West Coast Living: Browns – Chargers Preview

The Browns enjoyed/survived an eventful week. The team dismissed its offensive line coach, addressed a disruptive TMZ leak, hired a new offensive line coach, signed its third string quarterback to a two-year extension, and the general manager is only three-fourths of the way through his league-mandated suspension — which he’s been texting through all the while.

You know what this team needs? A vacation. I cannot think of a better place to relax than sunny San Diego, California. The ocean air and sunny skies should help clear everyone’s heads. Maybe they’ll be in good enough spirits to play a little football.

Familiar Faces

T Tyreek Burwell – Cincinnati. A former Bearcat, Burwell received a promotion from the practice squad earlier this week. The 305-pounder played in only 11 games (4 starts), with Cincinnati after transferring there for his senior year.

DE Ricardo Mathews – Cincinnati. Another Cincy alum, Mathews is a sixth-year defensive end. As a Bearcat he recorded 69 tackles, 15 tackles for loss, and 5.5 sacks in 49 collegiate games.

LS Mike Windt – Cincinnati. The third UC product, Windt may be the most interesting. The long snapper played three seasons in the Queen City and did not have an unplayable snap in 395 career attempts. A Charger since 2010, Windt is a reliable if unsung hero on special teams. He also has possibly the greatest bio pic of any professional football player I have ever seen.

Last win: Week 8, 2012. Browns 7 – Chargers 6
The last Browns-Chargers clash devolved into one of the ugliest football games in recent memory. On a drizzly day along the lakefront, the Browns scored a touchdown on their first possession. Cleveland followed its strong start with punts on their next NINE possessions. Twenty-eight percent of the club’s yards came from the first drive. San Diego countered with a field goal each in the second and third quarters. Neither team scored in the fourth quarter. The Chargers reached the Browns 44-yard line with 1:24 on the clock before Phillip Rivers’ final pass mercifully fell incomplete. Improbably, the Browns emerged victorious.

Last loss: Week 13, 2009. Chargers 30 – Browns 23
Without reading any further, can you guess who played quarterback for Cleveland? If you guessed Brady Quinn, then you have a better memory than me. Entering the third quarter, the Browns trailed 27-7. Quinn threw two touchdown passes in the final frame and a Phil Dawson field goal brought the score to 30-23 with less than a minute to go. Alas, Cleveland’s onside kick failed and San Diego kneeled down in triumph. Quinn enjoyed one of his best games as a pro, completing 25-of-45 passes for 271 yards and three touchdowns. His Charger counterpart proved more effective as Philip Rivers threw 18-of-25 for 373 yards and a pair of scores.

San Diego opened 2015 with a home victory over the Detroit Lions before dropping their next two on the road at Cincinnati and Minnesota. Phillip Rivers leads the offense in his 12th season as Chargers quarterback. On the year, the 33-year-old has completed 77-of-103 passes (74.8 percent) for 891 yards, 5 touchdowns, and 4 interceptions. The backfield features rookie running back Melvin Gordon. The Wisconsin product has rushed for 51, 88, and 51 yards so far this season. Gordon proved in college that he can explode for record-setting performances. The Browns rush defense struggled in September, and more poor play could result in a breakout performance for Gordon. Browns defensive coordinator Jim O’Neil understands the run defense needs to improve. “We have to be more consistent with our tackling,” said O’Neil. “You have to be consistent every single play.” Defensively, safety Eric Weddle leads San Diego with 20 tackles.

Browns fans did not hide their disappointment with Josh McCown’s performance against Oakland. A TMZ report surfaced Tuesday that alleged some Browns players disagreed with the decision to start the veteran quarterback and bench Johnny Manziel. When asked about the supposed discord, head coach Mike Pettine responded, “I’m confident that there’s no rift in the locker room.” Pettine said that McCown’s injured hand should not limit him against the Chargers. The Browns’ most glaring issues continue to be run defense and making tackles. Offensively, the Browns rushed for a scant 39 yards versus the Raiders. Cleveland needs Isaiah Crowell and Duke Johnson Jr. to step up and become the workhorses the offense requires.

The peril of relocation casts a pall over the Chargers season. Throughout the offseason a number of ownership groups proposed ideas to relocate the Chargers, Oakland Raiders, or St. Louis Rams to Los Angeles. LA lost the Raiders to the Bay Area in 1994 and has not hosted an NFL team in over 20 years. While no one knows what will happen after the season ends, the possibility exists that Sunday’s game could be the Browns’ last game in “America’s Finest City.” Since returning to the NFL, the Browns are 2-5 against the Chargers. The last win on the west coast came in 1991 with the Old Browns. The window to play in San Diego may be closing; the New Browns would do well to make a memorable exit.