Brownies and Frownies as Browns get slammed by Chargers

A season lost as the Browns fall to the Chargers and we share winners and losers from the game

When the Cleveland Browns defeated the Baltimore Ravens last weekend, it set into motion that maybe, just maybe, all this team needed was a decent quarterback and some quality play-calling. Hmmm…..

Then the realization set in that the Browns were just two games out of a Wild Card playoff seed. Hmmm…..

And all the while, Browns fans were trying to decide whether to root for their ballclub to lose out and gain a high draft pick, or continue to fight each week and attempt to win some ball games. The trade deadline is fast approaching, and the consensus was perhaps Cleveland should sell off some of their higher-salaried players and begin fresh next season.

RELATED: GAME GRADES AFTER DISAPPOINTING LOSS

And now a very winnable game against the Los Angeles Chargers. Maybe not just a game, but a stepping stone in this here season. Win, and suddenly a two-game win streak becomes reality. Lose, and yes, perhaps the franchise should drape the “wait till next year” banner outside the stadium.

Against the Chargers, the Browns were pathetic on offense and took a beating 27-10.

So who played well for the Browns? Who didn’t?

---

BROWNIES

DE Myles Garrett – The future Hall of Famer showed up big time against the Chargers. RT Joe Alt had no magic formula to keep Garrett out of the offensive backfield and gave up three sacks. Garrett was a wrecking crew for most of the contest as he enticed Los Angeles QB Justin Herbert to attempt to leave the pocket on several occasions into the waiting arms of another Browns defender. Five total tackles, three tackles for loss, and five QB hits to go along with his multi-sack game.

DT Dalvin Tomlinson – Although stout against the run, Tomlinson was able to bull rush into the passing pocket several times past C Bradley Bozeman. He sacked Herbert 1.5 times and just missed out on two other sacks. Was never moved out of his gap all game which proved problematic for the Chargers’ run game. The final LA touchdown, Tomlinson had the middle stonewalled before RB Dobbins bounced it outside and scored. Three QB hits, two tackles for loss, and three tackles.

WR Cedric Tillman – Before the season began, Tillman was vying for the fourth receiver spot. Now that Amari Cooper is gone, Tilly is quietly claiming the WR1 position. He had 11 targets and caught six for 75 yards. He is becoming QB Jameis Winston’s favorite target. The meaningless touchdown catch with 49 ticks left on the clock was a remarkable feat for Tilly to get his left toe down as he was falling. He converted a second-and-eight play early in the second quarter to move the chains. With 7:29 left in the first half, he caught a short pass on the left side and then turned it into a 19-yard grab.

P Corey Bojorquez – Terrific day. Two kicks jetted out at the four-yard line after hitting inside the field of play. His arm bar on the long punt return turned the returner inside which enabled a tackler to catch up and save the touchdown. As the offense sputtered, Bojo had six punts for a 53.0 average with a long of 62 yards and three kicks down inside the 20.

---

FROWNIES

Miscues – While the Baltimore Ravens dropped three interception opportunities, the Chargers were able to catch bad throws and cash in. The blocked 51-yard field goal attempt was a plant foot malfunction to which K Dustin Hopkins kicked it so low the ball slammed into the shoulder pad chest plate of DT Teair Tart. The fourth-and-three play looked like the defense was told what play was called beforehand and fooled nobody. The interception in the end zone stole away points. In the second quarter a successful first down was brought back because of an illegal motion call and ended up being a punt instead.

Defensive backfield – Last Sunday was National Tight End Day, was today National Leave Receivers Wide-ass Open Day? This went way beyond the two open receivers who scored. The center of the field was extremely soft and at no time became a place for Herbert to not consider throwing into this zone. The first touchdown catch was CB Denzel Ward passing off WR Quentin Johnston and then no safety there for the pick-up. WR Ladd McConkey was open all game for short grabs over the middle.

Run game – Cleveland could not establish any kind of running game for the majority of the contest. The Chargers defense proved they were stout against any rushing attack. The Browns averaged just 3.3 yards per rush against a defense that played in a two-high shell for most of the game. RB Nick Chubb had 15 carries for 39 yards and was only able to bust out an 11-yard run in the third quarter for a key first down, but nothing much else. Los Angeles kept the Browns to just 79 rushing yards on 24 attempts.

QB Jameis Winston – Last week’s AFC Offensive Player of the Week didn’t come close to his accolades. Two of the three interceptions were just bad throws. The third was tossed into double coverage which made no sense. Winston was forced out of the pocket consistently so his offensive line didn’t do him any favors. No run game to help him out, so he had to throw a lot (46 attempts) and was the second-leading rusher. The interception with just over two minutes left in the third quarter killed a good-looking drive and was wildly overthrown towards Tillman and not far enough for WR Elijah Moore. There were three dropped picks in this game to go along with the trio that was caught so the damage could have been a lot worse. Went 26-46 for 235 yards and a 50.5 QB rating.

Third down efficiency – The Browns offense went 1-7 in the first half and 6-17 for the game. Eight were for seven yards or greater including five for double digits.

First-half offense – Punt, punt, punt, field goal, punt, punt

Second-half offense – INT, punt, INT, failed fourth down, INT, blocked field goal, touchdown

---

Milk Bones – Your village called – they want their idiot back

DT Shelby Harris – Along with Tomlinson, Harris had a great game and plugged up the middle running lanes. Got blocked out of position with 3:30 left in the first half as RB J.K. Dobbins went through the hole Harris vacated for a 16-yard touchdown run. Met Tomlinson at the quarterback for a half sack with 12 seconds left before the half as the Chargers were trying to get into field goal range right before halftime. Four total tackles and one QB hit.

LB Khaleke Hudson – After Cleveland’s first drive stalled, punter Bojorquez blasted a 62-yard punt fielded by KR Derius Davis who then took it 53 yards. Bojo was the last man and waved an arm at Davis who then turned it inside and found Hudson who planted the returner, thus saving a touchdown.

LB Devin Bush – In his first start in the middle, Bush was active on run plays and led all Browns defenders in tackles with eight. On the Dobbins 16-yard TD run with 3:30 left in the second quarter, Bush was taken out by pulling guard Trey Pipkins who sealed off Bush on the second level. With both safeties spreading out to each sideline, it was a lane a truck could have driven through. With four minutes to play, Bush crashed the inside gap and was nowhere to be found when Dobbins bounced it outside. The result was a seven-yard TD run by Dobbins and a 27-3 lead.