The Cleveland Browns travel west and take on the Los Angeles Chargers in Week 5. Here’s our latest pick, prediction, and NFL odds as well as all the information you need to watch and listen to Browns vs. Chargers.
Cleveland Browns vs. Los Angeles Chargers prediction and odds | Week 5
Odds from DraftKings sportsbook.
- Spread: Chargers -1
- Moneyline: Chargers -120, Browns +100
- Over/Under: N/A
Week 5 brings us many great matchups, and that includes the Browns vs. Chargers. This game features young, franchise quarterbacks leading teams that have spent the better half of a decade mired in mediocrity. But now, Baker Mayfield and Justin Herbert have led their respective clubs to 3-1 records early in the 2021 NFL season, and each squad has its sights set on a playoff berth.
Both teams have looked great to start. The Browns were a preseason favorite to win the AFC North, and while they’ve looked every bit the part, they have yet to play a division game. The Chargers are possibly one bad call in their Week 2 loss to the Dallas Cowboys away from being 4-0. Nevertheless, their record includes two wins against AFC West opponents: the Kansas City Chiefs and Las Vegas Raiders.
On paper, both teams look very similar. But while their records are identical, they’ve found different ways to win football games. The Chargers have a top-10 passing attack while the Browns have the top-ranked rushing offense in the league. Both clubs rank inside the top half of the league in scoring, with Cleveland at 25 points per game and Los Angeles at 23.8.
Browns, Chargers defenses will determine Week 5 matchup
Defensively, the Browns have put together one of the top defenses in the league — at least that’s what you’d think. On paper, Cleveland allows the second-fewest yards per game allowed (250.3) and the fourth-fewest points per game (16.8). However, outside of their Week 1 loss to Kansas City, they’ve won two games against two of the worst offenses in the league (Houston and Chicago).
The Chargers have managed to stymie high-powered offenses in each of the last three weeks. The Cowboys, Chiefs, and Raiders averaged just 19 points against the Chargers’ defense. With that said, the Chargers could be let down by their run defense, which ranks fourth-worst in the league.
Browns vs. Chargers prediction
The Browns vs. Chargers prediction is one of the tougher projections on the Week 5 slate. Each team has shown flashes on offense and defense this season, while Herbert has looked like a legitimate MVP candidate early on.
One turnover could determine the outcome of the game. The early edge goes to the Chargers at home based on their play against other top teams across the NFL.
Prediction: Chargers 23, Browns 20
How to watch and listen to Browns vs. Chargers this week
- Start: 4:05 PM ET
- Channel: CBS
- Listen:
- Local Los Angeles: ALT 98.7 FM
- Local Cleveland: WNCX 98.5 FM
- TuneIn Radio
- Sirius XM Radio
- Live Streaming Options:
- Hulu + Live TV
- fuboTV
- YouTube TV
- Paramount Plus
- DirecTV NFL Sunday Ticket
- NFL Mobile App