Chargers 27-10 Browns (November 3, 2024) Game Recap

CLEVELAND – Justin Herbert and the Los Angeles Chargers only had to be half as good to beat the Browns.

Herbert took advantage of two communication breakdowns from Cleveland's secondary to throw two touchdown passes in the first half, and the Chargers' defense held off Jameis Winston for a 27-10 win over the error-prone Browns on Sunday.

Herbert passed for 250 of his 282 yards in the first half as the Chargers (5-3) built a 17-point halftime lead and picked up their fifth straight win over Cleveland (2-7).

“Whenever everyone is on the same page, we can do things like that and push the ball down the field,” said Herbert, who has survived six sacks. “We took a big step forward in the first half and took a good step forward offensively.”

Herbert connected on a 66-yard TD pass to Quentin Johnston and a 27-yarder to Joshua Palmer as the Chargers took advantage of the Browns' communication problems.

“You can bet anything on me,” said Browns cornerback Denzel Ward, who was involved in both plays. “Those were gifts.”

JK Dobbins had two rushing touchdowns for Los Angeles.

Herbert finished 18 of 27 games and really didn't have to do much in the second half as the Los Angeles defense, which allowed a league-low 13 points per game, intercepted Winston three times and never got the Browns going.

Winston was sacked six times – 2 1/2 by linebacker Tuli Tuipulotu – and the Chargers limited the Browns to just 57 yards in the first 30 minutes. Rookie cornerback Tarheeb Still, Elijah Molden and Alohi Gilman had picks.

“We just go out there and strive for perfection as much as we can,” said Still, who deflected Winston’s pass in the end zone, which Molden intercepted. “We won’t be perfect, but we can get pretty close.”

Playing with a comfortable lead, Herbert effectively became the game manager in the second half as Chargers coach Jim Harbaugh leaned on his running game to shut down the Browns – something his brother, Baltimore coach John Harbaugh, did last week at 29 failed -24 loss to Cleveland.

Harbaugh then spent most of his postgame press conference reflecting on his deep ties to Ohio, where he spent much of his childhood, rather than detailing how easily his Chargers dismantled the Browns.

“Today before kick-off I felt a little nostalgic. That doesn't usually happen, but today it just hit me,” Harbaugh said, mentioning that his parents got married in Cleveland and attended a Browns game on their honeymoon.

“They spent the night in a hotel and then went to the old Cleveland Municipal Stadium,” Harbaugh said. “Art Modell, he owned the team and gave free tickets to high school football coaches. My father got her. The Harbaugh family’s roots run deep in Ohio.”

Both of Herbert's TD passes were the result of communication breakdowns by Cleveland's secondary.

In the first half, Palmer got free down the right sideline for an easy touchdown. The second came when Johnston got behind Ward, who seemed to think he was getting deep help from safety Juan Thornhill.

“We have to have all 11 guys on the same page,” said Thornhill, who didn’t blame Ward. ” said. “We didn't communicate well at all.”

Star defensive lineman Myles Garrett was the lone bright spot for the Browns, recording three sacks in four plays in the first half.

“What a great player, (No.) 95, my goodness,” Harbaugh said of Garrett. “He’s so good.”

The Browns spent much of the week talking about renewed hope after Winston replaced the injured Deshaun Watson last week and hauled in three TD passes and 334 yards as the Browns stunned the Ravens.

There was no such magic for Winston this week as he was off the mark and ineffective. In the final minute, he threw a 17-yard TD pass to Cedric Tillman.

“We have to eliminate plays that hurt us,” Winston said. “I had three of them.”

Herbert's 27-yard scoring pass to Palmer was set up by a 53-yard punt return from Darius Davis to Cleveland's 30 yards.

TRADE DISCUSSION

Rumors and rumors continue to swirl that the Browns will trade defensive end Za'Darius Smith to the Detroit Lions before Tuesday's trade deadline.

Smith signed a two-year contract with Cleveland in March.

The Lions were looking for another edge rusher after recently losing star player Aidan Hutchinson to a broken leg.

After the game, Smith expressed surprise when he was told he would be substituted in the next 24 hours.

“Oh, that happened?” Smith told reporters. “See you all.”

INJURIES

Chargers: LB Junior Colson was sidelined in the second quarter with an ankle injury and did not return. … CB Ja'Sir Taylor (fibula) did not play in the second half. … WR Simi Fehoko walked to the locker room with his right arm in the fourth quarter.

Browns: LT Dawand Jones, facing Jedrick Wills Jr. for the second straight game, went to the locker room in the fourth quarter with a shoulder injury but returned.

NEXT

Chargers: Host Tennessee on Nov. 10, the first of three straight home games.

Browns: A bye week followed by a Nov. 17 game at New Orleans.

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