The LA Chargers are on the road for the second consecutive week as they take on the Cleveland Browns in Week 5. This is a rematch from last season's instant classic, which also took place in Week 5. Things are very different this year, though, with Jacoby Brissett at quarterback for Cleveland and a new-look defense for the Chargers.
The Bolts are looking to pick up any sort of momentum that will move them to 3-2 on the season. LA is in the "easy" part of the schedule and despite all of the struggles that the team has dealt with, it is important that they rack up the wins now.
Cleveland, meanwhile, is a talented team without a quarterback that has dropped two ugly games to the New York Jets and Atlanta Falcons. Despite those results, Browns fans might feel confident against the Chargers, who have looked sluggish this season.
Browns fans should not be confident in this matchup, though. In fact, there is one thing that should be terrifying Browns fans in this matchup. It is a very simple answer, but when you really break it down, it becomes clear that Cleveland has not had to test itself in the way that it will test itself in Week 5.
Browns fans should be worried about Justin Herbert giving the Chargers a lopsided victory.
Obviously, Justin Herbert is going to be on the top of the list of things to worry about for opposing teams every single week. He is one of the best quarterbacks in the entire sport and that is a cause for concern in any matchup.
However, this is particularly concerning for the Browns considering who they have played thus far this season. Cleveland is 2-2 on the year and has played a collection of fairly bad quarterbacks that are still scoring points against them. As it stands right now, Cleveland has allowed 23.8 points per game, which is 19th in the league.
That might not be horrible but look at who the team has played. In four weeks the Browns have played Baker Mayfield and the Carolina Panthers, Joe Flacco and the New York Jets, Mitch Trubisky and the Pittsburgh Steelers and Marcus Mariota and the Atlanta Falcons.
Two of those guys are not even starting for their respective teams anymore and we are only in Week 5! The other two are two of the five worst quarterbacks in the league.
If those quarterbacks can have moderate success against this Browns defense then what is Justin Herbert going to be able to do? We have seen how smooth this offense operates when it is right as the team dropped 34 points on the Houston Texans last week. Despite being winless, the Houston defense was actually playing well up until that point, allowing 19.7 points per game in the first three weeks.
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With these matchups in mind and the results of those matchups, it feels like a sure-fire thing that Justin Herbert and the Chargers offense will score 30 or more points in this game. And if so, the Browns simply won't be able to keep like last year.