The presence of two top quarterbacks in Inglewood, Calif., is at least part of the reason why the Los Angeles Chargers and Cincinnati Bengals were hand-picked to face each other in prime time and on national television Sunday night.
Flexed into the late Sunday window, the Chargers (6-3) are on a three-game winning streak behind Justin Herbert and are pointed toward the playoffs just past the midway point of the schedule.
The Bengals (4-6) still have work to do to move into playoff eligibility behind Joe Burrow, but they are just one game out of the final AFC postseason spot despite a sub-.500 record.
Perhaps more than a clash of quarterbacks selected in the first round of the 2020 draft, Sunday’s meeting is about the Bengals’ elite offense against the Chargers’ much-improved defense that still is trying to prove it is as good as the numbers suggest.
The Bengals average 27 points per game, fifth in the NFL. The Chargers have allowed an NFL-best 13.1 points per game, but a relatively easy schedule has created skeptics. Their current winning streak has come against the New Orleans Saints, Cleveland Browns and Tennessee Titans, whom they got past 27-17 last Sunday.
The Chargers finally have been able to develop an identity, something new head coach Jim Harbaugh said he was searching for into the first month of the season.
“I know what our guys are now,” Harbaugh said this week. “… They’re going to play as hard as they can, as fast as they can, as long as they can. Big challenge (on Sunday). I know our guys are not afraid of any challenge, any new challenge, and they’re going to attack it.”
Herbert had just 164 yards passing and a touchdown in Sunday’s victory, while the Chargers’ defense recorded seven sacks, even as star outside linebacker Khalil Mack (groin) was limited to four plays. Bud Dupree and Tuli Tuipulotu each had two sacks.
The Chargers’ 31 total sacks are tied for fourth in the NFL heading into Week 11.
Los Angeles enters the game with cornerback Deane Leonard (hamstring) as questionable, though Mack did not practice all week and it is unclear if he will play.
The Bengals enter with the fourth-best passing offense in the NFL at an average of 254.8 yards per game. Burrow’s 2,672 passing yards lead the NFL, while his 24 TD passes are tied for the top spot.
Still, his four TD passes in Week 10 were not enough as the Baltimore Ravens pulled out a 35-34 victory in another prime-time game on Nov. 7.
The mini-bye game gave Cincinnati ample time to prepare for another member of the Harbaugh family. After the loss to brother John Harbaugh’s Ravens, it’s now time for Jim Harbaugh’s Chargers.
“They’re going to run the ball well, get into manageable third downs, they’re not going turn it over, keep everything in front on defense and try to shorten the game,” Burrow said of the Chargers while referencing a similarity to the Ravens. “We have to find ways to take our opportunities down the field.”
Ja’Marr Chase had 11 receptions for 264 yards against the Ravens, including three touchdowns. His final TD catch came with 38 seconds remaining to bring Cincinnati within one, but a two-point conversion failed.
“We’re just trying to find wins at this point,” Burrow said. “You’d like one to turn into two to turn into three. But the only way you can do that is to focus on the day to day.”
Burrow is one of four Cincinnati players whose status is listed as unspecified. Dealing with right wrist and left biceps injuries, he did practice in full Friday. Of the other players listed as unspecified, guard Alex Cappa (illness) and linebacker Logan Wilson (quadricep) practiced in full Friday while wide receiver Tee Higgins (quad) was limited.
Wide receiver Charlie Jones (groin) will miss the game after failing to practice all week, while linebacker Joe Bachie (hip), who also missed practice all week, is listed as doubtful. Offensive tackle Orlando Brown Jr. (knee/fibula), defensive end Trey Hendrickson (knee/illness/rest) and defensive tackle B.J. Hill (knee) are questionable.
