The DBN staff predicts the Week 9 games, plus the national media make their predictions for Chargers vs. Browns.
Here is what the national media is saying about the Week 9 game between the Browns and Chargers:
CBS Sports (Pete Prisco) – Chargers 21, Browns 20
The Browns showed life last week in beating the Ravens with Jameis Winston in as the starter for Deshaun Watson. The Chargers have played outstanding defense this season, which will challenge Winston. The Chargers will find a way to limit Winston and Justin Herbert will get the victory on the road.
CBS Sports (John Breech) – Browns 20, Chargers 17
This week, Winston will face a Chargers defense that is giving up less than 200 passing yards per game. The Chargers haven’t given up more than 250 yards passing in a single game this year. However, they haven’t faced anyone like Jameis Winston. He’s the ultimate gunslinger and he’s at his best when he has nothing to lose, and when you’re the QB for a 2-6 team that’s heading into Week 9 as a home underdog, you have nothing to lose.
Will Winston have one back-breaking turnover? Probably, but I still think the Browns find a way to win this game and that’s mainly because everyone on the roster will be inspired by whatever Winston’s pregame speech is on Sunday. Let’s check out his pregame speech from Week 8.
Sporting News (Vinnie Iyer) – Chargers 20, Browns 17
The Chargers will stick with their “run the ball, stop the run” formula knowing they can cause some problems in pass defense for Jameis Winston. Justin Herbert builds on last week’s performance to build a lead through the air so his teammates can tee off on Winston to preserve a low-scoring game in the second half.
Sporting News (Bill Bender) – Chargers 19, Browns 16
Jim Harbaugh is back in Ohio, where he is not the most popular person. The Browns played inspired against the Ravens, offering a fitting tribute to the late Jim Donovan, and they could create some momentum around Jameis Winston with back-to-back victories. Don’t count on it. Los Angeles has just two turnovers this season. Justin Herbert will take a few sacks, but he’ll make enough plays to pull out a victory. The Chargers have won the past four meetings in the series, including two games in Cleveland.
Below are our Week 9 NFL staff picks: