NFL Week 6 - Home Away From Home

I really expected last weeks game to be a tougher for the Chargers. Browns were making strides at become respectable coming in with a 2-2-1 record and I'm pretty high on Baker Mayfield's long term potential. Chargers shook Mayfield up early and he started getting rid of the ball even when the Chargers were blocked. They did sack Mayfield 5 times, with 0 coming from Melvin Ingram.

The other Melvin, Gordon, had his best game this season. 18 carries for 132 yards, and 3 TDs. He had 28 catches coming into this game, but the Chargers ran so effectively that Phillip Rivers threw for a season low 20 attempts. Gordon caught 2 of those for a total of 30. The Williams, Tyrell and Mike, have a combined 32 catches. I expect teams to try to take Gordon and Austin Eckler (14 receptions) away at some point, but I believe Rivers will then shift more focus on getting the ball to the two Williams. Chargers staff must have seen something in film because they ran outside the tackles more this game then in any our time in under OC Ken Weisenhunt. Gordon gashed them with sweeps, and pitches all game. Chargers usually run Gordon inside the tackles, but I can remember only a handful against Cleveland. The also through in some jet sweeps from Kenny Allen and Mike Williams. Gordon's game wasn't all good. He had a Rivers pass bounce off his hands that got picked. Gordon was running a slant inside the Cleveland 5 and if he catches it had a good chance of getting his 4th TD of the game.

A couple unsung Chargers made big plays. The aforementioned Tyrell Williams caught back-to-back 44 and 45 yard passes in the 2nd quarter. The 45 yarder a TD were he outfought 2 Browns for the ball. On the next drive Rivers hit Tyrell again for a 29 yard TD that should have been called back. It was pretty clear that  Russell Okung should have been called for a false start.

Desmond King picked Mayfield twice, the first was a great jump on an outside move. King is fast! The receiver made a good break and it was a pretty good throw by Mayfield, but King managed to under cut it. He also had a 32 yard punt return and has provided the Chargers an unexpected scoring threat on punt returns with Travis Benjamin nursing an injury.

A lot is being made about the Chargers having to travel to London. They stayed in Cleveland to practice so they didn't have to make the trip from California, which I thought was a smart move. The thing is, the Titans have to make the trip also. Both teams will have to deal with the Jet lag and time zone change.

Among all the negative stories about the Chargers not doing well in LA was how much the Chargers' are being welcomed in London.

"We're the home team and it feels like a home game even." - Head Coach Anthony Lynn

A reported explained how he’s followed Rivers’ career from afar for so long, and that while he was being completely professional, he couldn’t help but get those same fanboy emotions getting to be in the presence of his hero.

London native Andrew Cunneen already has his flight booked for December to travel 4,300 miles from the UK to watch his favorite team in action. On Sunday, the die-hard fan only has to travel a couple miles to watch his cherished Chargers up close.

“All over the UK, Chargers fans are hyped that their beloved team is playing in London,” said Rob Spragg, who runs the British Bolts social account. “The buzz is massive on social media and I know lots of Chargers fans can't wait to meet up and enjoy the whole experience. Parties and tailgates have been arranged for the whole weekend.”

 Maybe the Chargers should just move to London.