Bengals-Chargers: Justin Herbert leads game-winning drive after LA blows 21-point lead to beat Cincinnati 34-27

On By Littum

The Cincinnati Bengals had a great rally to come back from 21 points down to tie Sunday night against the Los Angeles Chargers. It was impressive.

And ultimately pointless.

The Bengals are in a lot of trouble after their comeback didn’t result in a win. Evan McPherson missed two field goals in the fourth quarter, allowing the Chargers to reverse what would have been a massive collapse and win, 34-27, on Sunday night.

Justin Herbert hit two big passes to Ladd McConkey in the final minute to put the Chargers in field goal range before JK Dobbins took care of things himself by breaking off a 29-yard touchdown run with 18 seconds left for the win.

The Bengals could technically still win a Super Bowl this season, but they would likely have to win every game from now until early February to do so. Realistically, we saw the Bengals’ slim playoff hopes disappear Sunday night. The Bengals are 4-7 with the loss. The comeback from behind 27-6 meant an entertaining game, but for the Bengals it was just another loss.

This defeat could spell the end of their playoff hopes. The Chargers can feel good about their own playoff chances after pulling out a win they nearly gave away. In years past, the Chargers would have blown that type of game. That’s what they became known for. But Herbert rallied at just the right time and Dobbins shut the door to salvage an embarrassing loss.

Los Angeles Chargers running back JK Dobbins (27) leaps into the end zone to score a rushing touchdown past Cincinnati Bengals cornerback Josh Newton (28) during the second half of an NFL football game Sunday, Nov. 17, 2024, in Inglewood, Calif. (AP Photo/ Gregory Bull)Los Angeles Chargers running back JK Dobbins (27) leaps into the end zone to score a rushing touchdown past Cincinnati Bengals cornerback Josh Newton (28) during the second half of an NFL football game Sunday, Nov. 17, 2024, in Inglewood, Calif. (AP Photo/ Gregory Bull)

Chargers running back JK Dobbins scores the game-winning touchdown late in the fourth quarter in Los Angeles’ win against Cincinnati. (AP Photo/Gregory Bull)

The Chargers had a huge first half. Cincinnati kicked a field goal for a 3–0 lead, but the rest of the first half belonged to the Chargers.

Herbert was terrific in the first half, completing 10 of 14 passes for 183 yards and two touchdowns. One went to Will Dissly and the other to Quentin Johnston. A late drive in the first half resulted in a field goal and the Chargers led 24-6 at halftime.

The Bengals were outgained 272-126 before halftime. It looked like Los Angeles was headed for a one-sided victory.

Then the Bengals, with their season hanging in the balance, came alive. Joe Burrow got hot. Touchdown passes to Ja’Marr Chase and Tee Higgins cut Los Angeles’ lead to 27-20. A fumble by Herbert inside Bengals territory gave Cincinnati even more momentum. Burrow escaped a pair of sack attempts on the ensuing drive and hit Chase for another touchdown. Cincinnati was awful in the first half, trailing 27-6 at one point, but scored 21 straight points to tie the game early in the fourth quarter.

The Bengals stormed back and the Chargers imploded.

The Bengals were in position to take a late lead, but McPherson, usually reliable, missed a field goal. The Chargers couldn’t take advantage, with a holding penalty wiping out a first-down pass from Herbert, then a bad miss from Herbert to a wide-open McConkey when they converted on third down.

When the Chargers let the Bengals back into the game, Herbert helped give it to them through his fumble in the fourth quarter, the miss to McConkey and the general ineffectiveness of the offense. Los Angeles only got one field goal after halftime as the Bengals held their scoring barrage.

After Herbert missed McConkey, the Bengals had another chance to complete the comeback. They drove into Chargers territory in the final minutes of regulation. Burrow kept hitting big passes to help get the Bengals in field goal range. But McPherson missed a 51-yard attempt with less than two minutes left.

Herbert followed with three straight incompletions and the Chargers punted, giving the Bengals another chance to win the game. Cincinnati put it back.

