Chargers 2nd Half Beats Browns

The Chargers at home against the Cleveland Browns. On paper, the Chargers rate as one of the most potent offenses in the NFL and have one of the top defenses; the Browns rank in the bottom 5 almost every major offensive category and one would think this game would be in mop-up shortly after halftime. Instead, the Browns go into the half up 12-10 the Charger offense unable to move the ball consistently and the referees doing everything in their power to assist the Browns with some very questionable calls throughout the game, most seemingly against the Chargers. Add Marty Schottenheimer's coaching and the Browns may have enough intangibles to beat the Chargers. The Browns had a 4th and 12 and the Chargers call consecutive timeouts which is a 15 yard penalty and the Browns get a first down... GIVE ME A BREAK... the Browns don't even have to snap the ball on a 4th and 12 and get a first down because the Chargers are incapable of getting a defense out there for a 4th and 12 play? At that point I thought the Chargers would be 'coached' to yet another loss by Marty. For most of the first half and most of the 3rd the Chargers came out passing and Tomlinson had 9 carries for 43 yards. It was almost exactly on que, the announcers of the game see Tomlinson's stat line and utter "...and so far Tomlinson has been ineffective as they hand the ball of to him and he breaks through the line and is gone, a
41 yard touchdown run." You could almost see the light-bulb going off on the Chargers sideline..."Hey, why don't we give the ball to Tomlinson for a while?" In the end, Tomlinson rushes for 172 yards and 3 touchdowns to bail the Chargers out of a game that seemed to be slowly spiralling out of control.

The make-shift defense didn't do too bad except for the penalties, and not just your ordinary penalties, the automatic first down type penalties, 5 times did Charger penalties result in a Cleveland first down.

Up next the Bengals, who don't look to be the AFC super-power the preseason had them hyped to be. Their defense isn't that good, especially against the run and their offensive line seems to be weak. Again, on paper the Chargers look as if they easily outmatch this team. I would like to think the Chargers will go to Tomlinson a little earlier in this game and definately try and get a pass rush on Palmer. The Bengals are still a very talented team on offense and if you let them get their rhythm they will gladly get into a shootout with any team if you let them.