Here are a few matchups that could decide the outcome of the game.
The Cincinnati Bengals travel to the West Coast to face the Los Angeles Chargers in the same stadium where they lost Super Bowl LVI. The two teams were flexed into “Sunday Night Football,” with the 4-6 Bengals in desperation mode and the 6-3 Chargers riding a three-game win streak.
Here are a handful of matchups that could decide the game:
The Bengals vs. Their Slow Starts
There are no ifs, ands or buts about it: this is as close to a “must-win” game as it gets. If the Bengals win, they’ll head into the bye week at 5-6 and will face the Steelers twice, along with the Cowboys, Titans, Browns, and Broncos—all winnable games. They could lose one of those and still finish 10-7, a record likely good enough to make the playoffs.
If they lose on Sunday, though, they’ll need to be perfect after the bye—a tall order given their play this year. While I won’t count out a team this talented until they’re officially eliminated, heading into the bye at 4-7 leaves no margin for error.
A team with a defense like this needs wiggle room. Another patented Zac Taylor slow start has put the postseason hopes of a team that should have been a Super Bowl contender on life support before the bye.
Joe Burrow vs. Justin Herbert
The 2020 NFL Draft will go down as one of the best quarterback classes ever. Similar to the class that produced Ben Roethlisberger, Eli Manning, and Philip Rivers, the 2020 draft delivered Joe Burrow, Justin Herbert, Jalen Hurts, Tua Tagovailoa, and Jordan Love. Few draft classes boast five quarterbacks still starting in the NFL four years later.
Even fewer classes have multiple quarterbacks who have played in a Super Bowl during their rookie contracts.
Burrow and Herbert are among the best in the league. Burrow leads the NFL in nearly every major quarterback statistic this season, while Herbert, despite a quieter year, remains one of the most talented arms in the game. Watching them face off will be a treat.
The last time these two met, the Chargers scored 17 unanswered points in the fourth quarter, with Herbert out-dueling Burrow three touchdown passes to one. Of course, the Bengals went on to play in the Super Bowl that season.
Bengals Offensive Line vs. Chargers Pass Rush
The Bengals’ pass rush issues are well-documented, with Trey Hendrickson accounting for 11 of the team’s 17 sacks this season—a league-leading total for an individual but concerning for a team.
The Chargers don’t have that problem. Even with Khalil Mack (4.5 sacks) potentially sidelined due to a groin injury, the Chargers have multiple pass rushers, including Tuli Tuipulotu, Bud Dupree, Morgan Fox, and Joey Bosa.
Despite heavy investment in the offensive line, Joe Burrow has been sacked the ninth-most times in the league this season. If the Bengals can’t protect Burrow, their offense won’t be able to compensate for a struggling defense.
Trey Hendrickson vs. Rashawn Slater
Hendrickson is a one-man wrecking crew on the Bengals’ defensive line, leading the NFL with 11 sacks. He’s on pace for 18.5 sacks, which would break his franchise record of 17.5 set in 2023.
Fresh off a four-sack performance, Hendrickson will face a tough challenge in Slater, who has allowed just three sacks this season, per Pro Football Focus, and boasts a pass-blocking grade of 87.6. If Hendrickson is neutralized, defensive coordinator Lou Anarumo will need to get creative, as the rest of the defensive line has provided little help in the pass rush.
Ja’Marr Chase and Tee Higgins vs. Chargers Pass Defense
When healthy, there’s no better wide receiver duo in the NFL than Chase and Higgins. Higgins, who has missed the past few games with a quad injury, is reportedly set to return Sunday night.
The Chargers’ pass defense is one of the best in the league this year, having allowed the same number of touchdown passes (9) as interceptions this season—a remarkable stat at the halfway point. The Bengals’ offense hinges on Burrow’s ability to move the ball through the air, as the run game remains inconsistent. To win, they’ll need to dominate through the air against a tough Chargers secondary.
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What matchups are you keeping an eye on?
Who Dey!