Chargers get first win at Browns’ expense

Published 12:00 am Monday, October 20, 2003

CLEVELAND - On their way off the field, a few of the San Diego Chargers took one last look at the scoreboard just to make sure there was no mistake.

San Diego 26, Cleveland 20, it said.

''Not real artistic,'' Chargers coach Marty Schottenheimer said. ''But we won.''

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LaDainian Tomlinson rushed for 200 yards and one touchdown and the Chargers (1-5) held off Kelly Holcomb's comeback for their first win since Dec. 1.

Steve Christie kicked field goals of 44, 50, 42 and 32 yards, and Kwaime Lassiter intercepted Tim Couch and returned it 38 yards for a TD for San Diego, which had lost nine straight dating to its second-half collapse in 2002.

Tomlinson, the Chargers' lightning bolt of a back, couldn't take the losing any longer.

''He was bound and determined not to let us lose,'' quarterback Drew Brees said.

Earlier this week, the sensational third-year back said half-jokingly that he was willing to do anything - even break the rules - just to get the Chargers a victory.

''No, I don't think I did,'' he said with a smile when asked if he had done anything illegal. ''But I was willing to, I'll tell you that. For some reason, I felt strongly that we were going to get a win. I just had a feeling.''

Tomlinson broke off a 70-yard TD run on his first carry after halftime and helped the Chargers open a 23-6 lead late in the third quarter on Christie's third field goal.

That's when the Browns turned to Holcomb, who replaced an ineffective and rattled Couch.

Holcomb, who sat out the past four games while recovering from a broken right leg, threw two TD passes - the second to tight end Darnell Sanders with 11:40 left - as the Browns (3-4) trimmed a 17-point deficit to 23-20.

''I was scared,'' Tomlinson said. ''I really was.''

But he felt better after helping San Diego run nearly eight minutes off the clock by running for 48 tough yards to set up Christie's fourth field goal with 3:44 remaining.

The Chargers should have put the game away on that drive, but with first-and-goal at the 8, San Diego inexplicably called two running plays for fullback Lorenzo Neal and Brees was sacked for a 13-yard loss on third down.

''I made a bad call,'' Schottenheimer said. ''If I had to do it all over again, I would have run the ball.''

Down by six, Holcomb got the Browns to midfield but threw three straight incompletions - the last a catchable ball to Kevin Johnson - to give the ball back to the Chargers, who didn't have to punt until there were just 25 seconds left.

Holcomb finished 11-of-19 for 90 yards and two TDs in relief of Couch, who went 13-of-24 for 102 yards and two poorly thrown interceptions.

''This was disturbing,'' Browns coach Butch Davis said. ''We have to absolutely stop the damn penalties. That stuff kills you.''

Couch had a welt under his right eye and declined to speak with reporters following the game. X-rays taken on his left ankle were negative.

He wasn't the only Browns player hurting. Left tackle Barry Stokes left the stadium on crutches after reinjuring his right ankle. Running back William Green suffered an unspecified shoulder injury and was used sparingly in the second half.

Tomlinson's TD burst was a thing of beauty.

Running left, he froze cornerback Anthony Henry with a stutter step, broke attempted tackles by Andra Davis and Robert Griffith and took a peek at the scoreboard as he outraced the Browns to the end zone.

''I looked up and saw there was nobody close to me,'' he said.

As far as the Chargers are concerned, there is never anyone close to him.

''He is a very special player and a very special person,'' Schottenheimer said. ''He has as big a heart as anyone around. With guys like that, you really don't need much coaching.'' Notes: Green, who was coming off consecutive 100-yard games, had 14 carries for 65 yards. … The Browns were a season-low 2-of-14 on third-down conversions. … Referee Jeff Triplette worked his first game in Cleveland since 1999 when he threw a penalty flag and accidentally hit former Browns offensive tackle Orlando Brown in the eye. … Tomlinson has three career 200-yard games.