Points blitzkrieg

There is at least one certainty as the Browns enter the gauntlet that is the next seven games on the schedule when they welcome the Los Angeles Chargers Sunday.

The Cleveland secondary, which has failed way too many challenges this season, will be very busy. As in all afternoon. Because if there is anything the Chargers do exceptionally well, it's throw the football. A lot. Like two out of every three plays. An astounding 84% of the Chargers' offensive yardage comes via the forward pass.

Which means that secondary, arguably the weakest part of the defense, will get "torched if we're not locked in," admitted free safety John Johnson III the other day. And because they have had trouble locking in, especially late in games this season, the Chargers' game plan won't be difficult to figure out.

The defense has not faced a quarterback like Justin Herbert this season. The 6-6 Chargers gunslinger populates a quarterback stratosphere that includes Patrick Mahomes II, Aaron Rodgers, Josh Allen, Joe Burrow and Lamar Jackson. He has risen to elite status is just two seasons.

Herbert suffered fractured rib cartilage a couple of games ago, but that didn't stop him from throwing his normal 300+ yards a game. As a result, the Chargers average a mere 64.5 yards a game on the ground. The Browns' run defense, abused in last week's deflating loss in Atlanta, should get this week off.

The only hope the Browns have in this one is to make sure their season-long ability of controlling the football by moving the chains and sustaining drives -- they average nearly 36.5 minutes of ball ownership  a game -- is good enough to keep Herbert tethered to the bench and limit the damage. 

It will also be interesting to see if head coach and chief playcaller Kevin Stefanski learns his lesson from the Atlanta setback and leans more heavily on the ground game against a Chargers defense that really hasn't been challenged much at all in that area.

After Jacoby Brissett showed last week he is incapable of taking control of a game and lifting the offense on his shoulders in comeback fashion, Stefanski is likely to keep his quarterback in game-manager mode and feature Nick Chubb, Kareem Hunt and safe, high-percentage passes.

The Chargers' secondary has allowed opposing offenses to complete 68% of their passes for 240 yards a game. Much like the Chargers, the opposition doesn't run the ball much, either. All of which sets up an interesting scenario.

It is entirely possible this one could develop into a clash between an exceptional ground game against an exceptional aerial game with the losers, at least conceivably, being the defenses of both teams. One strength against another. In other words, a scoreboard fiesta is a distinct possibility with the team that owns the ball last winning.

The Browns' defense is buoyed by the return of Myles Garrett on the edge after totaling his late model car and missing the Atlanta loss. But it is not known how much the injuries sustained in the crash will affect his performance. But if Jadeveon Clowney sits out another game with ankle miseries, Garrett will draw plenty of company.

He will face rookie tackle Jamaree Salyer, who drew high marks in his National Football League starting debut in last week's victory over Houston. He and his linemates have allowed just four sacks this season, enabling Herbert, who will be without Keenan Allen for the third straight week with a hamstring, to target the likes of Mike Williams, Joshua Palmer, tight end Gerald Everett and running back Austin Ekeler.

The Cleveland offensive line, which has allowed just five sacks this season, no doubt will keep an eye on the dangerous Khalil Mack, who owns five of the Chargers' 11 sacks. They won't have to deal with the equally dangerous Joey Bosa, on inured reserve with a torn groin muscle.

It all boils down to two bad defenses and two good offenses pointing to a what very well could be the kind of game that excites fans.This one just might come down to the final moments with ownership of the football determining the winner. So why not go for it? It's Herbert vs. Chubb and Co. in a flurry of points. Defense be damned. Make it:

Chargers 38, Browns 34