These are two teams going in different directions as the Chargers have won six games in a row to improve to 8-3 on the year and the Browns are a almost hopeless 1-10 on the year. The Chargers can’t afford to overlook the Browns and they won’t this Sunday. The Chargers should be able to do whatever they want on offense in this game as the Browns are allowing 159.9 yards rushing (4.6 ypc) and 233.4 yards passing per game this year. The thinking here is that the Chargers will throw to get the lead and then pound the Browns on the ground with LaDainian Tomlinson. Look for Philip Rivers to work the short stuff to Antonio Gates to start the game and when the Browns’ safeties sneak up to deal with him then he will go up top to WRs Malcolm Floyd and Vincent Jackson. Rivers might have one of those rare games when the ball doesn’t hit the ground too much against an untalented defense.
The Browns will likely come out running the football with Chris Jennings and Jerome Harrison against a Chargers’ D that is allowing 118.1 yards rushing and 4.3 yards per carry. But, the Browns will likely fall behind in this football game and if that happens they will need to take the shackles back off of Brady Quinn and let him throw the ball downfield. Enough of the two yard passes already! Chansi Stuckey could have a big game for the Browns as he runs decent patterns and he has decent hands.
PREDICTION: CHARGERS 42, BROWNS 10
