L.A. prevails after four lead changes in fourth quarter
INGLEWOOD, Los Angeles County — Justin Herbert and the Chargers showed early in the season they can rally to win close games on the road.
On Sunday, they won a wild one in front of their home fans.
Herbert had his record 11th 300-yard game with 398 yards passing and tied a career high with four touchdowns as the Chargers rallied for a 47-42 victory over the 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,” head 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 had one tie and eight lead changes — four in the final 15 minutes when the teams combined for 41 points.
Herbert, has the most 300yard games by any quarterback in his first two years in the league, likened it to a college football game.
“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 in for a score.
Austin Ekeler had three fourth-quarter touchdowns, including a 3-yard score with 1:31 remaining for the go-ahead points. 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 Staley — who’s in his first season as head coach — has won three straight and leads the AFC West after losses by Denver and Las Vegas.
Nick Chubb rushed for 161 yards for Cleveland (3-2). Baker Mayfield had his 10th career, 300-yard passing game in his 100th start after it was revealed last week he had a torn left labrum in his nonthrowing shoulder.
According to Elias, the Browns are the first team in NFL history to lose a regularseason or playoff game when scoring 40-plus points with 500 yards and no turnovers.
Chubb went over the 100yard 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 for 306 yards and two touchdowns. “We haven’t played a complementary football game yet.”