Chargers vs. Browns Pick
Will the San Diego Chargers find themselves in a shootout with the winless Cleveland Browns when they meet up Saturday at 1PM ET?
According to the oddsmakers at BetDSI, the Chargers are favored on the road, as they are getting odds of -6 points against the Browns. The over/under total for the contest is listed at 43.5 points. San Diego has won five of the last six in this series and the two have hit the over in three of their last four meetings.
San Diego is coming off a 19-16 loss at home to Oakland for the Chargers third straight loss. They are now 5-9 on the year and 8-5-1 with the over. The Chargers have gone 3-0-1 with the under in their last four as the offense has been sputtering somewhat. They have failed to score more than 21 points in their last four. San Diego still averages 26.1 points per game on offense while putting up 367.3 yards per contest. Philip Rivers has thrown for 3,795 yards and 29 touchdowns this year, but also has 18 interceptions. The team has been without Melvin Gordon the last few games because of a hip injury. He is doubtful to return this week and is sitting at 997 rushing yards with 10 touchdowns. Defensively, San Diego is giving up 26.1 points per game as well. They have been decent against the run, allowing only 95.7 yards per game. The unit has created 27 turnovers, including 17 interceptions. Casey Hayward is leading the charge with seven interceptions, which leads the NFL.
Cleveland remains winless on the year following a 33-13 loss at Buffalo last week to drop to 0-14. The Browns snapped a five-game streak of hitting the under last weekend as they went over to move to 7-7 with the over/under in 2016. Cleveland averages just 15.7 points and 331 yards per game on offense, while the defense is giving up 29.1 points and 411 yards per game. The Browns have really struggled to stop the run, allowing 155.7 rushing yards per game. While Robert Griffin III has returned under center, he has still struggled. RG3 has thrown for 490 yards with no touchdowns and two interceptions this season. Isaiah Crowell is the leading rusher with 746 yards and five scores.
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San Diego has struggled on offense lately, but playing Cleveland should be the cure. The Browns can’t stop anyone and Rivers and company should rack up a lot of points on their own. Cleveland should also be able to find some scoring drives on the Chargers’ defense, which makes some big plays, but also gives up plenty. I like the over in this meaningless game.
NFL WEEK 16 PICK: CHARGERS/BROWNS OVER 43.5