Chargers stay hot against Browns

Winning in December is often the key to making the playoffs in the NFL. It is during this crucial month that many teams’ seasons are made or broken. For the Chargers, December has repeatedly been their favorite time of year, and it’s not because of Christmas. Coming into Sunday’s game against the Browns San Diego had won fourteen straight December games. A 30-23 victory over Cleveland gave them number 15 and seven in a row for the current season.

For the Browns it’s been along and miserable season, but things got off to a good start for them on Sunday afternoon. Cleveland marched down the field on the game’s opening drive, using ten plays for 72 yards and a touchdown. Brady Quinn connected with Mohamed Massaquoi on an 11 yard pass for the score that gave the Browns an early 7-0 lead. But Chargers didn’t take long to respond, scoring on each of their next two possessions, first on a Nick Kaeding field goal and then on a 66 yard touchdown pass from Phillip Rivers to Mike Tolbert. San Diego would tack on another field goal late in the half and took a surprisingly close 13-7 lead into the break.

Rivers and company got back to work immediately starting in the second half. The Chargers drove from their own 15 yard line all the way to the Browns 31. Rivers, who had another prolific day with 373 yards passing, hooked up with Darren Sproles for a 31 yard touchdown to give the Bolts a 20-7 lead. On the Chargers next drive Ladanian Tomlinson did the honors, scoring on a four yard run to up the score to 27-7. San Diego had taken control of the game and the Chargers appeared well on their way to a seventh straight win.

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Early in the fourth quarter the Browns finally reached the end zone again on a touchdown pass by Quinn. Up till that point the rejuvenated Chargers defense had shut them down, making their opening drive score seem like a lifetime ago, maybe a couple lifetimes for some suffering Browns fans. But as the fourth quarter began to wind down the Browns did their best to give their fans something to cheer for. Trailing 30-14, Cleveland drove for their third TD of the game to trim the lead to 30-20. After a failed two point conversion attempt, the Browns recovered and onside kick. A field goal pulled Cleveland to within a touchdown, but on the next onside kick attempt, San Diego recovered and in effect ended all hopes of a miracle comeback.

Outside of the Colts and Saints, who are both undefeated at 12-0, the Chargers are the hottest team in the NFL right now. Seven straight wins in a row isn’t easy to do, and next week the Chargers will be going for eight when they visit the Dallas Cowboys. It will be a marquee match up for sure and a huge game for the Chargers, who despite their winning ways have only a one game lead over the Broncos.

By Steven Mondelli
ProFootball-fans.com San Diego Chargers Correspondent