Justin Herbert throws 2 TD passes, Chargers clamp down on Jameis Winston in 27-10 win over Browns

CLEVELAND (AP) — Justin Herbert passed for 250 yards and two touchdowns — all in the first half — to lead the Los Angeles Chargers to a 27-10 victory Sunday over the Cleveland Browns, who couldn't get anything going with Jameis Winston.

Herbert connected on a 66-yard TD pass to Quentin Johnston and a 27-yarder to Joshua Palmer as the Chargers (5-3) built a big halftime lead and rolled to their fifth straight win over Cleveland.

Herbert finished 18 of 27 for 282 yards and was sacked six times.

J.K. Dobbins had two rushing touchdowns for Los Angeles.

The Chargers' defense, which came in allowing a league-low 13 points per game, intercepted Winston three times, sacked him six more and limited the Browns (2-7) to just 57 yards in the first 30 minutes.

The Chargers didn't do much after halftime. They didn't have to as the Browns were unable to mount any serious threat and fell to 1-4 at home.

Both of Herbert’s TD passes were the result of communication breakdowns by the secondary.

On the first, Palmer got free down the right sideline for an easy TD. The second came when Johnston got behind Pro Bowl cornerback Denzel Ward, who seemed to think he was getting deep help from safety Juan Thornhill.

Dobbins scored on a 16-yard run with 3:30 left before halftime as the Chargers opened their 17-point lead.

Herbert essentially became a game manager in the second half as Chargers coach Jim Harbaugh turned to his running game to put away the Browns — something his brother, Baltimore coach John Harbaugh, couldn't do last week.

Star defensive end Myles Garrett was the lone bright spot for the Browns, getting three sacks in a four-play span in the first half.

Last week, Winston made his first start in two years, replacing the injured Deshaun Watson. He three TD passes and for 334 yards as the Browns stunned the Ravens.

There was no such magic this week for Winston, who was off target and ineffective. He did throw a 17-yard TD pass to Cedric Tillman in the final minute.

Herbert's 27-yard scoring pass to Palmer was set up by a 53-yard punt return from Darius Davis to Cleveland's 30.

TRADE TALK

There continues to be rumors and rumblings the Browns will deal defensive end Za’Darius Smith to the Detroit Lions ahead of Tuesday's trade deadline.

Smith signed a two-year contract with Cleveland in March.

The Lions have been looking for another edge rusher after recently losing star end Aidan Hutchinson with a broken leg.

INJURIES

Chargers: LB Junior Colson went out with an ankle injury in the second quarter and didn't return. ... CB Ja'Sir Taylor (fibula) didn't play in the second half. ... WR Simi Fehoko walked to the locker room in the fourth quarter holding his right arm.

Browns: LT Dawand Jones, who made his second straight start over Jedrick Wills Jr., went to the locker room in the fourth quarter with a shoulder injury but returned.

UP NEXT

Chargers: Host Tennessee on Nov. 10, the first of three straight home games.

Browns: A bye week followed by a Nov. 17 game at New Orleans.

AP NFL: https://apnews.com/hub/nfl

Los Angeles Chargers quarterback Justin Herbert (10) passes over Cleveland Browns defensive end Myles Garrett (95) in the first half of an NFL football game Sunday, Nov. 3, 2024, in Cleveland. (AP Photo/David Richard)

Los Angeles Chargers wide receiver Quentin Johnston (1) runs against Cleveland Browns cornerback Denzel Ward (21) in the first half of an NFL football game Sunday, Nov. 3, 2024, in Cleveland. (AP Photo/Sue Ogrocki)

Los Angeles Chargers cornerback Tarheeb Still (29) celebrates after intercepting a pass against the Cleveland Browns in the second half of an NFL football game Sunday, Nov. 3, 2024, in Cleveland. (AP Photo/Sue Ogrocki)

Los Angeles Chargers offensive tackle Rashawn Slater (70) keeps Cleveland Browns defensive end Myles Garrett (95) away from Chargers' quarterback Justin Herbert (10) in the first half of an NFL football game Sunday, Nov. 3, 2024, in Cleveland. (AP Photo/David Richard)

Los Angeles Chargers running back J.K. Dobbins (27) celebrates with quarterback Justin Herbert (10) after Dobbins ran for a touchdown against the Cleveland Browns in the first half of an NFL football game Sunday, Nov. 3, 2024, in Cleveland. (AP Photo/David Richard)

Los Angeles Chargers safety Derwin James Jr. reaches for the ball but can't make the interception against the Cleveland Browns in the first half of an NFL football game Sunday, Nov. 3, 2024, in Cleveland. (AP Photo/David Richard)

