Chargers vs. Bengals Recap: Bengals Blow Comeback in Wild SNF Finish

The Chargers, who managed to blow a 21-point lead in classic Chargers fashion, still found a way to pull off a last-second win thanks to J.K. Dobbins’ 29-yard touchdown run with just 18 seconds left, finally giving head coach Jim Harbaugh the signature win he’s been chasing. Here’s how the chaos unfolded, quarter by quarter.

First Quarter

The Bengals were the first to get on the board, with Evan McPherson nailing a field goal to give Cincinnati an early 3-0 lead. The Chargers responded with Justin Herbert leading a smooth, efficient drive that ended with a 29-yard strike to Will Dissly. The Chargers held a 7-3 lead heading into the second quarter, setting the tone early.

Second Quarter

Herbert kept things rolling in the second quarter, finding Quentin Johnston for a 26-yard touchdown to make it 14-6 after Cincinnati managed another McPherson field goal. With five minutes left in the half, J.K. Dobbins punched it in on a gutsy fourth-and-goal, extending the lead to 21-6. Cameron Dicker added a chip-shot 19-yard field goal as time expired in the half, and the Chargers went into the locker room up 24-6, looking like they had it all figured out.

Third Quarter

Cameron Dicker knocked through a 53-yard field goal early in the third to push the lead to 27-6, but that’s when things started to unravel. The Bengals dug in and started chipping away. Joe Burrow found Ja’Marr Chase for a fourth-and-goal touchdown from the 4-yard line, cutting the deficit to 27-13. A few minutes later, Burrow aired it out to Tee Higgins for a 42-yard touchdown on fourth-and-2, and suddenly, the Bengals were only down 27-20. The momentum had shifted, and the Chargers were in trouble.

Fourth Quarter

The Bengals completed their comeback early in the fourth, with Burrow hitting Chase for a 17-yard touchdown to tie it at 27. Cincinnati had all the momentum, but they just couldn’t close it out. Evan McPherson missed two crucial field goals—one from 48 yards, the other from 51—that would have given the Bengals the lead. Meanwhile, the Chargers’ offense went ice cold, managing almost nothing until the final minute. With under a minute to go, Herbert finally woke up, hitting Ladd McConkey for gains of 28 and 27 yards. That set up Dobbins for a game-winning 29-yard run. Burrow had one last shot, but Derwin James Jr. swatted down the Hail Mary to seal the win.

Chargers vs. Bengals Betting Recap

The Chargers were 1.5-point favorites, and they managed to cover by the skin of their teeth with that final touchdown. The total for the game was set at 48, and with both teams combining for 61 points, the over hit comfortably.