A Test for Jameis Winston, the Relationship Between Kevin Stefanski and Ken Dorsey – Terry Pluto's Pregame Scribbles

3. Myles Garrett said: “If we get this, it will completely change the atmosphere in the team. This is a big deal for us. We have to go ahead and secure this. (Then) go into the bye week, recover, get a few guys back … and then go into the next few weeks knowing that they're basically just playoff games.”

4. Yes, there is a lot at stake. The NFL season consists of 17 games. If the Browns win, they will be 3-6. Not great. But a two-game winning streak since switching to Jameis Winston at QB would be a clear sign of revival. This is especially true because they will have defeated two good teams in Baltimore and the Chargers.

5. The Browns believe they can compete against the Chargers, who have inexperienced cornerbacks. But the Chargers play a lot of zone coverage. They will try to trick Winston into thinking someone is open and then move in to intercept. So pay attention. The Chargers have six interceptions this season.

6. I watched the tape of the Brown/Baltimore game. One of the things I was looking for was interceptions thrown. They had to be easy catches for the defenders. It appeared that Baltimore dropped three balls, two of which were directly in the hands of the defenders with no one around them. The biggest was Kyle Hamilton's drop near the end of the game. On the next play, Winston connected with Cedric Tillman for a 38-yard TD. That was the game winner.

7. The Browns had at least two thrown interceptions – Grant Delpit and Denzel Ward. The Browns have just one interception this season. Schwartz was asked if he counts his guys' interceptions: “No, because that would depress me too much.”

8. If the Browns intercept QB Justin Herbert on Sunday, it will be a rarity. He comes into the game with eight TD passes and one interception. Chargers coach Jim Harbaugh plays a ball control game. Not many long or risky passes, although Herbert is “perhaps the best arm talent in the NFL,” according to Schwartz.

9. The Chargers' offensive coordinator is Greg Roman, a John Carroll product. He loves to run the ball. Roman worked for both Harbaugh brothers. He was with Jim at Stanford (2009-10) and the 49ers (2011-14). After a stint as Buffalo's offensive coordinator (2015-16), Roman went to the Baltimore Ravens to work for John Harbaugh (2017-22).

10. Schwartz on the Chargers offense: “They keep the chains moving. They run. They (throw) screens. They get into field goal range. They don't take many risks. If they have to sting, that’s fine.”

11. Your kicker is Cameron Dicker. In three years, he has never missed a field goal inside the 50-yard line in the regular season. He's 58 out of 58. Hard to believe. He is 11 of 15 past 50.

12. Here's a strange statistic about Dicker. He's made 17 of 18 field goals this season, with his only miss coming from 55 yards. But get this: He's 9 of 11 on extra points this season.

13. Dicker's presence is the reason the Chargers traded Dustin Hopkins to Cleveland for a seventh-round pick before the 2023 season. Hopkins had a great year in Cleveland, making 33 of 36 field goals, including perfect hits on eight attempts from at least 50 yards. But Hopkins has been a bit shaky this season, making 13 of 16 field goals. Like Dicker, he is 9 of 11 in extra points. Field goals could decide this game if the Chargers, as their game plan dictates, make this a low-scoring defensive battle.

14. Joey Bosa was once a premier pass rusher. He missed three games with a hip injury and played just 76 total snaps this season. The Ohio State product has missed 23 games over the past three seasons due to injury.

15. Ken Dorsey did a good job crediting head coach Kevin Stefanski for the Browns' offensive success last week. With Winston under center, the Browns reverted to Stefanski's basic offense. Dorsey named the pieces. The offensive coordinator mentioned how Stefanski “created critical plays for us” during the game and we were able to install them on the sideline. Dorsey and Stefanski seem to work really well together, otherwise I doubt Stefanski would have given up the game management.

16. Dorsey was asked if Winston sees the field “a little better than Watson.” The offensive coordinator said, “I wouldn’t say it any better. I think they see the field differently because they are different people. Everyone has their own way of playing… maybe they have the exact same way of playing, but they see it a little differently. I'm not saying this is good, bad or indifferent. It’s human nature.”

17. The Browns will continue to say nothing negative about Watson's play. It serves no purpose for them, especially with Watson out for the season with Achilles tendon surgery. But the true answer is the one most fans saw: Winston sees more of the field, gets rid of the ball quicker and is more decisive when it comes to where he wants to throw the ball. The Browns must know this, even if they never say it.

18. Interesting Stat: Since leaving Tampa Bay after the 2019 season, Winston is 7-4 as a starter, with 24 TD passes and 11 interceptions.

FORECAST: Browns 20, Chargers 17. But they need Hopkins to be at his best because it could come down to a big field goal late in the game. My record is a dismal 2-6, just like the Browns. Among other things, I picked them to lose twice (Jacksonville and Baltimore) when they actually won.