The AFC Week 11 matchup between the Cincinnati Bengals and Los Angeles Chargers delivered everything fans crave: high-octane offense, clutch plays, and a fourth-quarter game winner that will be remembered for a long time.
At SoFi Stadium in Inglewood, CA, 70,240 fans witnessed a thrilling NFL close game that ended 34-27 in favor of the Chargers. This article dives deep into Bengals vs Chargers player stats, key plays, and the critical factors that determined the outcome.
Quick Score Summary
| Quarter | Cincinnati Bengals | Los Angeles Chargers |
|---|---|---|
| 1 | 3 | 7 |
| 2 | 6 | 24 |
| 3 | 18 | 27 |
| 4 | 0 | 34 |
| Final | 27 | 34 |
The game saw the Chargers take early control, but Cincinnati’s fourth-quarter comeback tied the game at 27-27. However, the 26-second drive culminating in J.K. Dobbins’ 29-yard TD sealed the game for Los Angeles.
Quarterback Statistical Breakdown
Joe Burrow Stats (CIN)
- Comp/Att: 28/50
- Passing Yards: 356
- Touchdowns: 3
- Interceptions: 0
- Completion Percentage: 56%
- Red Zone Efficiency: 80%
Burrow’s performance highlighted his ability to make clutch fourth-down conversions under pressure. His long throws to Ja’Marr Chase and Ladd McConkey kept Cincinnati alive during critical drives.
Justin Herbert Stats (LAC)
- Comp/Att: 17/36
- Passing Yards: 297
- Touchdowns: 2
- Interceptions: 0
- Completion Percentage: 47%
Despite a lower completion percentage, Herbert’s efficiency in explosive plays and time-sensitive drives helped the Chargers execute the game-winning drive, showcasing his poise in NFL close games.
Quarterback Statistical Breakdown Comparison
| Metric | Joe Burrow (CIN) | Justin Herbert (LAC) |
|---|---|---|
| Completion % | 56% | 47% |
| Passing Yards | 356 | 297 |
| TDs | 3 | 2 |
| INTs | 0 | 0 |
| QB Rating | 102.4 | 95.6 |
| Fourth-Down Conversions | 3 | 2 |
Cincinnati Receiving Production
- Tee Higgins Performance: 9 receptions, 148 yards, 1 TD. Return from injury marked his first 100-yard game of 2024.
- Ja’Marr Chase Stats: 7 receptions, 75 yards, 2 TDs. Achieved his fourth consecutive 1,000-yard season to start his career.
- Ladd McConkey Stats: 6 receptions, 123 yards, standout rookie performance.
- Drew Sample: Minimal impact, no scoring receptions.
Receiving Production Table (CIN)
| Player | Rec | Yards | TD | Targets | Avg Yards | Notes |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Tee Higgins | 9 | 148 | 1 | 11 | 16.4 | Return from injury |
| Ja’Marr Chase | 7 | 75 | 2 | 9 | 10.7 | Career milestone, 1,000-yard |
| Ladd McConkey | 6 | 123 | 0 | 7 | 20.5 | Rookie breakout |
| Drew Sample | 2 | 16 | 0 | 3 | 8.0 | Minimal production |
Los Angeles Pass Catchers
- Will Dissly Touchdown: 4 receptions, 80 yards, 1 TD. Crucial in red zone efficiency.
- Mike Gesicki: 0 catches, limited involvement.
- Quentin Johnston: 2 receptions, 1 TD.
- Joshua Palmer: 2 receptions, 23 yards.
Receiving Production Table (LAC)
| Player | Rec | Yards | TD | Targets | Avg Yards | Notes |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Will Dissly | 4 | 80 | 1 | 5 | 20.0 | Red zone impact |
| Quentin Johnston | 2 | 32 | 1 | 2 | 16.0 | Clutch TD |
| Joshua Palmer | 2 | 23 | 0 | 3 | 11.5 | Limited role |
| Andrei Iosivas | 1 | 27 | 0 | 1 | 27.0 | Explosive play |
Rushing Attack Comparison
Cincinnati Bengals:
- Chase Brown: 22 carries, 86 yards.
- J.K. Dobbins Touchdown: 29-yard TD to win game with 26-second drive.
Los Angeles Chargers:
- Rushing attack balanced, contributing to clock control.