That gave Herbert a chance. He completed two passes to McConkey, one for 28 yards and the other for 27, seemingly putting the Chargers in position for a field goal. But Dobbins broke a long run and leaped into the end zone for the win.

There are seven weeks left in the season and a lot can change in that time, but it looks like we can find out the seven AFC playoff teams.

The Bills, Chiefs and Texans are heavy favorites to win their divisions. The Steelers lead the AFC North, but the Ravens can’t be counted out, and the team that doesn’t win the division gets a wild card. The Chargers and surprising Broncos look like the other two wild card teams. Sunday night’s loss puts the Bengals well out of the postseason picture.

The Bengals have been competitive in most of their losses, including a wild comeback to tie Sunday night. Close won’t be good enough for Cincinnati when playoff spots are handed out.

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  • An exciting win for the Chargers, who are now 2 games away from Kansas City in the AFC West

  • Chargers take a timeout with three seconds remaining

    Cincinnati has the ball just past midfield for this Hail Mary attempt

  • JK Dobbins runs for a 29-yard touchdown

    This game has been great and JK Dobbins has given the Chargers a late lead with 18 seconds left.

  • Load McConkey AGAIN

    It’s an insane throw with so much pressure in Justin Herbert’s face.

  • Herbert to McConkey for a big play down the sideline

    Huge winner for LA trying to get in field goal range for Cameron Dicker

  • Chargers force a quick Bengals punt and Justin Herbert wants another shot

    Neither offense can come too late. The Chargers start at their own 16 and have 45 seconds and two timeouts to try to get within field goal range

  • Chargers go 3-and-out VERY quickly

    Three incomplete passes and the punt took just 22 seconds off the clock, and the Bengals have it back with two timeouts and 1:26 left in the game.

  • McPherson misses AGAIN!

    This time from 51 yards both pulled left. The Chargers now take over from the 41-yard line. with another opportunity to move on

  • Joe Burrow has sparkled tonight

    At the two-minute warning, Burrow is 27-for-42 for 329 yards and three touchdown passes with Tee Higgins as the leading receiver with nine catches for 148 yards and a touchdown.

  • The holding penalty wipes out the 3rd down pass and the Chargers will punt

    A tough one for the Chargers to swallow after Justin Herbert hit Joshua Palmer to convert a 3rd and 4 that was called back to catch Rashawn Slater. After the punt, the Bengals will take over in their own end with the game still tied and just under 5:30 left in regulation.

  • Evan McPherson misses from 48 yards

    We remain tied at 27 with 7:31 to play and the Chargers have a chance to break the tie as their drive starts at the 38-yard line

  • Joe Burrow with a 15-yard run for a huge 3rd down conversion

    That keeps the drive alive and gets it to the Chargers’ 34-yard line with eight minutes to play in the fourth quarter

  • This Cincinnati offense has some magic

  • Cincinnati gets another stop

    The Chargers offense has been non-existent in the second half. After opening the second half with a field goal drive, their three drives since have been 13 plays for 51 yards, with two punts and a fumble. The Bengals have it with just over 11 minutes left with a chance to take the lead after another JK Scott kick.

  • Make it two touchdowns for Ja’Marr Chase

    These two perennial tigers are just inevitable. Draw game in Los Angeles.

  • Just some outrageous stuff from Joe Burrow

    Everyone in an orange helmet at SoFi Stadium looks like a completely different player in this second half, with Joe Burrow leading the charge.

  • Herbert coughs it up

    Geno Stone recovers the ball and now the Bengals are on. Logan Wilson’s leg kicked the ball out and now the Bengals can tie the game on this drive after trailing 27-6 in the third quarter.

  • A Burrow to Higgins on a 4th and 2 for a Touchdown

    Cincinnati is right back in the game, with their explosive offense making a huge play. Its 27-20 in the third quarter and the Bengals are all in this game.

  • The Bengals force a quick 3-and-out

    Cincinnati forces the quick punt. Joseph Ossai came home to sack Justin Herbert and now the Bengals are knocking on the door to get back into the game after a bad punt by JK Scott.