CLEVELAND Browns not overlooking winless Chargers

Defensive end Kenard Lang of Cleveland knows that hungry teams can win.
CLEVELAND (AP) -- The San Diego Chargers return from their off week today.
Really, they've been "off" all season.
Browns defensive end Kenard Lang isn't taking any chances, however. He spent the week warning his teammates not to overlook the Chargers, the NFL's lone winless team.
Cleveland's defensive end can appreciate what it's like to be on a squad hungry for its first victory. Not long ago, Lang was on one.
In 2001, he played in Washington for Chargers coach Marty Schottenheimer, who got off to a similarly horrid start during his one -- and only -- season coaching the Redskins.
"When I was with Marty, we started off 0-5," Lang said, "and then we won like six straight games. I know he'll have them ready. We have to be ready for them."
Ready for a win
Following their bye week, the Chargers (0-5) are more than ready for a win after losing nine straight and 12 of 14 dating to their second-half collapse last season.
"It's an embarrassment," running back LaDainian Tomlinson said. "This team is too good to be O-and-whatever. It is just unacceptable and we understand that."
San Diego's players returned from the time off rested and resolved to end their skid.
"Guys are really desperate to get a win," Tomlinson said. "It's somewhat surprising that we're 0-5 because we expected big things, but hopefully we can get this thing turned around."
That's what the Browns (3-3) did.
They've rescued their season from the brink of disaster by winning three of four, including victories over Pittsburgh and Oakland the past two weeks.
The Browns can't afford a letdown against a team they feel they should beat, but that's always easier said than done.
"These are the scary ones," wide receiver Kevin Johnson said. "These are the guys who have nothing to lose and everything to gain. They'll lay it all on the line."
After struggling early on, Cleveland has finally established a running game. William Green has rushed for a combined 260 yards the past two weeks, the highest consecutive-game total for a Browns back since 1986.
Quarterback Tim Couch, 2-1 since replacing the injured Kelly Holcomb, has played with a renewed confidence and is making better decisions.
Defense is factor
But the biggest reason for the Browns' turnaround has been their defense, which entered the year as the club's biggest question mark following an off-season salary-cap purge of veteran players.
Since allowing Baltimore's Jamal Lewis to run for an NFL-record 295 yards in Week 2, the Browns have had the stingiest rushing defense in the league.
In the past four weeks opponents are averaging only 63.5 yards per game. By comparison, the Philadelphia Eagles' No. 1 rushing defense is allowing 68.2 yards per game.
Safety Earl Little said the difference is that the Browns are playing more disciplined.
"We're not trying to always make the big hit or the big play," he said. "Survive to play another down."
Lang said Cleveland's recent defensive dominance will not affect Schottenheimer, who will run Tomlinson until the Browns show they can stop him.