Browns vs. Chargers: Full Cleveland Game Preview

Losing two of their first three games heading into a West Coast tilt in San Diego is not an ideal start for the 2015 Cleveland Browns.

The drawing both the AFC and NFC West Divisions was the main reason the struggling franchise needed to get out to a hot start. Some may have penciled in the New York Jets and Oakland Raiders as potential victories, but that didn’t happen.

Now, one week removed from being torched by second-year quarterback Derek Carr, they travel west to take on a reeling Chargers team led by one of the best quarterbacks in the NFL, Philip Rivers.

If you think the boos and “Johnny” chants at FirstEnergy Stadium were rough in Week 3, you’ll be shocked if the Browns struggle and lose the next two in San Diego and Baltimore.

But, like the Browns, both the Chargers and Ravens have been abnormally vulnerable on defense, and their offenses haven’t been consistent.

Cleveland’s one saving grace may be that despite its rushing struggles, the Chargers have been one of the worst in the league in that department. Through three weeks, the Chargers have allowed 135.7 yards per game on the ground. That’s bad enough to tie them for 28th in the NFL.

The Browns’ 158.3 rushing yards allowed per game rank a few spots lower, worst in the NFL.

Viewing Info

Location: Qualcomm Stadium, San Diego

Date: Sunday, October 4

Time: 4:05 p.m. ET

TV: CBS

Week 3 Results and Recap

Jason Miller/Getty Images

If you predicted it would take less than two quarters of football for Browns fans to start calling for Johnny Manziel to supplant Josh McCown at quarterback, you were dead on.

The Browns were trailing by just a touchdown, but “J-o-h-n-n-y” chants began growing throughout FirstEnergy Stadium after another unproductive drive and punt by their inept-looking offense.

And they were pretty bad in the first half. Eventually they got going late in the first half, though. A 17-yard run by Isaiah Crowell put the Browns on Oakland’s 1-yard line. Two runs that got nothing and a missed opportunity by Gary Barnidge led to a field goal by Travis Coons.

It was deflating for an offense that finally looked competent.

But it wasn’t as deflating as Carr's leading the Raiders down the field in under two minutes to add to their lead before halftime. Heading into the locker room down 10-3 was more manageable than the resulting 17-3 deficit.

McCown and the Browns made a second-half push, but the veteran quarterback missed a few open receivers down the field and was eventually picked off to end the game.

Travis Benjamin had gotten space down the near sideline, but McCown didn’t anticipate safety Charles Woodson, or maybe he just threw a duck, and the ball never got to the streaking speedster. Woodson closed quickly and picked the ball off before it ever had a chance to become the equalizer.

That 27-20 loss puts Cleveland in third place in the AFC North. But with an injury to Pittsburgh Steelers quarterback Ben Roethlisberger and Baltimore struggling, there's an opportunity for Cleveland to get its act together and challenge Cincinnati for the division crown.

AFC North Division Standings

Team	W	L	T	PCT	PF	PA	Streak
Bengals	3	0	0	1.000	85	56	W3
Steelers	2	1	0	.667	76	52	W2
Browns	1	2	0	.333	58	72	L1
Ravens	0	3	0	.000	70	84	L3

News and Notes

Ken Blaze-USA TODAY Sports

Locker Room Divided on Starting Quarterback Decision?

A report surfaced this week after the team’s loss to Oakland indicating there was some internal division on the team's decision to go back to Josh McCown at starter.

According to TMZ, three anonymous Browns offensive starters questioned coach Mike Pettine for sending Johnny Football to the bench in favor of his veteran starter. McCown’s Week 1 injury opened the door for Manziel, who led the Browns to a Week 2 win, but he was relegated back to bench duty when McCown cleared NFL concussion protocol in the week leading up to their matchup against the Raiders.

One player was “extremely” frustrated with the situation:

"

I love both Johnny and Josh but its [sic] f----d up when you have Johnny come in and play well and has proven to the team that he is the right person for the job. It’s frustrating to him and us when you sit a player down when he is playing well. Coach has got to understand you are messing up the chemistry and timing with players and its [sic] f----d up.

"

TMZ executive producer Evan Rosenblum defended his site’s sources after skeptics and a couple of Browns players—Andrew Hawkins tweeted that the report was "1,000 percent" made up, and Joe Thomas said the report was “crafted from thin air,” according to Mary Kay Cabot of the Plain Dealer—refuted or cast doubt on the agency’s report.

