L.a. Chargers vs Cincinnati Bengals Picks and Predictions November 17th 2024

On Sunday, November 17th, the Chargers and Bengals will face off at 8:20 ET on NBC. The Chargers are the favorite with a point spread of -1.5. The game, being played at SoFi Stadium in Inglewood, CA, has the Chargers favored on the money line at -120. The over/under line is set at 46.5 points.

Cincinnati vs. Los Angeles Key Information

• Teams: Bengals at Chargers
• Where: SoFi Stadium Inglewood
• Date: Sunday, November 17th
• Betting Odds LAC -120 | CIN +100 O/U 46.5

The Bengals Can Win If…

Heading into week 11, the Bengals sit 15th in our NFL power rankings and have a 36.9% chance of making the playoffs. They are 4-6 this season, including a 3-2 record on the road. In week 10, Cincinnati couldn’t hold on to a 4th quarter lead, losing 35-34 to the Ravens. Despite the loss, they covered the spread as 6-point underdogs. The combined score of 69 points easily went over the 53-point line, marking the Bengals’ third straight over.

Against the spread, Cincinnati is 6-4 this season, with a +0.8 scoring margin. They have covered in two straight games, including a 17-point win over the Raiders in week 9. The Bengals were 7.5-point favorites in that game and won 41-24.

Joe Burrow has been on fire over his last three games, culminating in a 428-yard, 4-touchdown performance against the Ravens in week 10. He completed 34 of 56 passes without an interception, posting a passer rating of 108. Before that, he threw for 251 yards and 5 touchdowns in week 9 and had 234 yards in week 8. Ja’Marr Chase had a monster game in week 10, catching 11 passes for 264 yards and 3 touchdowns.

Chase Brown led the Bengals in rushing with 42 yards on 13 carries in week 10. Cincinnati ranks 29th in the NFL in rushing yards per game, with 89.7, and 24th in rushing attempts. They are 5th in our offensive power rankings and average 27 points per game, which is also 5th in the league.

In their 35-34 loss to the Ravens, the Bengals’ defense struggled to defend the pass, allowing four touchdowns and a 75.8% completion rate to Baltimore. The Ravens finished with 290 passing yards and converted 58.3% of their third downs. Cincinnati’s defense failed to generate any sacks and came out on the wrong end of the QB hit battle, with a differential of -12.

Cincinnati did limit the Ravens to 99 yards on 25 rushing attempts, but overall, they gave up 389 total yards in the game. The Bengals will be looking to improve their pass rush and overall pass coverage in the upcoming games.

• Through their last three regular season contests, Cincinnati has a record of 1-2. Across this span, their ATS record sits at 2-1 to go along with an over-under mark of 3-0.
• Over their last ten regular season games, the Bengals have gone 4-6 straight up. Across these games, their ATS record was just 6-4, while posting an over-under record of 7-3.

The Chargers Can Win If…

With three straight wins, the Chargers now sit at 6-3, giving them an 88.2% chance of making the playoffs according to our projections. After a week 7 loss to the Cardinals, Los Angeles bounced back with wins over the Saints (28-6), Browns (27-10), and Titans (27-17). They covered the spread in all three games, including a 10-point win over Tennessee in week 10 as 8.5-point favorites.

Heading into week 11, the Chargers rank 16th in our power rankings and have a +7.6 scoring margin this season. They are 6-2-1 against the spread, including a 6-1 record as favorites. Their O/U record is 2-7, with their games averaging 33.8 points per game.

Heading into week 11, the Chargers sit 13th in our offensive power rankings. They are 16th in the NFL in points per game, averaging 20.7, and rank 22nd in passing yards per game with 196.4, despite being 30th in passing attempts. On the ground, they are 8th in rushing attempts and 19th in rushing yards per game, averaging 117.9. Los Angeles ranks 12th in the NFL in 3rd-down conversion percentage and 6th in red zone conversion rate.

Justin Herbert has posted passer ratings of 111, 125, and 123 over his last three games, without throwing an interception. In week 10, he threw for 164 yards and a touchdown on 14/18 passing. Ladd McConkey led the team with 52 receiving yards, while Gus Edwards had 55 rushing yards on 10 carries.

In their 27-17 win over the Titans, the Chargers’ defense gave up 132 rushing yards on just 21 attempts. Despite this, they were able to limit Tennessee to 17 points and 289 total yards. The Chargers’ defense also recorded an impressive 7 sacks in the game.

