Cleveland, OH — The Los Angeles Chargers got a crucial road win in Week 9, defeating the Cleveland Browns 35-28 in a game that featured everything from quarterback drama to big-time defensive plays to an almost amazing fourth-quarter comeback. With the victory, the Chargers moved to 5-3 on the season and now find themselves well-positioned as they head into a stretch of 4 more games against teams with losing records.
Herbert Leads the Way
Justin Herbert was nearly flawless, completing 21 of 27 passes for 276 yards and four touchdowns and snapping his streak of four straight games throwing an interception. The performance was a much-needed return to form for the Chargers’ star quarterback, who had a 12/10 TD/INT ratio over those four games after starting with a 10/1 ratio in his first 3 games. Herbert spread the ball around with efficiency, completing passes to seven different players.
“Herbert was dialed in,” said head coach Jay Cee. “He controlled the game, made the right reads, and led this team when we needed him to. That’s what you expect from your franchise quarterback.”
It helps when you have dynamic receivers and the Chargers’ two young stars have established themselves as just that. Quentin Johnston was particularly explosive, finishing the game with 122 yards on just four catches, including a pair of highlight-reel touchdown grabs deep downfield. Ladd McConkey was Herbert’s go-to target in the red zone and in short yardage, hauling in five catches for 47 yards and two touchdowns. Big Q looks to be the next great X receiver and Ladd is improving to be one of the best in the slot.
While the Chargers’ passing game took center stage, their rushing attack remained effective, though less prolific than in previous weeks. J.K. Dobbins led the way with 73 yards on 15 carries, showing his ability to grind out tough yards against Cleveland’s stout defensive front. Dobbins also contributed with two catches for 15 yards out of the backfield, keeping the Browns’ defense off balance. Kimani Vidal, the rookie, was overall not impressive, recording 17 yards on 7 carries, although he did get a one-yard rushing touchdown. The WR screen game, however, was very well defended by Cleveland.
Browns’ QB Carousel and Missed Opportunities
The Cleveland Browns’ offense was a tale of two quarterbacks. Rookie Dorian Thompson-Robinson started the game but struggled, throwing four interceptions on 18 attempts and amassing only 131 yards through the air on 9 completions. It was a rough outing for the young signal-caller, who found himself overwhelmed by the Chargers’ defensive pressure. Deshaun Watson entered the game in relief and fared slightly better, going 11 of 18 for 161 yards, one touchdown, and one interception. It might not be the prettiest stat line, but the Browns ‘won’ the game when Watson was playing.
Despite the instability at quarterback, Cleveland’s top playmakers put on a show. Wide receiver Amari Cooper had five catches for 79 yards and a touchdown, while tight end David Njoku was nearly unstoppable, recording nine receptions for 131 yards and a score. Unfortunately for the Browns, their star performances were overshadowed by turnovers and missed opportunities, including a red-zone fumble forced by Chargers defensive lineman Morgan Fox and recovered by cornerback Cam Hart.
“We just couldn’t get into a rhythm,” Browns head coach Aych Dee said after the game. “Turnovers killed us, and it’s hard to win when you give the ball away that many times.” The Browns will be giving DTR the permanent starting role, though, as he is a young promising player who did have the flu not too long ago.
Chargers’ Defense Feasts on Turnovers
While Herbert and the offense grabbed headlines, the Chargers’ defense was the real difference-maker. Los Angeles forced six total takeaways, including five interceptions and a key fumble recovery in the red zone. Junior Colson, the rookie linebacker, had a breakout performance with two interceptions and a strong presence all over the field. Safeties Kristian Fulton, Alohi Gilman, and rookie cornerback Tarheeb Still each added an interception of their own, smothering Cleveland’s passing game in critical moments.
“We knew coming in that we could get after their quarterbacks,” said Colson. “We put a lot of pressure on them, and they started making mistakes. When you’ve got a defense that can take the ball away like that, it gives the offense a lot of confidence.”
Khalil Mack also contributed to the defensive effort, registering one solo sack and splitting another with defensive tackle Jowon Briggs, a rookie the Chargers picked up off of Cleveland’s practice squad. The Browns managed to record just one sack on the day, courtesy of Ogbonnia Okoronkwo.
Special Teams Stepping Up
In addition to the offensive and defensive performances, the Chargers’ punting unit had its best outing of the season so far. Punter JK Scott was a key weapon as the game tightened down the stretch, pinning the Browns deep in their own territory twice with his two punts downed inside the 20-yard line and finishing with a net average of 47 yards.
Scott’s ability to flip field position helped the Chargers control the game’s tempo, especially during stretches where the offense slowed down to chew the clock. “Field position is such an underrated part of the game,” said Jay Cee. “JK gave us a huge boost today, and that was a big part of our success and allowing our defense to be aggressive and oppurtunistic.”
Scott, the 27-year-old punter out of Alabama, was drafted in the 5th round back in 2017 when the Green Bay Packers selected him. After three years with the Packers, he was cut after Green Bay traded for a replacement. After a failed short stint with the Jaguars, Los Angeles brought Scott in for the 2022 season. He impressed them enough to play in all 17 games that year, and last year, and barring something crazy, all 17 games this year, too. His contract is up at the end of the year and games like this will give the Chargers enough reason to keep him around long term.
“The punter position is so interesting because you don’t want to put resources into a guy you don’t want to use, but it’s so important,” GM Phillip Rivers was asked about Scott’s future with the team. “Stability at any position is great to have, our evaluations will last the whole season but he’s a good player, no doubt.”
Rookie WR Brenden Rice Impresses
Another bright spot for the Chargers was rookie wide receiver Brenden Rice, son of Hall of Famer Jerry Rice whom many think of to be the best wide receiver of all time. With an increased role, Rice posted his best game of the season, catching three passes for 29 yards. While his stat line might not jump off the page, Rice’s performance showed his growing confidence and ability to contribute in key moments.
“Brenden’s been working hard,” said Herbert. “It’s great to see him get more involved, and I think he’s just going to keep getting better.” There’s no doubt there’s growing excitement over the son of a great who’s already progressed from a 7th-round pick to a weekly contributor. While McConkey and Johnston are the clear stars of the show, Rice is outworking his teammates like DJ Chark and Derius Davis to get more and more snaps.
Looking Ahead: The Chargers’ Path to the Playoffs
The win over Cleveland marks the beginning of a favorable stretch of games for the Chargers, who will now face four more opponents with records below .500 straight. At 5-3, the team is in a strong position to make a playoff push, but Jay Cee isn’t taking anything for granted.
“We’re focused on one game at a time,” said the head coach. “This league is tough, and you can’t overlook anyone. But I like where we’re at, and I like the fight in this team.”
With the offense firing on all cylinders, the defense creating turnovers, and special teams stepping up, the Chargers appear to be peaking at the right time. The next few weeks will be crucial as they aim to solidify their playoff standing and continue building momentum.
Next week, the Chargers will take on the Tenessee Titans back at SoFi stadium, hoping to extend their winning streak and continue their march toward the postseason. If Herbert and the defense can keep playing at this level, the Chargers could be a dangerous team down the stretch.
