Chargers-Browns live game recap: Quentin Johnston returns to AFC action

The Chargers (4-3) and Browns (2-6) are set to open in Cleveland, with both teams hoping to extend their winning record for the second straight year.

Jameis Winston started in Week 8 for the injured Deshaun Watson and helped the Browns to a 29-24 victory over the Ravens, who many have described as potentially the AFC's biggest rival in recent weeks.

Justin Herbert and the Bolts defeated a weakened Saints squad 26-8 last Sunday, thanks to a breakout game from rookie wideout Ladd McConkey (111 yards, 2 touchdowns). The receiver room also gets a boost with the return of 2023 first-rounder Quentin Johnston, who returns today after missing two games with an ankle injury.

Both teams will certainly emerge from the game full of energy. Stay tuned to find out what this outcome is.

A full quarterly recap of today's game can be found below.

First quarter

The Browns won the coin toss and elected to defer. The Chargers offense was first.

On the first play from scrimmage, Herbert faked a handoff to JK Dobbins before firing a bullet over the middle to Ladd McConkey for the first down. Unfortunately, that was the highlight of the opening sequence, as the Bolts only managed two yards on a rush attempt from Johnston before two incompletions led to the first punt of the day.

Cleveland's first drive of the game was almost a mirror image of the Chargers' drive as they began with a first-down pass play to move the chains before stalling several plays later.

Derius Davis, who had missed the last two games with an injury, returned the ensuing punt 53 yards to give the Chargers the lead inside the Cleveland 30-yard line.

The second drive for the Chargers was a bit up and down due to a combination of penalties and reverse plays thanks to a strong defensive performance from the Browns. But on third-and-21 from the 27-yard line, Herbert spotted a gap in coverage and threw a rocket to the wide-open Josh Palmer in the end zone. The result gave the Chargers an early 7-0 lead.

Both teams traded punts throughout the remainder of the period, but on the final three plays of the first quarter, Myles Garrett hit Rashawn Slater for two sacks as he single-handedly completed the drive.

Second quarter

The Browns offense tried to find some life on offense early in the second quarter. Nick Chubb managed a few chunk runs and Jameis Winston even used his legs to extend the drive on the Chargers' side of the 50. Inside the red zone, the Chargers' defense stepped up and managed to thwart the chance for a touchdown by sacking Morgan Fox for a seven-yard loss. Former Chargers kicker Dustin Hopkins came off the bench and made the score 7-3 with 9:30 left in the half.

The Chargers' next drive was a welcome baking party for Johnston.

On a third-and-six from their own 34-yard line, Herbert took advantage of another broken Browns coverage and saw Johnston rush down the right sideline for a massive 66-yard touchdown. Cameron Dicker was wide left on the extra point, so the Chargers extended their lead to 13-3 with just over half the quarter remaining.

Winston and the Browns found no way to answer on the other side, as Fox once again found the Browns quarterback to secure his second sack of the half. The pass rush specialist did his best to keep up with Garrett, who had three sacks to his name at this point in the half.

Johnston continued his hot start to today's game with two more catches on the Chargers' next drive. A 19-yard pass to Ladd McConkey then set up a 16-yard touchdown run by JK Dobbins, extending their lead to 20-3.

The Chargers ended the half with a lateral play attempt in which Johnston threw a short pass deep into Browns territory before throwing to Palmer, who reversed the field and almost found a lane for a score, but eventually switched to McConkey , who played sideways to Dobbins before finally being tackled . The game gained a total of 39 yards before the half ended.

Third quarter

The Browns came out of the second half on offense with renewed confidence. Winston was efficient with his passes and helped lead the Browns on a 14-play drive that included a fourth-down conversion via a quarterback sneak at the six-yard line. On the Chargers' first and second passes, Winston took a slanting shot to Cedric Tillman at the goal line, but Troy Dye beat him with a big hit out of his reach.

On the next play, Winston threw a pass to Jerry Jeudy in the back right corner of the end zone, but rookie cornerback Tarheeb Still jumped up and threw the ball back to safety Elijah Molden, who secured the interception for the third time this season.

Unfortunately, the Chargers' offense was unable to capitalize on the takeaway as they went for a three-pointer. Luckily, the defense stood firm and forced a three-pointer of their own to win the ball back straight away.

Late in the quarter, Winston threw wide past Tillman on a deep dig route and the ball sailed over him and into the other arms of the leaping Alohi Gilman, who got his second takeaway of the game.

Fourth quarter