Los Angeles Chargers wide receiver Quentin Johnston (1) scores a touchdown on a 66-yard reception against the Cleveland Browns in the first half of an NFL football game Sunday, Nov. 3, 2024, in Cleveland. (AP Photo/Sue Ogrocki)

Cleveland Browns defensive end Myles Garrett (95) celebrates after sacking Los Angeles Chargers quarterback Justin Herbert in the first half of an NFL football game Sunday, Nov. 3, 2024, in Cleveland. (AP Photo/Sue Ogrocki)

Los Angeles Chargers wide receiver Joshua Palmer (5) catches a touchdown pass against the Cleveland Browns in the first half of an NFL football game Sunday, Nov. 3, 2024, in Cleveland. (AP Photo/David Richard)

Los Angeles Chargers running back J.K. Dobbins runs 16 yards for a touchdown against the Cleveland Browns in the first half of an NFL football game Sunday, Nov. 3, 2024, in Cleveland. (AP Photo/David Richard)

Los Angeles Chargers linebacker Khalil Mack (52) sacks Cleveland Browns quarterback Jameis Winston (5) for a 6-yard loss in the first half of an NFL football game Sunday, Nov. 3, 2024, in Cleveland. (AP Photo/Sue Ogrocki)

Los Angeles Chargers quarterback Justin Herbert passes against the Cleveland Browns in the first half of an NFL football game Sunday, Nov. 3, 2024, in Cleveland. (AP Photo/Sue Ogrocki)

BEKKERSDAL, South Africa (AP) — Nine people have died and at least 10 others were wounded after a group of gunmen carried out a shooting at a South African pub during the early hours of Sunday, authorities said.

The incident occurred just before 1 a.m. in the township of Bekkersdal which is located 46 kilometers (28 miles) west of Johannesburg. It is the second mass shooting in South Africa in three weeks.

About 12 unknown suspects in a white minibus and a silver sedan opened fire at pub patrons at KwaNoxolo tavern, in the Tambo section of Bekkersdal and continued to shoot randomly as they fled the scene, according to police.

“Some victims were randomly shot in the streets by unknown gunmen,” the police said of the incident that left nine people dead and 10 hospitalized.

Maj. Gen. Fred Kekana, the acting provincial commissioner of Gauteng, told the AP at the scene that the gunmen, some of whom wore balaclavas, had one AK-47 rifle and several 9-millimeter pistols.

Police did not release information about the victims, but police spokesperson Brigadier Brenda Muridili confirmed that an e-hailing driver was among those caught in the crossfire. She said the driver had just dropped off a client.

“He was shot and killed,” she told The Associated Press.

The motive for the shooting is unknown. A manhunt for the suspects in the multiple gunshot event has been initiated by Gauteng Serious and Violent Crime Investigations in collaboration with the Crime Detection Tracing Unit.

There have been several mass shootings at bars — sometimes called shebeens or taverns in South Africa — in recent years, including a mass shooting carried out by multiple suspects in an unlicensed bar near the South African capital that left at least 12 people dead and 13 injured earlier this month.

Another shooting killed 16 people in the Johannesburg township of Soweto in 2022. On the same day, four people were killed in a mass shooting at a bar in another province.

The second-largest political party in South Africa, the Democratic Alliance, called for a special task force to probe the two recent shootings in the province.

Surrounded by abandoned mine shafts, the Bekkersdal region is notorious for illicit mining operations, which have led to serious social problems, including gang violence and the proliferation of illegal firearms.

With almost 26,000 homicides in 2024, or more than 70 per day on average, South Africa has one of the highest homicide rates in the world. Firearms are by far the leading cause of death in homicides. Although the nation of 62 million has comparatively stringent gun control laws, officials say many murders are carried out using illegal firearms.

Gumede reported from Johannesburg.

South African police gather at the scene of a mass shooting where gunmen killed nine and injured at least 10 in a pub in Bekkersdal, South Africa, Sunday, Dec. 21, 2025. (AP Photo/ Alfonso Nqunjana)

South African police gather at the scene of a mass shooting where gunmen killed nine and injured at least 10 in a pub in Bekkersdal, South Africa, Sunday, Dec. 21, 2025. (AP Photo/ Alfonso Nqunjana)

Onlookers gather at the scene of a mass shooting where gunmen killed nine and injured at least 10 in a pub in Bekkersdal, South Africa, Sunday, Dec. 21, 2025. (AP Photo/ Alfonso Nqunjana)

South African police gather at the scene of a mass shooting where gunmen killed nine and injured at least 10 in a pub in Bekkersdal, South Africa, Sunday, Dec. 21, 2025. (AP Photo/ Alfonso Nqunjana)