Home crowd giving Browns advantage

Disrupting QB Rivers is key to Browns winning

For the first time in what seems like 30 years, back when the late Nev Chandler dubbed old Cleveland Stadium “Pandemonium Palace,” in his radio broadcasts, the Browns truly are developing a home-field advantage.

The Browns, 2-2-1 overall, undefeated at FirstEnergy Stadium this season, will put their 2-0-1 home record on the line Oct. 14 when they host the Chargers at 1 p.m. They will be over .500 for the first time in four years if they win.

This is a huge game for both teams. The Chargers, 3-2, trail the Chiefs by two games in the AFC West. The words “playoffs” and “Browns” might be muttered in the same sentence across the NFL if the Browns pull this one out.

CHARGERS AT BROWNS

When: 1 p.m. Oct. 14 Where: FirstEnergy Stadium Records: Chargers 3-2, Browns 2-2-1 TV: WOIO

Radio: WKRK-FM 92.3; WKNRAM 850; WNCX-FM 98.5

“I’m telling you, the last two home games - this is what we want - (middle linebacker) Joe Schobert can’t hear the call I’m giving into the helmet,” Browns defensive coordinator Gregg Williams said excitedly Oct. 12. “He can’t hear it. It’s so loud. Guess what? The (Chargers) offense can’t hear Philip Rivers either. That’s what we want.”

Disrupting Rivers, in his 15th year as Chargers quarterback, will not be easy. But it will be critical to the Browns’ chances of winning. He has thrown 13 touchdown passes and only two interceptions this season. He is 6-4 vs. the Browns for his career with eight touchdown passes and one interception. On top of all that, he has been sacked only six times this season.

“Intelligent. He knows how to read defenses,” Browns defensive end Myles Garrett said. “That’s what keeps you in the game. Once your athleticism starts to dip, your football IQ and your knowledge of the game has to increase. It just keeps you one step ahead. He’s been able to keep up with that and he’s been impressive. We just have to make sure that he can’t beat us and that we’re one step ahead of him.”

The Browns have faced quarterbacks Ben Roethlisberger (Steelers), Drew Brees (Saints), Sam Darnold (Jets), Derek Carr (Raiders) and Joe Flacco (Ravens) this season. Carr threw four touchdown passes, but the other four threw a combined three TD passes.

Opposing quarterbacks facing the Browns defense have a 74.2 passer rating through five games. They had a 102.3 rating against the Browns in the 0-16 2017 season.

“You want to know where (Garrett) is on every play,” Rivers said on a conference call. “It just helps you understand where some of the potential problems may be. But at the same time, there are 10 other guys out there who are doing their job collectively making that defense play at this high level they’re playing at leading the league in turnovers.

“You want to know where guys like that are so you can be aware and so you can try to do what you can to handle them if you need to do anything extra protection wise.”

Garrett has five sacks, two short of his total in the 11 games he played as a rookie in 2017.

TIM PHILLIS - FOR THE NEWS-HERALD The Browns are 2-0-1 at FirstEnergy Stadium this season, and the defense is counting on fans to make communication difficult for the Chargers’ offense.