“RE: Browns .. We stand by our story, period. 3 Browns starters. Real quotes. Nothing fabricated,” Rosenblum tweeted.

It’s not crazy to think there might be some kind of disagreement brewing in the Browns locker room. Everyone's not always going to be on the same page with every decision; there are 53 different personalities in the equation.

The quotes, if authentic, sound like they came from skill position players, though: "The team plays better when [Manziel] is in the game. I play better when he plays."

The truth of the situation probably lies somewhere in the middle. The quotes, while genuine-sounding, do also have a feel of fabrication, as Thomas suggested in Cabot’s report.

A win in San Diego would squash this pretty quickly. But the fever to see Manziel appears to be growing—and not just in the media, if those quotes are accurate.

OL Coach Andy Moeller and Browns Part Ways

Before the season began, the Browns suspended offensive line coach Andy Moeller after allegations of domestic abuse involving alcohol arose.  No assault charges were filed, though, after Berea, Ohio prosecutor Jim Walters announced he wouldn’t pursue charges because “beyond a reasonable doubt” was very much in doubt, per ESPN.com.  

Moeller has been involved in three alcohol-related incidents since 2007, including a two-game suspension for DUI in 2011.

The team and his representative Paul R. Sheehy released the following statement announcing the two parties’ mutual decision to part ways on Sep. 29:

"

The Browns and Offensive Line Coach Andy Moeller have mutually agreed to part ways, effective immediately.  While no charges were filed in connection with the recent accusations asserted against him, and which Andy vehemently denies, he has advised the Browns that he desires to devote his full attention and focus on his family. Andy states that this was a difficult decision but the right one for him, his family, and the Club at this point in time.

"

Moeller would have and still could face discipline by the NFL if he intends to coach again in the league. The league has shown it will impose punishments regardless of the nature of legal action taken against its employees.

Statement from Andy Moeller was provided by Cleveland Browns Communications Manager Dan Murphy.

Latest Injury News

Gregory Shamus/Getty Images

Player	Position	Injury
Travis Benjamin	WR	Ribs
Desmond Bryant	DL	Shoulder
Karlos Dansby	LB	Ankle
Justin Gilbert	DB	Hamstring
Tashaun Gipson	DB	Groin
Joe Haden	DB	Ribs/Finger
Johnny Manziel	QB	Right Elbow
Josh McCown	QB	Right Hand
Craig Robertson	LB	Ankle
Mitchell Schwartz	OL	Thumb
Scott Solomon	LB	Ankle
Robert Turbin	RB	Ankle
K'Waun Williams	DB	Concussion

All injury information courtesy of Mary Kay Cabot of the Plain Dealer.

Tashaun Gipson, Joe Haden and Craig Robertson all suffered injuries in Week 3 and are now on the team’s growing Week 4 injury report. Haden and Gipson returned to the game.

Travis Benjamin, Desmond Bryant, Karlos Dansby, Justin Gilbert and Joe Haden were all limited in practice. Those not participating at all included Gipson, Robertson, Scott Solomon, Robert Turbin and K’Waun Williams. Veterans Joe Thomas and Randy Starks sat out of Wednesday’s practice for rest purposes.

Robertson is believed to have an ankle sprain and may potentially miss time as a result, Pettine said, via Fred Greetham of The Orange & Brown Report.

According to the coach, Bryant and Solomon are “close to returning,” and Bryant has the best chance of the two to play in Week 4, via Andrew Gribble of the Browns' official site.

There haven’t been updates on Williams’s progress in the NFL concussion protocol, but the cornerback could be back this week if cleared. Williams confided in veteran cornerback Tramon Williams on Thursday to let him know he wasn’t feeling well, according to Cabot.

The veteran Williams helped the youngster, and he was diagnosed with a concussion. It’s the second-year defensive back’s third concussion since entering the league. He may be ready to play in Week 4, but his health and brief-but-significant history of concussions may play a factor in keeping him out another week. 

Key Matchups

Adam Bettcher/Getty Images

Chargers Run Game vs. Browns Rush Defense

Three Chargers offensive linemen left the team’s Week 3 matchup in Minnesota and were replaced for large chunks of the game. Tackle King Dunlap, guard Orlando Franklin and center Chris Watt were replaced by Kenny Wiggins, Chris Hairston and Trevor Robinson, respectively. None have practiced yet this week.

