With 45 seconds left in a 27-27 game, the Bolts offense got one final opportunity to try and seal a victory.
The unit was in the midst of a five-drive scoring drought and had reached Cincinnati territory just once since early in the third quarter.
Needing big plays in crunch time, it was rookie Ladd McConkey who stepped up to the plate.
"When we needed an answer, Ladd made some big catches and we moved the ball," quarterback Justin Herbert said after the game.
The wideout had the signature moment of his rookie season thus far in the final Chargers drive of the game.
McConkey hauled in two passes for 55 yards in the waning moments of the game that set up J.K. Dobbins' go-ahead touchdown run in their 34-27 win on Sunday Night Football.
"It really started with the defense," McConkey said. "We had opportunity after opportunity that we didn't come up with but out defense kept giving us a chance.
"Really started with them, and we were at our best when our best was needed," McConkey added.
When Herbert dropped back on the first play of the drive he looked the way of McConkey, who was covered by Bengals cornerback Mike Hilton.
But he gave him a shot gave him a shot anyway, throwing it up for the receiver down the right sideline — and the rookie paid it off with a leaping, contested grab for a gain 28 yards.
"[Herbert] put it right on the money," McConkey said.
With the ball now at the Bolts own 44-yard line on second-and 10 with 31 seconds left, Herbert dropped back to pass.
Right on cue, there was the rookie again.
After going in motion pre-snap, McConkey attacked the empty space down the left sideline to make himself available and once again provide a big spark to the offense when they needed it most.
"Like I've said, you run fast, get open, Justin is going to get you the ball," McConkey said. "Try to do that each play. Came up and executed when we needed to."
McConkey's massive final drive pushed him a final tally of six receptions for a career-high 123 yards.
He continues to lead the Bolts in both departments with 43 receptions for 615 yards, both of which are good for second-most among all rookie wide receivers.
McConkey has become one of the Herbert's most reliable targets from the jump in Year 1.
But it's far from a surprise to his teammates, who were not shocked to see the rookie receiver step up when he was needed, time and time again.
"He's a dude," running back J.K. Dobbins said. "He's a baller. He's a playmaker."
Cornerback Tarheeb Still added: "We all know Ladd is a playmaker. He stepped up big time when we needed him to and helped us seal the game."
He's given the Chargers wide receiver room the boost they've needed this year.
"I feel like even though I've been here a year longer than him, I'm still learning stuff from him," fellow wide receiver Quentin Johnston said.
"Just the confidence that he has in himself, I feel like that bounces around the receiver room and the whole team," Johnston added. "It gives everybody energy."
And that energy he gave the team in crunch time was enough to power them to a primetime victory.
