SAN DIEGO (AP) -- There's more to the San Diego Chargers' defense than just Junior Seau and Rodney Harrison.

Granted, the Chargers don't want to be without their injured All-Pro players for too long, but they got by just fine in a 23-10 win over the Cleveland Browns on Sunday.

	San Diego's Kenny Bynum runs into the end zone past Cleveland's Wali Rainer (top) and Darius Holland.

Defensive end Raylee Johnson had a career-high three sacks and linebacker Michael Hamilton filled in admirably for Seau, including one play on which he clotheslined rookie quarterback Tim Couch.

"I didn't want to go in there and let the team down," said Hamilton, who made the first start of his three-year career. "I didn't want to be the one, you know, `Well, they're without Junior and his backup did not hold his part.'

"I looked at my playbook a little longer this week."

Owners of the NFL's least-productive offense, the expansion Browns turned out to be just what the Chargers needed to end a six-game losing streak. San Diego (5-7) got short scoring runs from Kenny Bynum and rookie Jermaine Fazande, and three field goals from John Carney. Cleveland (2-11) lost its third straight game.

Seau was a late scratch because of a strained stomach muscle and a rib injury, and Harrison missed his seventh straight game with a shoulder injury. Harrison was expected to return, but tore scar tissue in practice on Friday.

The Chargers also were without defensive tackle Norman Hand, cornerback Terrance Shaw and running back Natrone Means, who's now missed six games.

"Those are all great players, but we had to show that we do have depth on defense," said end Al Fontenot, who had one sack.

With the Chargers' big stars out, "I thought we would have a big day," Couch said. "They played a lot of man coverage which gave us opportunities for some big plays, but we just didn't take advantage of them."

But there was something else going on.

Couch "was coming off the turf every other play," Browns safety Corey Fuller said. After Couch's second interception, "I told him that it would be all right."

The way the game was going, Johnson felt like he might have had a sack or two more than he did.

"I had a great day," Johnson said. "I knew we had to step it up because we lost four guys on defense, and it was up to the D line to make some plays today."

The Browns had just one first down in the second half, and two Chargers scoring drives ate up seven minutes each. Couch was 18-of-29 for 184 yards.

San Diego led by just six points going into the fourth quarter, but Fazande's 2-yard leap over the top of the pile for his first NFL touchdown gave the Chargers a 23-10 lead with 6:28 left.

GAME NOTES

Cleveland's Tim Couch and Kevin Johnson combined for their eighth touchdown pass, the most connections by a rookie combo since QB Jim Plunkett and Randy Vataha of the New England Patriots combined for nine in 1971. Robert Reed's first two punt returns of 19 and 21 yards were the longest of the season for the Chargers. His passing could use some work, though, as he was sacked on a trick play in the first quarter. Reed, a rookie, was called up from the practice squad on Friday. San Diego's Darryll Lewis had his team-high fourth interception of the season and his 29th since the beginning of the 1994 season, the most by an AFC defender. John Thierry's three sacks were the most by a Browns player this season. Referee Tony Corrente needed just 12 seconds to look at a replay and confirm that Robert Reed fumbled in the third quarter. The unsuccessful challenge cost the Chargers a timeout. Cleveland committed 13 penalties for 94 yards, both season-highs.

After going five games without a rushing touchdown, the Chargers now have four in their last two games. They also rushed for more than 100 yards for the first time all year, finishing with 145. Bynum had 60 yards on 17 carries.

Bynum gave the Chargers a 13-3 lead when he went in standing up from the 1 with 2:11 left in the first half, one play after a 16-yard run by Terrell Fletcher.

The Chargers weren't quite as productive in three cracks from the 1 earlier in the quarter.

Jeff Graham caught an apparent 37-yard touchdown pass from Jim Harbaugh midway through the second quarter, but the officials ruled that Graham was down at the 1. Harbaugh was sacked for a 4-yard loss on first down and Fazande was stuffed by linebacker James Williams at the 1 on third down, bringing on Carney for a 19-yard field goal.

Harbaugh finished 16-of-23 for 161 yards.

Six seconds before halftime, Couch hit fellow rookie Kevin Johnson with a 19-yard touchdown pass to pull the Browns to 13-10.

Cleveland's Phil Dawson kicked a 33-yard field goal in the first quarter while Carney also had kicks of 44 yards in the first quarter and 30 yards in the third.

Browns left tackle Scott Rehberg was looking for atonement, and didn't exactly get it. He was criticized by some teammates, including Lomas Brown, for not playing in last week's loss to Tennessee because he had the flu.

Starting in place of Brown (sprained knee), Rehberg allowed all three of Johnson's sacks and was called for a false start and holding twice.

Rehberg declined comment afterward.

"We were at a point in the fourth quarter, had Rehberg had more problems, we probably would have made a change," coach Chris Palmer said.