Browns Play for Home Field Advantage

Cleveland Browns Coach Marty Schottenheimer, whose team has already won the AFC Central Division, can assure the home field advantage throughout the playoffs with a victory over the San Diego Chargers today.

“We don’t view this as a tuneup,” says Schottenheimer, whose team has clinched its second straight division title. “San Diego’s much better than its record. The game is important to use because we expect a battle.”

The Browns (11-4), winners of seven of their last eight, host the 4-11 Chargers, led by Coach Al Saunders. The new coach is 3-4 since replacing Don Coryell.

“We’re progressing on a day-to-day basis,” says Saunders. “We want to play better, and the best way to make adjustments is to first realize what’s wrong. Cleveland’s a great team, and I can say that because I’ve watched enough films. They’re presented with problems and solve them. We just have to be at our best to be competitive.”

The Chargers are led by 14-year quarterback Dan Fouts, who has completed 237 of 403 passes for 2,795 yards and 14 touchdowns in the AFC’s fourth-ranked offense.

Fouts’ chief weapon is running back Gary Anderson (124 carries for 438 yards and one touchdown, and 77 catches for 788 yards and seven touchdowns).

“He’s tough because he’s a converted wideout,” says Cleveland linebacker Chip Banks. “Gary can do it all, and that’s not an exaggeration.”

San Diego fullbacks Curtis Adams (107 carries for 351 yards, four touchdowns) and Tim Spencer (94 for 328, six touchdowns) provide a strong ground game while tight end Kellen Winslow (61 catches for 676 yards, five touchdowns) and wide receiver Wes Chandler (50 for 761, three touchdowns) key the aerial attack.

The Browns defense, seventh in the AFC overall, has blitz threats in nose tackle Dave Puzzouli and defensive ends Reggie Camp, Carl Hairston and Sam Clancy--the quartet has 25 1-2 sacks.

“Fouts has been around long enough to be elusive,” says Hairston. “He’s one of the greats.”