Game Overview and Final Score
The Week 11 AFC matchup between the Cincinnati Bengals and Los Angeles Chargers on November 17, 2024, at SoFi Stadium in Inglewood, California, delivered one of the most thrilling games of the 2024 NFL season. The Chargers emerged victorious with a 34-27 win, courtesy of J.K. Dobbins’ dramatic 29-yard touchdown run with just 18 seconds remaining in the game. This victory improved the Chargers’ record to 7-3, their best start since 2018, while the Bengals fell to 4-7, marking their fifth loss by seven points or fewer this season.
The game featured significant momentum swings, with the Chargers building a 21-point lead in the third quarter (27-6) before the Bengals mounted a furious comeback to tie the game at 27-27 in the fourth quarter. The contest was ultimately decided by key plays in the final minutes: Evan McPherson’s two missed field goals for Cincinnati and the Chargers’ explosive 84-yard drive in just 26 seconds to secure the win. The matchup drew an attendance of 70,240 fans who witnessed a game that had significant implications for both teams’ playoff aspirations.
Quarterback Statistical Comparison
Joe Burrow’s Performance
- Passing Yards: 356 yards on 28-of-50 passing (56% completion rate)
- Touchdowns: 3 passing touchdowns with zero interceptions
- Passer Rating: 98.4 despite being sacked three times for 14 yards
- Fourth-Down Performance: Perfect 3-for-3 on fourth-down conversions, with two resulting in touchdowns
- Rushing Contribution: Added 28 rushing yards on two carries, including a critical 14-yard gain on third-and-9
Justin Herbert’s Performance
- Passing Efficiency: 297 yards on 17-of-36 passing (47.2% completion rate)
- Touchdowns: 2 passing touchdowns without interceptions
- Passer Rating: 94.3 while being sacked twice for 17 yards
- Rushing Impact: Led all players with 65 rushing yards on five carries (13.0-yard average)
- Clutch Performance: Directed the game-winning drive despite second-half struggles
Table: Quarterback Statistical Comparison
| Player | Comp/Att | Pass Yards | TD | INT | Sacks | Passer Rating | Rush Yards |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| J. Burrow (CIN) | 28/50 | 356 | 3 | 0 | 3-14 | 98.4 | 28 |
| J. Herbert (LAC) | 17/36 | 297 | 2 | 0 | 2-17 | 94.3 | 65 |
The quarterback duel between Joe Burrow and Justin Herbert lived up to its billing, with both signal-callers putting up impressive numbers despite different approaches. Burrow’s performance was characterized by volume passing and clutch fourth-down conversions, while Herbert contributed significantly with his mobility and scrambling ability.
Key Offensive Performances
Receiving Leaders
Cincinnati Bengals:
- Tee Higgins: 9 receptions for 148 yards and 1 touchdown, including a 42-yard TD on fourth down
- Ja’Marr Chase: 7 catches for 75 yards and 2 touchdowns, surpassing 1,000 receiving yards for the season
- Chase Brown: 5 receptions for 57 yards as a dual-threat weapon
Los Angeles Chargers:
- Ladd McConkey: 6 receptions for 123 yards, setting a career-high with critical catches on the final drive
- Will Dissly: 4 catches for 80 yards and 1 touchdown, including a 29-yard score
- Quentin Johnston: 2 receptions for 48 yards and 1 touchdown, marking his third straight game with a TD
Table: Receiving Statistics
| Player | Team | Receptions | Yards | Average | TD | Long |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| T. Higgins | CIN | 9 | 148 | 16.4 | 1 | 42 |
| L. McConkey | LAC | 6 | 123 | 20.5 | 0 | 28 |
| W. Dissly | LAC | 4 | 80 | 20.0 | 1 | 29 |
| J. Chase | CIN | 7 | 75 | 10.7 | 2 | 32 |
| C. Brown | CIN | 5 | 57 | 11.4 | 0 | 34 |
Rushing Leaders
Cincinnati Bengals:
- Chase Brown: 22 carries for 86 yards (3.9 average) with a long of 27 yards
- Joe Burrow: 2 rushes for 28 yards, including a critical 14-yard scramble
Los Angeles Chargers:
- Justin Herbert: 5 rushes for 65 yards, including a 30-yard scramble
- J.K. Dobbins: 11 carries for 56 yards and 2 touchdowns, including the game-winner
- Gus Edwards: 6 carries for 27 yards
The Chargers averaged 6.2 yards per carry compared to Cincinnati’s 4.4, proving crucial in the outcome.
Defensive Impact and Key Plays
Los Angeles Chargers:
- Daiyan Henley: 11 tackles (5 solo)
- Derwin James Jr.: 10 tackles, 0.5 sacks, and a game-saving pass deflection
- Tuli Tuipulotu: 1.5 sacks and 4 QB hits
Cincinnati Bengals:
- Geno Stone: 9 tackles and 1 fumble recovery
- Logan Wilson: 8 tackles and 1 forced fumble that led to a touchdown
- Mike Hilton: 7 tackles and 1 pass deflection
Table: Defensive Leaders
| Player | Team | Total Tackles | Solo Tackles | Sacks | Forced Fumbles | Pass Deflections |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| D. Henley | LAC | 11 | 5 | 0 | 0 | 1 |
| D. James Jr. | LAC | 10 | 7 | 0.5 | 0 | 1 |
| G. Stone | CIN | 9 | 8 | 0 | 0 | 0 |
| L. Wilson | CIN | 8 | 4 | 0 | 1 | 0 |
| M. Hilton | CIN | 7 | 5 | 0 | 0 | 1 |
Special Teams Performance
- Evan McPherson (CIN): Made two short field goals but missed crucial fourth-quarter attempts from 48 and 51 yards.
- Cameron Dicker (LAC): Perfect performance, hitting field goals of 19 and 53 yards plus 4 extra points.
Team Statistical Comparison
| Category | Bengals | Chargers |
|---|---|---|
| Total Yards | 452 | 435 |
| Time of Possession | 34:08 | 25:52 |
| First Downs | 24 | 24 |
| Third Down Efficiency | 5-17 | 3-11 |
| Fourth Down Efficiency | 3-3 | 1-1 |
| Red Zone Efficiency | 2-4 | 1-2 |
| Penalties | 8-56 | 5-50 |
| Turnovers | 0 | 1 |
Historical Context and Rivalry
The Bengals-Chargers rivalry has been historically competitive, with the Chargers now holding a 22-15 advantage in the all-time series that dates back to 1968.
Implications for Both Teams
Cincinnati Bengals (4-7): Showed offensive firepower but struggled in red zone efficiency and special teams.
Los Angeles Chargers (7-3): A signature win for Jim Harbaugh’s team, balancing passing, rushing, and defensive resilience.
Conclusion
The Bengals vs Chargers matchup on November 17, 2024, provided football fans with an epic battle featuring exceptional individual performances, dramatic momentum shifts, and a thrilling finish.