5 reasons Cleveland Browns beat LA Chargers, becoming AFC North contenders

Five reasons the Cleveland Browns will beat the Los Angeles Chargers to move above .500 and become contenders in the AFC North division.

There’s a lot at stake for the Cleveland Browns during Week 6 matchup against the Los Angeles Chargers at FirstEngery Stadium.

Cleveland hasn’t won consecutive games since November of the 2014 season. Heck, they haven’t been above .500 since the 2014 season.

The Browns are changing the gray-cloud culture that’s surrounded the franchise for the better part of 20 years, and they’re doing it with takeaway hungry defense, a sound running game and future franchise quarterback in Baker Mayfield.

This squad ended the 19-game winless streak with their victory over the Jets, and then defeated not just the Ravens, but the bad lack that regularly haunts the franchise with the upset of Baltimore in Week 5.

That win was Cleveland’s first win against a divisional opponent for as long as Hue Jacksons’ been  the Browns’ head coach.

Things are changing, and they must continue to change agains the Chargers. That means beating LA, getting over .500 and winning back-to-back games for the first time in four years.

A national audience is starting to take notice of the Browns, too. Jim Rome called the Browns “America’s team.”

Peter King led with the Browns in his new Monday morning column for NBC sports.

And while Oddshark won’t list the Browns as favorites in this one (they’re only 1-point underdogs) the betting website is basically calling this contest a toss up..

Here’s five reasons the Browns take the next step to becoming a playoff contender with a win over the Chargers on Sunday.