Browns: 3 Chargers besides Justin Herbert that Cleveland has to worry about
By Chad Porto
The Browns have more Chargers to worry about besides Justin Herbert.
The Browns have a tall task on Sunday, taking on one of the more complete teams in the NFL and doing so with a banged-up Baker Mayfield to boot. The Chargers are a full force on defense and are getting after guys and while their offense isn’t the elite playmakers they could be, they are as dangerous as they come.
The Chargers live in that middle ground offensively. They rely too much on passing and aren’t exactly breaking backs with their passing game. They’re 26th in the league in yards per completion, so they’re not going to beat the Browns deep. They do have some guys who can get you underneath, however.
They’re really carried by their defense, however. A defense anchored by one of the best pass-rushers in the league. They are an elite unit that can take away the passing game from the best in the league, but that doesn’t mean they don’t have some issues against the rush. They shouldn’t be taken lightly, however, and if Herbert wasn’t enough to scare you, then these three players might.
Three Chargers the Browns have to worry about not named Justin Herbert
Austin Eckler
Austin Eckler is far more necessary to the team than many will realize. While they’re only 18th in the league in rushing, Eckler leads all Charger skilled position players in total yards per game, accumulating 424 yards so far this season and scoring four touchdowns, tying him for the team lead with the next person on this list. Eckler can hurt the Browns through the air or on the ground and must be accounted for.
Mike Williams
The next person on this list is also tied for the team lead with four touchdowns, but unlike Eckler who had two rushing and two receiving, Williams had all four of his through the passing game. The Chargers passing game hasn’t been as vertically impressive as many thought or assumed it would be but they do great work going underneath and utilizing high-percentage passes to kill a team with a thousand little cuts.
Joey Bosa
He’s one of the best in the league at getting after quarterbacks and already has 50 career sacks, good for 193rd all-time (Myles Garrett is 200th). He’s disruptive on the line regardless of how good the line is, and the Browns pass blocking has not been very good so far in 2021. It won’t get much better with Bosa across from Jedrick Wills or whoever the Browns have at that position. The Browns have got to find ways to chip Bosa and keep Baker Mayfield upright and out of danger from Bosa.