Chargers vs Browns Picks & Odds: Injury-Plagued Bolts Visit Cleveland as Slim Fave

The Cleveland Browns (2-2 SU, 2-2 ATS) will be aiming to maintain at least a share of first place in the AFC North when they welcome the Los Angeles Chargers (2-2, 3-1) to town on Sunday in NFL Week 5 action.

The Browns are coming off a disappointing 23-20 loss in Atlanta that leaves them deadlocked with both Baltimore and Cincinnati in the division standings. The Chargers travel to Cleveland on the heels of a decisive 34-24 win in Houston but have failed to tally consecutive straight-up wins on the road since September 2021.

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Chargers vs Browns Sportsbook Odds

The Chargers have improved to 3-point favorites since Sportsbook as 2-point road chalk. The total has dipped slightly from its Sportsbook position at 48 and now sits at 47.5. Sunday afternoon’s matchup marks the second meeting between these teams in as many seasons, and the Chargers’ first trip to Cleveland since 2018.

Los Angeles has largely dominated in head-to-head action, claiming victory in eight of its past 10 dates with the Browns, including each of the past three, capped by an entertaining 47-42 win in Week 5 last season. However, the Chargers have produced mixed results at the sportsbooks over that stretch, posting against the spread wins in their past two clashes with the Browns after failing to cover in each of their previous six meetings.

Last season’s high-scoring contest marked a second straight payday for sports bettors taking the OVER. However, the total failed to top 37 in three of their previous four meetings.

Get the best Chargers vs Browns odds and lines available from our recommended sportsbooks for your favorite picks of the night.

Chargers Struggling To Maintain Consistency

Justin Herbert showed no ill effects of his recent rib injury in last weekend’s victory over the Texans. The Chargers’ star quarterback connected on 27 of 39 pass attempts for 340 yards and two touchdowns as Los Angeles snapped a three-game outright losing streak on the road. The win marks a big turnaround for L.A, which struggled to generate offense while Herbert played his way through his recent injury, including a lopsided 38- 10 loss to Jacksonville two weeks ago.

While last week’s win is welcome, the Chargers still face a stiff challenge to establish consistent winning ways. With road wins coming at a particular premium, this team has managed to tally consecutive wins of any sort just once while going only 7-9 SU over their past 16 contests.

And while loyal Chargers betting fans may be heartened by the team’s 3-1 ATS run to start the season, the team’s prospects are not helped by injuries to linebacker Joey Bosa and receiver Keenan Allen. Bosa will be sidelined indefinitely by a groin injury, while the status of Allen remains uncertain after he missed last week’s game with a hamstring injury.

Browns Beating Themselves With Sloppy Play

A sloppy start combined with an inability to seize the offensive opportunities presented to them proved disastrous to the Browns in last weekend’s loss in Atlanta.

The Browns turned over the ball on each of their first two possessions, which the Falcons converted into an early 10-0 lead. And while they rebounded to tie things up by halftime, the Browns failed to build on that momentum, going three-and-out and tallying just five total yards on their first two possessions of the second half.

Quarterback Jacoby Brissett struggled while going just 21-for-35 for 234 yards, no scores and one pick. Brissett has now failed to toss a scoring pass in six straight quarters and has yet to find the end zone after recess through his first four starts.

It has been Nick Chubb who has been the most effective at sparking the Cleveland attack. The Browns running back has cracked 100 rushing yards in three of four outings and has run for five touchdowns over the past three games.

Chargers: Keys To Victory

The Chargers defense played a huge role in the team’s march to a 27-7 halftime lead in Houston last week, but must find a way to bring a halt to the shaky second-half performances that have enabled opponents to score 75 total points after recess so far this season.

Look for Austin Ekeler to return to the consistent form that enabled him to score in each of his final eight appearances last season after rushing for two touchdowns and adding a scoring catch last weekend.

Browns: Keys To Victory

With the Chargers struggling to defend against the pass while surrendering seven scoring tosses over their past three games, Jacoby Brissett enjoys an opportunity to put his recent sloppy performances behind him.

But with a Brissett breakthrough far from assured, it will fall on the backfield duo of Chubb and Kareem Hunt to spark the Cleveland offense, while the Browns defense looks to extend its streak of not allowing a scoring pass to three straight games.

NFL Computer Pick: Browns +3

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