CLEVELAND — The Cleveland Browns lost to the Los Angeles Chargers, 30-28, Sunday afternoon at FirstEnergy Stadium in Cleveland.
Chargers coach and former University of Dayton quarterback Brandon Staley decided to go for it on fourth down with 1:14 remaining and was stopped giving the Browns another chance from Los Angeles’ 46-yard line.
Cleveland drove to the Chargers 35-yard line and Cade York had a chance to win it with a 54-yard field with 16 seconds left but his kick went wide right and the Chargers ran out the clock.
The Browns jumped out to a 14-3 lead in the first quarter thanks to a 41-yard touchdown run by Nick Chubb and an 11-yard touchdown catch by Amari Cooper.
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The Chargers responded with a five-yard touchdown run by Joshua Kelley and a 12-yard touchdown pass from Justin Herbert to Austin Eckeler to take a 17-14 lead with 5:51 left in the second quarter. Chubb’s two-yard touchdown run reclaimed the lead, 21-17, with 2:55 to play in the first half.
Cleveland had a chance for more points but York missed a 45-yard field goal before halftime and the led, 21-17, at halftime.
Los Angeles took the second half kickoff and got a 22-yard touchdown by Ekeler to go back ahead, 24-21. Taylor Bertolet’s 25-yard field goal increase it to 27-21 with 5:47 left in the third quarter. Kareem Hunt’s two-yard touchdown run put Cleveland back in front, 28-27, after three.
The Chargers drove 66 yards on 13 plays and got a 27-yard field by Bertolet to reclaim the advantage, 30-28.
The Browns had a chance to go back ahead driving to the Chargers nine-yard line but Brissett was intercepted by Alohi Gillman with 2:55 to play.
Los Angeles ran the clock down to 1:14 and went for it on fourth down but Herbert’s passed to Mike Williams fell incomplete and the Browns took over at the Chrarger 45-yard line.
Cleveland drove to the 35-yard line but could not get closer with 16 seconds left. York missed his second field goal of the game and the Chargers ran out the clock.
Browns quarterback Jacoby Brissett went 21 of 34 for 230 yards, one touchdown and one interception. Nick Chubb ran 17 times for 134 yards and two scores.
Chargers quarterback Justin Herbert passed for 228 yards and a score. Austin Ekeler rushed for 173 yards and a touchdown.
The Browns fall to 2-3 overall, 1-2 at home.
The Chargers improve to 3-2 overall.
Cleveland will be in action October 16 when they host New England at 1 p.m. at FirstEnergy Stadium.