The Titans completed 78.3% of their passes for 157 yards and two touchdowns. However, the Chargers’ pass rush was effective, as they came away with 7 sacks and held Tennessee to a 33.3% conversion rate on third down.

• Over their last three games, the Chargers have gone 2-1 straight up. In terms of betting, the team went 2-0-1 ATS in these matchups. Their over/under record in these matchups is 1-2.
• Across Los Angeles’s last ten regular season games, their record sits at 4-6. The team’s record vs the spread was just 5-4-1, in addition to an over-under mark of 3-7.

The Lean

Our pick vs. the spread is to take the Chargers to cover as home favorites. They are currently sitting at -1.5 point favorites, and we have them winning by a score of 28-23 in this week 11 matchup vs. the Bengals.

For the over/under, with the line sitting at 46.5 points, we have these teams combining for 51 points, making the over a great pick in this one.

QBs Take Starring Role as Bengals Visit Chargers

Sunday night’s clash between the Los Angeles Chargers and Cincinnati Bengals in Inglewood, Calif., promises to be a high-stakes, star-studded affair. With Justin Herbert and Joe Burrow leading their respective offenses, this prime-time matchup offers fans a battle of two of the NFL’s brightest young quarterbacks from the 2020 draft class.

While the Chargers (6-3) aim to extend their three-game winning streak and solidify their playoff positioning, the Bengals (4-6) are fighting to keep their postseason hopes alive. Cincinnati remains just one game out of the final AFC playoff spot despite its sub-.500 record.

A Tale of Two Teams: Offense vs. Defense

At the heart of Sunday’s matchup is a compelling battle between the Bengals’ high-powered offense and the Chargers’ surging defense.

Bengals’ Offense: Ranked fifth in the NFL, the Bengals average 27 points per game. Joe Burrow, the league leader in passing yards (2,672) and tied for the most touchdown passes (24), has been at the helm of this elite unit. Star wide receiver Ja’Marr Chase is coming off a historic performance against the Ravens, posting 264 receiving yards and three touchdowns.

Chargers’ Defense: The Chargers boast the NFL’s top-ranked defense, allowing just 13.1 points per game. Over their three-game win streak, they’ve shut down opposing offenses, aided by a relentless pass rush that is tied for fourth in the league with 31 sacks. Standout performances from Bud Dupree, Tuli Tuipulotu, and Khalil Mack have bolstered the unit.

Key Matchups to Watch

Joe Burrow vs. Chargers’ Secondary

Burrow’s deep connection with Chase has been a nightmare for defenses, but the Chargers’ secondary, anchored by Asante Samuel Jr., will aim to contain explosive plays. Look for Burrow to challenge the defense with downfield strikes to keep the Bengals competitive.

Justin Herbert vs. Bengals’ Pass Rush

Herbert’s efficiency has been critical to the Chargers’ success, even in low-output games. Cincinnati’s pass rush, led by Trey Hendrickson, must disrupt Herbert’s timing to force mistakes and limit his effectiveness.

Ja’Marr Chase vs. Chargers’ Cornerbacks

After a record-setting game, Chase will face a stout defense that prioritizes keeping receivers in front of them. Chase’s ability to create separation and dominate in contested situations will test the Chargers’ discipline and scheme.

Chargers’ Ground Game

With injuries limiting key offensive players, the Chargers have leaned on their rushing attack. A productive game from Austin Ekeler could relieve pressure from Herbert and balance the offense against the Bengals’ defense.

Injury Report

Chargers

• Khalil Mack (groin) – Did not practice Wednesday.
• Joey Bosa (hip), Gus Edwards (ankle), and Kristian Fulton (hamstring) – Limited practice participants.

Bengals

• Joe Burrow (right wrist/left biceps) – Full participant.
• Tee Higgins (quad) – Limited.
• Orlando Brown Jr. (knee), Charlie Jones (groin), and others – Did not practice.

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Game Outlook

For the Chargers, Sunday’s game is an opportunity to prove their defensive dominance against one of the NFL’s most formidable offenses. A win would keep Los Angeles firmly in the playoff race and build momentum as they march toward the postseason.

For the Bengals, every game is critical. Burrow and Chase have the potential to lead an upset, but Cincinnati must avoid costly mistakes and capitalize on opportunities against a defense that has smothered lesser offenses.

Expect a tense and entertaining contest as two of the NFL’s rising stars, Herbert and Burrow, battle under the bright lights of prime time.