Chargers outlast Browns in shootout
INGLEWOOD, Calif. — Justin Herbert and the Los Angeles Chargers showed early in the season they can rally to win close games on the road.
On Sunday, they won a wild shootout in front of their home fans.
Herbert had his record 11th 300yard game with 398 yards passing and tied a career high with four touchdowns as the Chargers rallied for a 47-42 victory over the Cleveland Browns.
“To win a game like this, one that turns into a track meet, you have to have a superstar quarterback to win it. That’s what he is,” L.A. coach Brandon Staley said. “Like I told the team in there, the reason why he’s being able to play how he’s capable of playing is because he has a really good team around him.”
The game saw one tie and eight lead changes — four in the final 15 minutes when the teams combined for 41 points.
Herbert, who has the most 300yard games by any quarterback in their first two years in the league, likened it to a college football shootout.
“I thought it was a lot of fun to be a part of. The defense came up with some big stops when we needed them to and the offense came down and scored,” said Herbert, who completed 26 of 43 passes and also ran for a score.
Running back Austin Ekeler had three fourth-quarter touchdowns, including the go-ahead 3-yard score with 1:31 remaining. Mike Williams had 165 receiving yards and caught two TD passes for the Chargers, off to their first 4-1 start since 2014
Los Angeles, under first-year coach Staley, has won three straight and leads the AFC West after losses by Denver and the Raiders.
Nick Chubb rushed for 161 yards for Cleveland (3-2). Baker Mayfield had his 10th career 300-yard passing game after it was revealed earlier in the week he had a torn left labrum in his non-throwing shoulder.
According to Elias, the Browns are the first team in NFL history to lose a regular-season or playoff game when scoring 40-plus points with
500 yards and no turnovers.
Chubb went over the 100-yard mark for the 19th time on the opening drive of the third quarter with a 52-yard run to extend Cleveland’s lead to 27-13 before the Chargers rallied.
“We didn’t make enough plays to win the game, and that goes for everybody on our team. We didn’t do that,” said Mayfield, who was 23-for-32 with 306 yards and two touchdowns. “We haven’t played a complementary football game yet.”
After Ekeler’s 19-yard TD reception drew the Chargers within 42-41 with 3:15 remaining, Tristan Vizcaino missed his second extra point of the game.
Cleveland went three-and-out on its ensuing possession, setting up the winning five-play, 48-yard drive. Herbert connected with Jared Cook for a 29-yard completion to the Browns 18-yard line. Four plays later, Ekeler went into the end zone.