Chargers vs. Browns preview – Syndication Server

Chargers OT Rashawn Slater receives praise from Browns EDGE Myles Garrett

All eyes will be on this matchup when the Chargers take on the Browns.

Chargers offensive tackle Rashawn Slater has established himself not only as one of the top rookies but one of the better players at his position in only the first four games of his professional career.

Heading into Week 5 against the Browns, Slater draws his toughest matchup in All-Pro edge defender Myles Garrett.

Garrett has seven sacks and 25 quarterback pressures through four games, which rank first and second in the NFL, respectively.

Even though he has terrorized tackles week in and week out, Garrett knows that Slater is not to be taken lightly just because he’s a first-year player, and he acknowledges the success he has already had.

“He looks good, especially as a rookie,” Garrett said. “Has patience in his set. He’s able to negate power and the way he sets, he’s able to change it up sometimes and throw people off. I think he’s studied the game a lot to know when he has help, where his help is, whether it’s from the guard or from chippers. I like that he’s already come this far as a rookie.

Against stiff competition like Chase Young, Montez Sweat, Micah Parsons, Maxx Crosby, and Yannick Ngakoue, Slater has not given up a sack and only allowed pressure on just 3.4% of his pass-blocking snaps, which ranks eighth among left tackles.

All eyes will be on the two, as Slater will look to stymie the combination of Garrett’s speed, power, and finesse with his movement skills, technique, and strength.

Keys to a Chargers’ victory over Browns in Week 5

Highlighting what the Los Angeles Chargers must do in order to capture their third-straight victory.

The Chargers are set to face off against the Browns on Sunday afternoon.

There are a few things that Los Angeles will need to do in order to secure a victory in Week 5.

Despite the offensive success that the team has had through the first four weeks, the Chargers are set to face the NFL’s top-ranked defense. With a fearsome Browns front that is eager to disrupt QB Justin Herbert early and often, the line will need to be on their A-game to give the young signal-caller time to throw, which likely means plenty of max protections, double teams, and chip blocks to play down the pressure. By buying him even the slightest time in the pocket, Herbert should prosper, given how well he’s been under offensive coordinator Joe Lombardi calling the shots coupled with his immense arm talent and the number of skill players for Cleveland to defend, especially with a defensive backfield that will be without starting cornerback Greg Newsome.

Defensively, first and foremost, Los Angeles needs to stop the Browns’ ground game, which ranks No. 1 in the league. Even though L.A. is 30th in rushing yards per game (139.5), they’re coming off a performance where they held the Raiders to only 48 yards. If the Bolts can replicate that as much as possible, that will force a struggling QB Baker Mayfield, who is dealing with a shoulder issue, to throw the ball. Each week, the Chargers have shown the ability to make opposing quarterbacks non-factors under head coach Brandon Staley’s defense and their formidable secondary and pass rush. On top of that, the Browns will be without starting tackles Jedrick Wills, Chris Hubbard, and wide receiver Jarvis Landry.

4 key things to know about Chargers’ Week 5 opponent: Browns

Highlighting important things to know about the Chargers’ opponent ahead of Week 5.

Following a victory against the Raiders, the Chargers are set to take on the Browns in hopes of picking up their third-straight win on Sunday, Oct. 10 at 1:05 pm PT.

Here are five key things to know about Los Angeles’ opponent ahead of the Week 5 bout:

Slow start

Quarterback Baker Mayfield’s 2021 season hasn’t been all sunshine and rainbows. Through four games, he has only thrown two touchdowns, which is tied for the second-lowest. In addition, he is coming off arguably his worst game in almost a year, in which he completed only 15 of 33 passes for 155 yards against the Vikings. There are a couple of directions his recent struggles could point to, one of which could be because he is playing with a partially torn labrum in his non-throwing shoulder that he sustained in Week 2 against the Texans. Maybe the absence of wide receiver Jarvis Landry, who’s on injured reserve with a knee injury, is playing a role in his woes.

Running wild

Stopping the run has not been the Chargers’ forte, and now they are tasked with slowing arguably the league’s most dangerous rushing attacks, which is averaging 177 yards per game. Nick Chubb and Kareem Hunt make up the one-two punch. Chubb ranks second in the league in rushing yards with 362 yards, while Hunt is averaging 5.4 yards per carry. Bringing them down is not easy by any means, as they are among the best at generating yards after contact.

Championship-caliber defense

The Chargers have one of the better defenses in the league, but the Browns find themselves in the rare elite category. After finishing 19th in defensive efficiency, Cleveland boasts a unit that’s only allowed 16.8 points per game (4th), 250.2 yards per game (2nd), 183.8 passing yards per game (3rd) and 66.5 rushing yards per game (66.5).

Pressure makes the diamonds

A big part of the Browns’ defensive success comes from having an elite front. Leading the NFL in pass-rush win rate, edge defender Myles Garrett has contributed to a lot of their destruction, as he has the most sacks (6) and quarterback pressures (25). Opposite Garrett is Jadeveon Clowney, who’s proving that he was worth the signing, sitting with a 17.4% pressure, which would be his career-high. Inside of those two are Malik Jackson and Malik McDowell, who have dominated opposing linemen, consistently pushing them five yards into the backfield. Two weeks ago, the group sacked Bears QB Justin Fields nine times.