Chargers outlast Browns with savage 47-42 win

Getty Images

The Browns and Chargers played one of the most entertaining games of the year in Week 5, with Los Angeles beating Cleveland to a 47-42 victory.

The Browns started the half with a 20-13 lead and took a 27-13 lead with a 52-yard touchdown from running back Nick Chubb to start the third quarter. But the Chargers remained aggressive, converting their three fourth down attempts – including one from their own 24-yard line – and converted a two-runner play to get back into the game.

But when the Chargers had the chance to tie at 42, kicker Tristan Vizcaino missed his second extra point of the game.

It gave Cleveland the chance to freeze the game with their four-minute, 3:08 offense. The Browns couldn’t do it. They kicked after beating three goals, the Chargers taking over at the Cleveland 48 with two timeouts and 2:02 on the clock.

A 30-yard reception by tight end Jared Cook put Los Angeles in the scoring position. So with time running out and the Browns with no downtime, the Cleveland defense pulled off a single move and pushed running back Austin Ekeler into the end zone for a 3-yard touchdown. It was Cleveland’s best pick of a few bad options, as the Browns had no other way to stop the clock and get the ball back.

The strategy didn’t result in a score, but it at least gave Cleveland a chance. Quarterback Baker Mayfield’s deep pass on his team’s fourth and 10 of 46 with 10 seconds left fell incomplete in the end zone. There were a few Cleveland receivers on the ground, but there were no flags.

Justin Herbert had another exceptional game, with 26 of 43 passes for 398 yards and four touchdowns. He also had a rushed touchdown. Mike Williams caught eight passes for 165 yards with a pair of touchdowns. Austin Ekeler also tallied over 100 scrimmage yards, scooping up 66 rushing yards and 53 yards with three total touchdowns.

The Browns scored 531 total yards in the losing performance, including 230 rushing. Nick Chubb – who wasn’t on the field for Cleveland’s critical hit in the third minute – finished with 161 yards and 21 carries. Kareem Hunt also had 61 rushing yards with a pair of touchdowns, as well as five catches for 28 yards.

After a poor performance against the Vikings, Baker Mayfield rebounded by finishing 23 of 32 for 305 yards with a pair of touchdowns. Tight end David Njoku shattered his career high with 149 receiving yards, including a 71-yard touchdown.

Receiver Odell Beckham Jr. caught two of his three targets for 20 yards, his only one missing a fourth drop in the first half.

Now at 4-1, the Chargers will travel to Baltimore to face the Ravens in Week 6.

At 3-2, Cleveland comes home to face the league’s only undefeated team, the Cardinals.

But if the Chargers and Browns both look like teams that could end up in January.