with all the running that will occur whether successful or not..... runs drain the clock....

Only if they produce first downs.

[Charge!]

Mayfield has similar issues with pressure and is not anywhere near as good as Carr. But that OL is tremendous. And both Chubb and Hunt are phenomenal RB. And they have 3 really good TEs and use that package a lot. Browns are a very, very good team. And they are 3-1, easily could have been 4-0, just like our team. This is not the old Browns.

TG

agree with all of that.... this will be a very tough physical game, that likely will be low scoring and close..... as long as Chargers bring their lunch pails to stop the run or at least slow them down stoping them on key plays..... Cleveland is a very big, strong, physical team..... we can throw on their defense as long as Herbie gets some time and we spread the ball around....

[Panamamike]

Strange because wasn’t he practicing in the first two practices last week? Must’ve had a pretty bad set back.

After the next two games is the bye week. Calf injuries are tricky and they want him fully available for the second half of the season and the playoffs.

[SuperCharged]

The next 2 games are HUGE! The schedule softens up a bit after the bye. If we can just beat the Browns and Ravens. If we win both those games we will be set up for a great 2nd half of the season. Their defense worries me. Not on Slaters side. But Storm.... Ugh. They are going to either need to chip with RB or slide coverage to that side. I just wish we had an above average RT. I have noticed Storm completely whiffing with his initial right punch on a few seperate occasions. I hope they are coaching him up on that.

[Bolt4Knob]

The next 2 games are HUGE! The schedule softens up a bit after the bye. If we can just beat the Browns and Ravens. If we win both those games we will be set up for a great 2nd half of the season. Their defense worries me. Not on Slaters side. But Storm.... Ugh. They are going to either need to chip with RB or slide coverage to that side. I just wish we had an above average RT. I have noticed Storm completely whiffing with his initial right punch on a few seperate occasions. I hope they are coaching him up on that.

Not to give away games but I do think splitting the next two weeks and the team would be set up fine post bye But you are right, if they beat both Cleve and Ravens - that bodes very well. The Chargers would own tie breakers (and I get KC and the RAiders can still do something about it) over 4 top teams in the AFC.

But can't get too far ahead - figure out how to keep the West coast road woes for the Factory of Sadness to continue. Cleveland is 1-9 in their last 10 road games on the west coast. Granted, when you have been a pretty bad team - they weren't winning anywhere.