The Chargers boast an effective rushing trio of rookie Melvin Gordon, Danny Woodhead and Branden Oliver. Without potentially three of their top linemen, can they run the ball against the Browns’s worst-ranked rush defense?

Philip Rivers and the team’s effective passing game may help open some things up, but there’s no reason to think they should be as successful against the Browns with those losses. Also, Antonio Gates is serving the final game of his four-game suspension, and backup tight end Ladarius Green is still questionable after suffering a concussion in Week 2.

The conditions are there for a bounce-back week for the Browns rush defense. 

Browns Defensive Backs vs. Chargers Receivers

If the Browns do limit the Chargers on the ground, they will still have their hands full with one of the best passers in the league and his complement of viable receivers. Keenan Allen, Stevie Johnson and Malcom Floyd will be a problem for a Browns secondary that is limping its way into Week 4.

Gipson has missed practice with a groin injury, Haden is nursing a rib injury and K’Waun Williams is recovering from his third concussion in two seasons.

Allen has been a target monster so far and exploded in Weeks 1 and 3. In Week 2, Cincinnati limited him to just two catches on four targets for 16 yards. Johnson and Floyd stepped in with two scores and 100 yards between them.

Can an ailing Haden help slow down Allen, who has been targeted third-most in the league through three weeks?

He has played poorly this season, allowing 220 yards and two scores through three weeks—that’s bad enough to earn the third-worst Pro Football Focus ranking among 100 qualifying cornerbacks. Rookie Amari Cooper and the Raiders lit up the veteran cornerback with six completions on six targets for 87 yards in Week 3.

If Haden does play better, Williams and Pierre Desir will have to continue their solid play to deny Rivers his secondary options.

X-Factor

Scott Iskowitz/Getty Images

Browns X-Factor of the Week: CB Pierre Desir

If K’Waun Williams misses this game, and even if he doesn’t, Pierre Desir has been carving out a bigger role in the Browns defense. The former Lindenwood standout played 30 snaps in Week 3 with Williams out and was one of the bright spots for a secondary that was picked on by Carr and the Raiders.

In 15 coverage snaps last week, Desir was targeted just twice and allowed one seven-yard completion while breaking up the other attempt for Michael Crabtree, as noted by Pro Football Focus. He was also clearly beaten by Crabtree on another play but showed some savvy by holding onto him, drawing the five-yard penalty but preventing what would have likely been a long touchdown completion.

Desir will probably be tasked with covering Johnson and Floyd, two experienced receivers with the knack for getting separation—either with acumen or size—and scoring points. If Williams continues playing well and Haden can find his form, Desir may be Rivers’ target of choice.

We’ll see if the young sophomore cornerback can hold up against one of the most prolific passers of the last decade.

Prediction: Browns 26, Chargers 23

Gregory Shamus/Getty Images

Offensively, the Browns should be able to run the football against the poor Chargers rush defense. And their pass rush has been nonexistent to this point, recording just one sack through three games.

Giving Josh McCown a clean pocket, combined with an effective running game, should allow the Browns to move the ball at will. That’s in theory, at least, though it could change after the team travels to the West Coast.

The time change has claimed many victims in the past, and it wouldn’t be surprising to see the Browns come out and play flat early and get behind an effective Rivers-led offense.

But that shouldn’t be how things unfold. A Week 4 road game against another reeling 1-2 football team shouldn’t feel hopeless, and the Browns are undoubtedly looking at the matchup in that way.

San Diego, like the Browns, is a team on the verge of falling apart early in 2015, but one that has the talent to pull out of its current slump. The problem for the Chargers is that they don’t match up very well with Cleveland.

Isaiah Crowell and Duke Johnson should both have big games, and the Browns defense should be able to control the line of scrimmage enough to affect Rivers and slow down San Diego's talented running attack. The Browns should narrowly walk away with their second win of the season.

Final Prediction: Browns 26, Chargers 23

All stats courtesy of Pro-Football-Reference.com unless otherwise noted.

Mike Hoag (@MikeHoagJr) covers the Cleveland Browns for Bleacher Report and is the managing editor of Browns Beat.