Rushing Attack Table
| Team | Player | Att | Yards | TD | Avg | Long |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| CIN | Chase Brown | 22 | 86 | 0 | 3.9 | 12 |
| CIN | J.K. Dobbins | 7 | 51 | 1 | 7.3 | 29 |
| LAC | Multiple | 28 | 104 | 1 | 3.7 | 18 |
Defensive Statistics and Impact
- Key Bengals Defenders:
- Logan Wilson: Forced fumble recovered by Geno Stone.
- Trey Hendrickson & Joseph Ossai: Sack contributions.
- Key Chargers Defenders:
- Derwin James Jr.: 10 tackles, game-saving deflection.
- Daiyan Henley: 11 tackles.
- Defensive turnovers and sacks were pivotal in controlling scoring opportunities.
Defensive Statistics Table
| Player | Team | Tackles | Sacks | FF | FR | PD |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Logan Wilson | CIN | 9 | 0 | 1 | 0 | 1 |
| Derwin James Jr. | LAC | 10 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 1 |
| Tuli Tuipulotu | LAC | 5 | 1.5 | 0 | 0 | 0 |
| Poona Ford | LAC | 4 | 1 | 0 | 0 | 0 |
Special Teams Impact
- Cameron Dicker Field Goals: 2/2, perfect execution.
- Evan McPherson Missed Field Goals: 2/4, misses at 48 and 51 yards cost potential points.
- Punting and kickoff returns influenced field position, shaping offensive drives.
Special Teams Table
| Player | Team | FG Made/Att | XP | Punts Avg | Long | In20 |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Cameron Dicker | LAC | 2/2 | 3 | 0 | 0 | 0 |
| Evan McPherson | CIN | 2/4 | 3 | 0 | 0 | 0 |
Game Flow and Turning Points
- First Quarter: LAC jumped to 7-3 with early offensive success.
- Second Quarter: Chargers exploded to 24-6 lead; Bengals struggled with third-down conversions.
- Third Quarter: Bengals mounted comeback, tying game at 27-27. Burrow’s fourth-down TD passes were critical.
- Fourth Quarter Drama: Game-winning drive in 26 seconds capped by J.K. Dobbins touchdown.
Critical game-deciding moments included:
- Logan Wilson forced fumble recovered by Geno Stone.
- Evan McPherson missed two key field goals.
- LAC executed clutch fourth-down conversions to maintain pressure.
Statistical Team Comparison
| Metric | CIN | LAC |
|---|---|---|
| Total Yards | 512 | 467 |
| Passing Yards | 356 | 297 |
| Rushing Yards | 156 | 170 |
| Time of Possession | 29:12 | 30:48 |
| First Downs | 25 | 23 |
| 3rd/4th Down Success | 7/15 | 6/12 |
| Red Zone Scores | 3/4 | 4/4 |
| Penalty Yards | 55 | 42 |
| Turnovers | 1 | 0 |
Player Performance Grades
Cincinnati Bengals:
- Joe Burrow: A-
- Ja’Marr Chase: A
- Tee Higgins: B+
- J.K. Dobbins: A (clutch TD)
- Evan McPherson: C- (missed key FGs)
Los Angeles Chargers:
- Justin Herbert: A
- Will Dissly: B+
- Cameron Dicker: A
- Derwin James Jr.: A-
Injury Report
- DJ Turner II, B.J. Hill: Left game temporarily.
- Elijah Molden, Otito Ogbonnia: Left and returned.
- Denzel Perryman: Left in 4th quarter.
Contextual Insights & Milestones
- Ja’Marr Chase: Fourth consecutive 1,000-yard season.
- Joe Burrow: 21 career 3-TD games in first 5 NFL seasons, ties Kurt Warner.
- Tee Higgins Performance: First 100-yard game post-injury.
- Chase’s career receiving TDs: 41, fifth-fastest to 40 in NFL history.
Officials and Venue
- Referee: Brad Allen
- Crew: Rick Patterson, Chad Hill, Daniel Gallagher, Duane Heydt, Walter Flowers, Tyree Walton
- Stadium: SoFi Stadium, Inglewood, CA
- Attendance Figures: 70,240
Complete Game Summary
The Bengals vs Chargers SoFi Stadium game was a showcase of offensive stats, defensive resilience, and special teams impact. Cincinnati’s explosive plays kept them in contention, but missed field goals and LAC’s clutch plays determined the final outcome.
J.K. Dobbins’ 29-yard touchdown in the final 18 seconds encapsulated the drama of NFL close games, proving why the AFC remains one of the most competitive conferences.
