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CLEVELAND (Ticker) -- The "Dawg Pound" at Cleveland Browns Stadium was howling like in the days of old. Tim Couch tossed a 19-yard touchdown pass to Kevin Johnson with 1:19 remaining as the Browns rallied to defeat the previously unbeaten San Diego Chargers, 20-16. The Browns erased a 16-10 deficit in the final five minutes to improve to 3-1 and remain tied with the Baltimore Ravens atop the AFC Central Division. "A lot of people respect us now and realize we are a team to be respected," Johnson said. San Diego quarterback Doug Flutie tried to work one of his patented miracles in the final minute, driving the Chargers to the Browns 40. But time expired after he threw two incompletions into the end zone. San Diego (3-1) had been the last undefeated team in the AFC. "I'm glad we don't have to play him (Flutie) again," Cleveland coach Butch Davis said. "It seems like every time you try to get him, he somehow slips away from you. He is just a great player." The Chargers dominated the second half after erasing a 10-3 halftime deficit, but the Browns' defense stiffened, forcing the Chargers to settle for field goals of 21 and 38 yards by Wade Richey in the fourth quarter. "It seemed like they started with the ball in our territory all day long but our defense kept making big plays," Davis said. The Chargers' struggles in the red zone came back to haunt them. Flutie engineered a 14-play, 59-yard drive that consumed more than seven minutes. But the Chargers lost three yards after a 1st-and-goal at the 1 and Richey's 21-yarder made it 13-10 with 10:23 remaining. Flutie thought he had a touchdown on third down but his pass to tight end Freddie Jones in the back of the end zone, was knocked down by Keith McKenzie at the line of scrimmage. "When the ball left my hand I thought I had a touchdown," Flutie said. "You just have to score touchdowns when you get down there." James Jackson fumbled on the ensuing kickoff return after being hit hard by linebacker Junior Seau and linebacker Orlando Ruff recovered at the Cleveland 25. The Chargers could not pick up a first down and Richey's 38-yard field caromed off the left crossbar to make it 16-10 with 8:22 remaining in the contest. The Browns closed to 16-13 on Phil Dawson's 27-yard field goal with 4:58 remaining and forced the Chargers to punt on the ensuing possession. "It was one of those deals where they made more plays than we did," San Diego coach Mike Riley said. "We certainly had our opportunities. They made the plays at the end. We did not make it pay off when we were in the red zone today. We kicked field goals instead of touchdowns and then in the end, that sadly was the difference." Darren Bennett got off only a 26-yard punt, giving Cleveland good field position at midfield. Couch drove the Browns the distance in 2:37, keeping the march alive with a 13-yard completion to Johnson on 3rd-and-13 from the 36. "It was do-or-die time for us and we had to get the ball and score," Couch said. "Coach Davis is making a big difference because he is very positive and always upbeat. Everyone out there is playing and we're not afraid to fail." Two plays later, Couch passed for Johnson in the right corner of the end zone. The receiver leaped over cornerback Alex Molden to make the grab. "It was a great way to win a football game," Johnson said. "We just kept our composure. I was surprised that I had only one-on-one coverage. In the huddle, Couch said if you can get open, I'm going to you. "Couch and I have been doing this for the last three years," Johnson added. "I know where the ball's going to be and he knows where I'm going to be." Couch completed 11-of-27 passes for 203 yards, while Flutie was 17-of-37 for 149 yards in his first career start against the Browns. The Browns erased a deficit in the fourth quarter for the second straight week, rallying for 10 points in the final 5:13 to defeat Jacksonville, 23-14. Cleveland has won three straight since a season-opening loss to Seattle. Chargers rookie LaDainian Tomlinson rebounded from a quiet first half to rush for 102 yards and a touchdown on 19 carries. Tomlinson ran for only 24 yards in the first half, but his 57-yard gain on a reverse early in the third quarter changed the momentum and set up his game-tying two-yard TD run just 67 seconds into the second half. Richey's 22-yard field goal gave the Chargers a 3-0 lead with 3:16 left in the first quarter. The Browns tied it on Dawson's 31-yard field goal 30 seconds into the second period and took a 10-3 lead on Jackson's 12-yard TD run with 33 seconds left in the half.
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