The Cincinnati Bengals are no strangers to pulling themselves out of an early season hole. Last season, they nearly made the playoffs after a 1-3 start. In 2022, they opened 1-2 on their way to an AFC championship appearance. In 2021, the Bengals were 5-4 before they broke out en route to the Super Bowl.
After a 1-4 start to this season, the Bengals find themselves at 4-6, but in an enviable spot heading into Week 11, with a chance to gain ground on one of the teams ahead of them in the AFC wild-card race, the Los Angeles Chargers.
L.A. has found its stride under head coach Jim Harbaugh, racing out to a 6-3 start that has the Chargers firmly in the hunt in the AFC playoff picture, even if they entered Week 11 three games back of the Chiefs in the division. The Chargers hang their hat on the No. 6 total defense and No. 1 scoring defense in the NFL, and they’ll need to show up after Joe Borrow (35-of-56, 428 yards, 4 TD) and Ja’Marr Chase (11 catches, 264 yards, 3 TD) torched the Ravens in a thrilling 35-34 loss on Thursday Night Football in Week 10.
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Will Dissly on the receiving end of this frozen rope from Justin Herbert
This ball was SPUN by Herbert for the game’s first touchdown. 29 yards in the reception and Dissly hayls in his 14th career touchdown.
Justin Hebert with a big run for L.A.
Herbert gains 20 yards on the scramble to get the ball near midfield for L.A.
Highlights between these two are never few and far between
Defenses playing well early
Both teams trade punts on their early drives. Its looks like both sides are feeling each other out early in the first quarter. With these two quarterbacks doing an excellent job protecting the ball this season — Justin Herebet has thrown one interception this season and Joe Burrow has thrown four — both of them getting settled into the game early makes sense, before any big chances are taken by either offense.
Tee Higgins is back in action for the Bengals
Higgins has missed the last three games with a quad injury, but is back for this pivotal trip to L.A. with the 6-3 Chargers ahead of the 4-6 Bengals in a crowded AFC playoff picture. This is Cincinnati’s last game against a team currently ahead of them in the AFC wild card chase — they do have two games left against the AFC North leading Steelers — but this a must-win for the Bengals to stay in the hunt for a wild card spot.
The Chargers are ready to strike on Sunday Night Football
And in this humble blogger’s opinion, the best dressed team in NFL history. The Chargers’ powder blues are as good as it gets.
