Chargers Try to Stay in Race : NFL: A week after heartbreaking loss to Kansas City, the visit blustery Cleveland to play Browns.
A week ago the Chargers played the big game. Today they try to avoid the big letdown.
“I don’t think we will know until (game time) what effect the loss in Kansas City really had on this team,” Charger cornerback Gill Byrd said.
The Chargers were on the brink of turning the corner in Kansas City only to fall off the cliff in the final minute of a 16-14 defeat. After the game the Chargers sat stunned in front of their lockers--close but still not a playoff contender.
“We’re still in the hunt,” Charger Coach Bobby Ross said, “but if we go out and lose again, maybe we aren’t totally eliminated, but that hill gets higher to climb.”
The atmosphere for today’s 10 a.m. game with the Browns in Cleveland Stadium does not figure to be so charged as it was in Kansas City. This is not a division clash, there is no grudge to be settled and no big-name star to focus on.
It will be cold, if not windy, in a dreary stadium that is known best for its pothole field and unruly fans who reside in the “Dawg Pound” beyond the end zone.
The Chargers are on the road for a second consecutive week. The game is early--by San Diego standards--and a series of nagging injuries to key performers have begun to take their toll.
The scene is set for a big letdown.
“I’d be extremely disappointed if there was a letdown,” Charger linebacker Gary Plummer said. “I think there could be that possibility if people didn’t think we still had a chance of making the playoffs, but I think to a man in this locker room the guys believe we have shot of going to the playoffs.”
The difference in last week’s encounter with the Chiefs was the difference in turnovers. The Chiefs collected four, the Chargers none. And here come the opportunistic Browns.
The Browns (5-4) have won four of their last five by forcing mistakes and capitalizing on turnovers. The Browns have forced a turnover in 23 of their last 24 games, and they are presently second in the NFL in takeaways-giveaways.
The Browns’ offense has turned the ball over only 10 times, which is the second-lowest mark in the league, and the defense has recovered 13 fumbles and grabbed six interceptions.
“It’s something they are very proud of, something they preach,” Ross said. “We have emphasized that to our squad this week. We cannot turn the ball over.”
Mike Tomczak, 29-18 as a starting quarterback with the Bears, Packers and Browns, will play in place of a healing Bernie Kosar. Kosar suffered a fractured ankle in the second game of the season, and after backup Todd Philcox broke his thumb in relief, the Browns called on Tomczak.
“I don’t know much about Tomczak other than that what I’ve seen on film,” Ross said. “He appears to be more athletic than Kosar. . . . He’s 4-2 as a starter with them, and that ain’t bad. And they beat a couple of pretty good teams with him in Pittsburgh and Houston.”
The Chargers lost to Pittsburgh and Houston earlier this season, and Ross has reminded his players of that throughout the week. He also pulled out his practice notes for the week of preparation leading up to the Chargers’ 24-21 victory over Denver, and like he did that week, the coach turned up the intensity in this week’s workouts.
“There’s no danger of a letdown whatsoever,” said Charger defensive tackle Blaise Winter. “We’ve even had the heat turned up some more. We realize coming off of that game that we have put ourselves into a hole, and we have practiced hard knowing what we have to do now.”
The Browns rank No. 22 on offense and feature a running-dominated attack. Kevin Mack, Tommy Vardell and Leroy Hoard are the pounders, and Eric Metcalf plays the role of Ronnie Harmon.
The Chargers had Harmon wear Metcalf’s No. 21 in practice in this week to give the defense a look at what they will have to contend with today. Metcalf, like Harmon, leads his team in receptions with 27. He also averages 3.6 yards a rush and returns punts.
“He lines up anyplace. He’s a wide receiver, he’s a running back,” said Chargers defensive coordinator Bill Arnsparger, “and with the ball in his hands he’s extremely dangerous.”
The Browns’ defense ranks No. 17 in the league, and although it has surrendered a lot of yards, it seldom has allowed the opposition to make it to the end zone. Philadelphia leads the league surrendering only 11 touchdowns; the Browns are second with 13.
“It’s a very solid defensive unit,” Ross said. “They have a couple of real outstanding players. (Defensive tackle) Michael Dean Perry gets off the ball better than anybody I have seen. I’ve slowed down the video and on almost every play he’s the first guy off the ball.
“He’s a real force to contend with. He can raise havoc with you because of the penetration he can get. Another great player on defense is (linebacker) Clay Matthews.”
The Chargers will start running back Marion Butts, who has been bothered all year with a sore knee, and will hope that Eric Bieniemy can demonstrate in pregame warm-ups that he has sufficiently recovered from an ankle injury to contribute.
Wide receiver Nate Lewis, who was expected to miss two to three weeks with a hip injury after being hurt against the Chiefs, has been given approval to start after not missing a day of practice. Defensive end Burt Grossman has healed quickly from an ankle injury and will start.
“Going into this game we have talked to the squad about the importance of the running game,” Ross said. “We don’t have to stop it, but we need to neutralize it as best we can. On offense we need to get more production out of our runs.”