5 Bold predictions for Cleveland Browns in Week 5 vs. Chargers
By John Suchan
No. 4: Browns secondary shuts down Chargers air attack
The Chargers lead the NFL in passing yards with 1,250 yards. For comparison’s sake, the Browns have 830 yards throwing the pigskin around the yard. Justin Herbert has already thrown for 10,600 yards and 78 touchdowns in only two-plus years, and this season alone, he’s averaging 312.5 yards per game.
Cleveland is currently ranked in the middle of the pack having given up 851 yards passing to the opponent’s quarterback. The Browns have been embarrassed a few times this season by giving up big passing plays. It also happened to them last year when they played the Chargers.
With all the spotlight and predictions on this very same thing happening for this game, it would certainly be a reversal of misfortune and help the Browns gain back some respectability if they shut down the Chargers’ passing game. Stranger things have happened in the NFL. If players like John Johnson III and Grant Delpit can step up and take away the deep passes and the team can get better lockdown cornerback play from Denzel Ward and Greg Newsome then they should walk away with the win.
No. 3: Ward picks off another pass
Ward secured his first interception of the season last week against the Falcons. He’s never had more than three interceptions in any given season of his NFL career but he just signed his new contract with the Browns this offseason so this would be a good time to step up his game and play even better.
He’s been burned a few times already this season on deep passes, but he made up for some of those mistakes when he intercepted a pass in this last game and gave the Browns a chance to get back into the contest.
The Chargers will be throwing that football all over the field on Sunday. Ward knows that and he should try to anticipate his next opportunity. Since we’re talking about being bold, when Ward grabs this interception, he’ll take it back for six, helping ignite the fans at FirstEnergy Stadium.