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5 Final Thoughts Ahead of Chargers-Bengals in Week 11

Nov 15, 2024 at 04:45 PM

Eric Smith

Editorial Director

The Chargers are ready for primetime with a Week 11 home game against the Bengals.

Kickoff on Sunday Night Football is at 5:20 p.m. (PT).

The Bolts are 1.5-point favorites and the over/under for Sunday's game is 47.5 points.

Here are five final thoughts ahead of Week 11:

1. Ready for the bright lights

Get your popcorn ready for this one.

The Bolts host the Bengals in primetime Sunday in what is perhaps their biggest game of the season to date.

For starters, the Bolts are looking to climb to 7-3 and notch their fourth consecutive win.

"We've got this streak going and November is just a critical month," Rashawn Slater said. "You look at every game now like it's do or die and this is no different.

"We're excited for this matchup … it's a good chance to test our mettle," Slater added. "And primetime is always fun. We'll be ready."

There's also a chance for the Bolts to further cement their playoff odds while proving themselves in front on a national audience.

"The more games we win, the more people are going to pay attention to the whole team," Khalil Mack said.

From a playoff perspective, the New York Times currently has the Bolts with an 85-percent chance to make the playoffs.

A Chargers win improves those odds to 95 percent while a loss drops them to 75 percent.

But the implications for a win against Cincinnati would be massive, as the Bolts would hold the head-to-head tiebreaker over the Bengals while pushing them to seven losses.

"I think it's a must win for them, but honestly, I think it's a must win for us," Joey Bosa said. "This time of the year is really important to win games when you have a chance to start pulling away."

Chargers Defensive Jesse Minter said. "We know where we're at."

Put another way, it could be time to start thinking about playoff seeding if the Chargers come away victorious Sunday night.

That won't be an easy task against Bengals quarterback Joe Burrow and an arsenal of skilled playmakers.

The Bolts defense has allowed 42 pass plays of 15-plus yards this season, which is tied for the eighth-fewest in the NFL.

The Bengals have 48 such explosive pass plays this season, tied for 16^th in the league, but Derwin James, Jr. and the Chargers know Cincinnati can strike at any time.

"You want to be the best, you have to beat the best and they are one of the best offenses in the league," James said. "Can't wait."

Get excited for this one, Bolt Fam. The Bolts have a chance to make a statement in primetime.

"You've got to give these teams everything you've got," Mack said. "It's going to be a hell of a game.

"When the lights are bright, you've got to perform at a high level," Mack added. "They're going to give it their best shot and we've got to be ready with our best shot."

2. A pair of elite QBs

Justin Herbert and Burrow won't share the field Sunday unless it's for the coin toss or some postgame words.

But the respect between the pair of elite quarterbacks — both of whom were taken in the 2020 NFL Draft — was evident this week.

"I think he makes plays," Herbert said of Burrow. "I think he's done such a great job of playing in timing and in rhythm then being able to make those off schedule plays where that's very tough on a defense where you go through and the defense thinks they won the play and then he scrambles out and makes a play downfield.

"I think you're able to able to extend a play like that and definitely hold defenses accountable," Herbert added.

Burrow had his own praise for Herbert, calling him a "great" player with "one of the strongest arms in the league."

Burrow even joked the two might even get a chance the hang out one day.

"We got to know each other a little bit at the Combine. He's fun to be around, I liked his personality," Burrow said. "I think we'd be friends if we ever spent time together, that's not really where we're at. But I've always liked him."

On the field, Herbert will look to continue his torrid play that has him among the league's best players of late.

"I personally don't think there's many like him in this world," Chargers Offensive Coordinator Greg Roman said.

And you can bet that Herbert and Burrow could likely be the difference for which team wins in primetime.