Los Angeles Chargers linebacker Khalil Mack (52) sacks Cleveland Browns quarterback Jameis Winston (5) for a 6-yard loss in the first half of an NFL football game on Sunday, Nov. 3, 2024 at Cleveland. (AP Photo/Sue Ogrocki)
CLEVELAND — Justin Herbert and the Los Angeles Chargers only needed to be half as good to beat the Browns.
Herbert took advantage of two communication breakdowns by Cleveland’s secondary to throw two first-half touchdown passes and the Chargers’ defense suppressed Jameis Winston in a 27-10 win Sunday over the error-prone Browns.
Herbert passed for 250 of his 282 yards in the first half as the Chargers (5-3) took a 17-point halftime lead and earned their fifth straight victory against Cleveland (2-7).
“When everyone is on the same page, we’re able to do things like that and push the ball down the field,” said Herbert, who overcame six sacks. “We took a big step in the first half and took a good step forward on offense.”
Herbert connected on a 66-yard pass to Quentin Johnston and a 27-yard pass to Joshua Palmer as the Chargers took advantage of the Browns’ communication issues.
“You can put it all on me,” said Browns cornerback Denzel Ward, who played in both games. “They were gifts.”
JK Dobbins had two rushing touchdowns for Los Angeles.
Herbert finished 18 of 27 and really didn’t have much to do in the second half as the Los Angeles defense, which allowed a league-low 13 points per game, intercepted Winston three times and never let the Browns gain momentum.
Winston was sacked six times – 2 1/2 by linebacker Tuli Tuipulotu – and the Chargers held the Browns to just 57 yards in the first 30 minutes. Rookie cornerback Tarheeb Still, Elijah Molden and Alohi Gilman had picks.
“We go out there and look for perfection as much as possible,” said Still, who deflected Winston’s pass in the end zone that was intercepted by Molden. “We’re not going to be perfect, but we can get close.”
Playing with a comfortable lead, Herbert essentially became a game manager in the second half as Chargers coach Jim Harbaugh relied on his running game to hold off the Browns — something his brother, Baltimore coach John Harbaugh, couldn’t make it last week in a 29.-24 loss to Cleveland.
Afterwards, Harbaugh spent most of his postgame press conference reflecting on his deep connection to Ohio, where he spent much of his childhood, instead of detailing how easily his Chargers dismantled the Browns.
“I got a bit nostalgic today before kick-off. That doesn’t normally happen, but today it hit me,” Harbaugh said, mentioning that his parents got married in Cleveland and went to a Browns game on their honeymoon.
“They spent the night in a hotel and then walked to the old Cleveland Municipal Stadium,” Harbaugh said. “Art Modell, he owned the team and he gave free tickets to high school football coaches. My father had them. The Harbaugh family’s roots run deep in Ohio.
Both of Herbert’s TD passes were the result of communication breakdowns at the Cleveland secondary level.
On the first, Palmer broke free down the right sideline for an easy touchdown. The second came when Johnston got behind Ward, who seemed to think he was getting some valuable help from safety Juan Thornhill.
“We have to have all 11 guys on the same page,” said Thornhill, who did not want to blame Ward. ” said. “We didn’t communicate well at all.”
Star defensive end Myles Garrett was the lone bright spot for the Browns, getting three sacks in four plays in the first half.
“What a great player, (No.) 95, my God,” 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 three touchdowns and 334 yards as the Browns stunned the Ravens.
There was no magic this week for Winston, who was off target and ineffective. He threw a 17-yard TD pass to Cedric Tillman in the final minute.
“We have to eliminate the plays that hurt us,” Winston said. “I had three.”
Herbert’s 27-yard pass to Palmer was set up by a 53-yard punt return from Darius Davis to the Cleveland 30.
COMMERCIAL DISCUSSION
There are still rumors and rumors 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 star player after recently losing star winger Aidan Hutchinson to a broken leg.
After the game, Smith was surprised when informed of a report that he would be traded within the next 24 hours.
“Oh, did that happen?” Smith told reporters. “To everyone.”
INJURIES
Chargers: LB Junior Colson left with an ankle injury in the second quarter and did not return. … CB Ja’Sir Taylor (fibula) did not play in the second half. … WR Simi Fehoko walked to the locker room in the fourth quarter holding his right arm.
Browns: LT Dawand Jones, making his second straight start for Jedrick Wills Jr., went to the locker room in the fourth quarter with a shoulder injury but returned.
FOLLOWING
Chargers: Host Tennessee on Nov. 10, the first of three straight home games.
Browns: A bye week followed by a game Nov. 17 at New Orleans.
