The Los Angeles Chargers survived a furious 21-point second-half comeback by Joe Burrow and the Cincinnati Bengals to secure a 34-27 victory on Sunday Night Football. In a game where the bengals vs chargers match player stats tell a tale of two distinct halves, J.K. Dobbins’ 29-yard touchdown run with 18 seconds remaining finally slammed the door shut on Cincinnati’s postseason hopes. This was a classic duel between two of the league’s premier signal-callers, where statistical brilliance met late-game chaos at SoFi Stadium.
The Stakes & Playoff Implications
Entering Week 11 of the 2024 season, the stakes were binary: survival or extinction. For Jim Harbaugh’s Chargers (7-3), a win solidified their grip on a Wild Card spot and kept them in the hunt for the AFC West. For the Bengals (4-7), this was effectively an elimination game. Despite Joe Burrow playing at an MVP level, the bengals vs chargers match player stats highlight a glaring issue: Cincinnati’s inability to close games—exemplified by two missed fourth-quarter field goals—cost them their season.
Game Flow: A Tale of Two Halves
The first half was a masterclass in efficiency by Justin Herbert. The Chargers jumped to a 24-6 lead, exploiting a shell-shocked Bengals secondary with explosive strikes to Will Dissly and Quentin Johnston. However, the third quarter saw the momentum shift violently.
Cincinnati’s defense, led by a Logan Wilson forced fumble, finally found its teeth. Joe Burrow responded by dissecting the league’s #1 scoring defense, throwing three touchdowns in under nine minutes to tie the game at 27-27. The turning point arrived in the final two minutes; after the Bengals failed to capitalize on two late scoring opportunities, Herbert orchestrated a 45-second drill, finding Ladd McConkey twice for 55 yards to set up Dobbins’ walk-off score.
Quick Game Facts
- Final Score: Los Angeles Chargers 34, Cincinnati Bengals 27
- Date & Location: November 17, 2024 | SoFi Stadium, Inglewood, CA
- Weather: Indoors (Fixed Roof)
- Attendance: 70,240
- Time of Possession: CIN (34:08) | LAC (25:52)
The Statistical Core
Top Performers Comparison
| Category | Cincinnati Bengals | Los Angeles Chargers |
| Top Passer | Joe Burrow (356 Yds, 3 TD) | Justin Herbert (297 Yds, 2 TD) |
| Top Rusher | Chase Brown (86 Yds) | Justin Herbert (65 Yds) |
| Top Receiver | Tee Higgins (148 Yds, 1 TD) | Ladd McConkey (123 Yds) |
| Top Tackler | Logan Wilson (8 Total) | Derwin James (9 Total) |
Team Efficiency Table
| Statistic | Cincinnati Bengals | Los Angeles Chargers |
| First Downs | 24 | 24 |
| Total Yards (Pass/Rush) | 452 (342 / 110) | 435 (280 / 155) |
| 3rd Down Conv % | 29.4% (5-17) | 27.3% (3-11) |
| Red Zone Efficiency | 2-4 (50%) | 3-3 (100%) |
| Penalties (Yards) | 8 (56) | 5 (50) |
| Turnovers | 0 | 1 |
The Quarterback Masterclass
Analyzing the bengals vs chargers match player stats for the quarterbacks reveals two elite players operating under vastly different pressures.
Joe Burrow: Precision in the Face of Peril
Burrow’s performance was a study in resilience. Despite being pressured on nearly 35% of his dropbacks, he maintained a surgical completion rate. His “Air Yards” were significant in this contest, as he repeatedly challenged the deep thirds to find Tee Higgins. Burrow’s poise was most evident during the 21-0 run, where he converted two critical fourth downs with touchdown strikes. However, the lack of a complementary run game forced him to attempt 50 passes, eventually wearing down the protection scheme.
Justin Herbert: The Dual-Threat Catalyst
While Burrow was the volume passer, Herbert was the efficiency king. He averaged a staggering 8.2 yards per attempt and led his team in rushing yards (65), using his legs to escape a Bengals pass rush that finally found home in the second half. Herbert’s ability to thrive “outside of structure”—specifically his 28-yard dot to McConkey while on the run—proved to be the difference-maker in the closing seconds.
QB Stat Table
| Player | Comp/Att | Yards | TD/INT | Sacks | Rating | Rush Yds |
| Joe Burrow | 28/50 | 356 | 3/0 | 3 | 98.4 | 28 |
| Justin Herbert | 17/36 | 297 | 2/0 | 2 | 94.3 | 65 |
Positional Deep Dives
The Ground War
The Chargers outmuscled the Bengals in the trenches, averaging 6.2 yards per carry. While the bengals vs chargers match player stats show Chase Brown had more total yards, it was Herbert and Dobbins who provided the explosive runs.
| Player | Carries | Yards | Avg | TD | Long |
| Chase Brown (CIN) | 22 | 86 | 3.9 | 0 | 27 |
| J.K. Dobbins (LAC) | 11 | 56 | 5.1 | 2 | 29 |
The Aerial Attack
Tee Higgins’ return changed the geometry of the Bengals’ offense. However, the final bengals vs chargers match player stats show that Ladd McConkey was the more efficient weapon when it mattered most, recording three “clutch” catches in the final minute.
| Player | Targets | Rec | Yards | TD | YPR |
| Tee Higgins (CIN) | 13 | 9 | 148 | 1 | 16.4 |
| Ja’Marr Chase (CIN) | 11 | 7 | 75 | 2 | 10.7 |
| Ladd McConkey (LAC) | 9 | 6 | 123 | 0 | 20.5 |
The Defensive Wall
Defensive Player of the Game: Tuli Tuipulotu (LAC).
The second-year edge rusher was a nightmare for the Bengals’ tackles, recording 1.5 sacks. On the Cincinnati side, Logan Wilson’s forced fumble was the spark for the comeback, but the secondary ultimately crumbled on the final drive.
Advanced Metrics & “The Why”
The Bengals actually finished with a higher Total EPA (Expected Points Added) through three quarters, but their “Success Rate” plummeted in the Red Zone. The Chargers utilized 12-personnel (2 Tight Ends) for 42% of their snaps, forcing the Bengals into heavier boxes and then exploiting the vacated deep middle with Will Dissly.
Historical Context: This marked the first time since 2018 the Chargers started a season 7-3, signaling a significant shift in franchise culture under Jim Harbaugh.
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The Verdict
The Chargers have officially arrived as a contender. They proved they could handle the “punch in the mouth” that a Joe Burrow comeback represents and still find a way to win. For the Bengals, this is a season of “what ifs.” With a 4-7 record, they now face an impossible climb in the AFC, despite boasting some of the most impressive bengals vs chargers match player stats of the year.
FAQ Section
Who won the Bengals vs Chargers match?
The Los Angeles Chargers won the game 34-27.
What was the turning point of the game?
The turning point was J.K. Dobbins’ 29-yard touchdown run with 18 seconds left, following two missed field goals by the Bengals.
How many yards did Joe Burrow have?
Joe Burrow threw for 356 yards, 3 touchdowns, and 0 interceptions.
