Austin Ekeler scored three fourth-quarter touchdowns and the Los Angeles Chargers overcame a 14-point, second-half deficit to defeat the Cleveland Browns 47-42 on Sunday at Inglewood, Calif.
It was the third time this season the Chargers have come from behind in the fourth quarter to win a game.
Justin Herbert played spectacular and finished with a career-high 398 passing yards, completing 26 of 43 passes. Herbert threw four touchdown passes and no interceptions. He also ran for a score.
Down 42-41 with 2:02 left at Cleveland’s 48-yard line, the Chargers drove 48 yards on five plays, with Ekeler pushed into the end zone by the Browns’ defense at the 1:31 mark for their offense to have enough time to retake the lead. Ekeler’s run on the two-point conversion fell inches short.
On the ensuing possession, the Browns failed to get past midfield.
With the win, the Chargers improved to 4-1 on the year, while the Browns dropped to 3-2. The back-and-forth game had seven lead changes, including three in the fourth quarter.
The two teams combined for 1,024 total yards.
Mike Williams was Herbert’s favorite target, finishing with eight receptions for 165 yards and two scores. Ekeler posted 66 rushing yards and two touchdowns, and also recorded five receptions for 53 receiving yards.
Keenan Allen added six receptions for 75 yards on nine targets.
Chargers kicker Tristan Vizcaino missed two extra points on the day, including one wide left that would have tied the game at 42. Vizcaino has missed four extra points this season.
For the Browns, Cleveland running backs Nick Chubb and Kareem Hunt combined for 222 rushing yards and three touchdowns.
Chubb finished with 161 rushing yards on 21 carries and a 52-yard touchdown, while Hunt added 61 rushing yards and two scores. The Browns averaged 6.6 yards per carry.
Cleveland quarterback Baker Mayfield also had a bounce-back game after a poor performance last week in a win over the Minnesota Vikings. Mayfield completed 23 of 32 passes for 305 yards and two scores. Mayfield did not throw an interception.
Tight end David Njoku led the Browns with seven receptions for 149 receiving yards, including a 71-yard run and catch for a score. Donovan Peoples-Jones added five receptions for 70 receiving yards.
Odell Beckham Jr. finished with just two receptions for 20 receiving yards on three targets.
–Field Level Media
