Cleveland Browns vs Chargers Predictions: Looking to stay undefeated at home
By Randy Gurzi
Writer: Mike Lukas
There’s a simple method to beating the 3-2 Los Angeles Chargers on Sunday, except it involves the 2-2-1 Cleveland Browns doing three things they’ve failed to do so far this season:
1) Browns offense: Start Faster
As much fun as it is to watch the Browns’ defense on the field making plays – intercepting balls (8), recovering forced fumbles (7), sacking quarterbacks (14), turning opponents’ touchdowns into field goals (9) – what would lead to more wins is if the offense could score more points in the first half.
The Browns are ranked 31st in first-half scoring (6.4 points per game) while the Chargers are ranked third (17.4 points). But when Browns’ quarterback Baker Mayfield plays with a sense of urgency later in games, he moves the Browns into scoring position a lot more effectively.
How ’bout keep doing that, but earlier, like right when the game starts.
The Chargers are better against the run (ranked 10th) than they are against the pass (19th), so Cleveland’s 15th ranked passing attack needs to step up and step into the end zone early and way more often.
Best way to do that?
2) Browns receivers: Catch the ball, hold the ball
ESPN tweeted that the Browns have the highest percentage of drops in the NFL at 7.6%. Not good. Probably the result of the starters not getting enough preseason reps with Mayfield’s rocket arm, but it’s time to stop making excuses, boys.
Find stickier gloves, do hand strengthening exercises by crushing Casey Hayward bobbleheads, pretend the ball is money, whatever it takes, make the catch.
And then, for the love of Dorsey…
3) Score in the Red Zone
How bad are the Browns at this?
Put it this way, when the top-ranked Seattle Seahawks are in the Red Zone, they score touchdowns 80% of the time and the second-ranked Steelers do it 78.57% of time.
The 15th ranked Browns only score Red Zone touchdowns 57.14% of the time. That’s gotta change, since this season kicking a field goal isn’t exactly an option.
In fact, pretend the team doesn’t even have a field goal kicker, because (no offense, Greg) we kinda don’t. Yet.
But if all else fails…
4) Start Bribing the Refs Better
Whatever the Browns are currently paying the referees under the table, it’s obviously not enough. They have to eat, too, so increase the palm-greasing budget. For some odd reason the refs are angry at the Browns – they’ve even cost the team some wins – so pay the striped men (and that one nice lady) their proper bones so we can finally take their crappy calls out of the equation.
Final Score Prediction: Browns 21, Chargers 19