The Chargers are 7-3 as they get ready for another primetime game, this one against the Ravens on Monday Night Football in Week 12.
Here are five takeaways from Chargers Head Coach Jim Harbaugh's Monday press conference:
1. A winning mindset
As it stands now, the Chargers would be the No. 5 seed in the AFC playoff picture.
Harbaugh on Monday said he loves the vibes around his squad with seven games to go.
"If we get in the playoffs, we are built for it," Harbaugh said.
The latest example?
The resolve and determination the Bolts showed Sunday night against the Bengals.
The Chargers raced out to a 21-point lead only to see Cincinnati fight back and tie the game at 27 in the fourth quarter.
But it was the Bolts who landed the final blow as Justin Herbert and the offense put together an 84-yard touchdown drive before the defense thwarted the Bengals final drive.
"Great team win. Just really proud of the team," Harbaugh said Monday. "Our guys don't flinch. They're not afraid of any work or any challenge, any new challenge.
"They attack it," Harbaugh added. "Tremendous feeling of victory."
Much has been made of Harbaugh rejuvenating the Bolts in his first season at the helm, but the Chargers Head Coach again deflected praise on Monday.
He noted he "never had that conversation" about trying to instill a different culture and energy within the organization and said the pieces were already in place when he was hired.
"I've said that since the beginning and since arriving here … it's at the highest level with our guys, our players and throughout the entire organization," Harbaugh said. "It's a winning mindset. Guys aren't afraid of anything."
He later added: "I've been drinking the Kool-Aid since I got here on Day 1. It's infectious and it's become really everybody in the organization."
On the heels of a dramatic 34-27 win over Cincinnati, expect Harbaugh's squad to keep fighting.
"Guys just doing their very best," Harbaugh said. "Battling. What more can you ask for?
"The bottom line to me is, I think we got the right guys, at the right time and that's all a coach can ask for," Harbaugh added.
2. Bosa steps up
Joey Bosa told reporters Friday that he expected to play 30 to 35 snaps as he continued to increase his workload.
But Bosa instead played 55 snaps, his highest total since logging 56 snaps against the Lions in Week 10 a year ago.
Bosa stood tall, too.
Even though his stat line only showed one tackle, Bosa was in Joe Burrow's face all night as he tallied eight pressures, according to Pro Football Focus.
That total tied with Tuli Tuipulotu for the team lead against the Bengals.
"Eight pressures from him. He's getting there, he's getting close," Harbaugh said. "What I really like is what that's going to be in another week, what it's going to look like in two weeks.
"Nobody I like more than Joey," Harbaugh said. "He's one of our superstars. Love him."
Bosa has 3.0 sacks in seven games so far this season.
Get an inside look at the postgame celebration from the Bolts 34-27 win over the Cincinnati Bengals at SoFi Stadium.
3. Ladd delivers late
When the Chargers drafted Ladd McConkey in the second round of the 2024 NFL Draft, Harbaugh sung his praises coming from a blueblood program such as Georgia.
More than halfway into his rookie season, McConkey has been as advertised with the Bolts.
"You just go by track record. [It's] the best indication," Harbaugh said. "What they've done is the best predictor of future success. It's just what he's done.
"Went to Georgia as a walk-on, quickly earned a scholarship, was on the field right away," Harbaugh added.
McConkey hauled in six catches for a career-best 123 yards on Sunday night and sparked the Bolts on their final drive with two catches for 55 yards.
McConkey currently leads the Chargers with 43 catches for 615 yards. His yardage total ranks 18th in the NFL compared to tied for 33rd for his reception total.
But the No. 34 overall pick — the ninth wide receiver drafted in April — is second among rookies at his position in receptions and yards.
"Was excited, am excited and excited for his future," Harbaugh said.
4. Praise for the coordinators
Like most other NFL games, a handful of plays here or there decided the outcome in primetime.
Harbaugh singled out two of them on Monday.
The first came on defense when Daiyan Henley was spying Joe Burrow on third-and-10 with roughly a minute left in the fourth quarter.
Henley initially faked a blitz but kept an eye on Burrow, pressuring him and forcing an critical incompletion.
Harbaugh on Monday gave kudos to Chargers Defensive Coordinator Jesse Minter for the play call.
"Probably the call of the game for Jesse," Harbaugh said.
Harbaugh wondered aloud what might have happened if Henley hadn't made the play.
"If that spy isn't there then Joe Burrow is either going to run for that first down or complete a pass and extend the play, but Daiyan was right on it and we were able to get the incompletion," Harbaugh said. "You don't get that incompletion there, you don't get that stop, that key, critical stop right there, then they have the first down and now they're basically milking out the clock and kicking the field goal."
Offensively, Harbaugh pointed to Chargers Offensive Coordinator Greg Roman's play design moments after Henley's clutch play.
On first-and-10 from the Bolts 16-yard line, McConkey faked an out route before cutting upfield. Herbert hit him on the money for a 28-yard gain.
But what stood out is that Bengals cornerback Mike Hinton had nearly intercepted Herbert earlier in the same on an out route, meaning the wrinkle from Roman helped McConkey wiggle free for the catch.
"It was in the game plan, we were talking about that," Harbaugh said. "Great game called by Greg.
"There was key calls, there was big calls and that certainly was a big call by Greg," Harbaugh added.
Harbaugh has a history with each coordinator, working with Minter at Michigan and Roman in San Francisco.
On Sunday night, two of his closest cohorts played vital roles in helping the Bolts get to 7-3.
"Really proud of the coordinators. [It's] never perfect," Harbaugh said. "Would G-Ro like a couple plays back that he called? Would Jesse? Yeah, they would.
"But 95 percent of those calls were really good and in anybody's grading scale that's an A-plus," Harbaugh added.
Browse through live action photos of the Bolts Week 11 matchup against the Cincinnati Bengals at SoFi Stadium!
5. Harbaugh on RB usage
Harbaugh was asked Monday after the playing time between J.K. Dobbins and Gus Edwards on Sunday night.
In the first half, both running backs had five carries as Dobbins gained nine yards compared to 26 for Edwards.
But the distribution was tilted in the second half as Dobbins took six carries compared to just one for Edwards.
Harbaugh said Monday that he wasn't aware of Edwards dealing with a potential injury and noted Dobbins' hot hand as a reason for the split.
"J.K. had a couple Walter Payton-type runs, well-documented," Harbaugh said. "He was rolling, thought he was in a great rhythm."
Edwards gained one yard on his lone second-half run while Dobbins picked up 47 yards on his second-half carries, including a dazzling 15-yarder before sealing the game with a 29-yard score.
