In a thrilling contest against the Cincinnati Bengals, the Chargers managed to secure a 34-27 victory despite relinquishing a 21-point lead in the third quarter. “The worm turned. Coach Harbaugh has instilled a new culture, and the players have stepped up to contribute to our goals,” remarked safety Derwin James.
In previous seasons, specifically during the last year of Anthony Lynn’s coaching and Brandon Staley’s nearly three-year tenure, the Chargers often faltered in similar situations. From 2020 to 2023, the team suffered eight losses after having a lead of ten points or more, ranking them fourth-worst in terms of winning percentage in such instances within the league.
“Since the beginning, back in April, I had this belief that we have the right personnel at the right time. That’s all a coach can wish for—just to keep building,” Harbaugh added.
Quarterback Justin Herbert faced difficulties, completing only 2 of 12 passes over a span of five drives before finding Ladd McConkey for crucial gains of 28 and 27 yards during the critical possession. Running back J.K. Dobbins, who had been restrained for much of the game, made his mark with a 29-yard touchdown run along the left sideline.
Although the defense surrendered 191 yards on three consecutive scoring drives by the Bengals, they stepped up with vital third-down stops in the fourth quarter, which led to two missed field goals from Evan McPherson. “We just kept pushing through. Losing momentum didn’t mean that we were out of it; the guys stayed focused and responded,” Harbaugh stated.
Calling the matchup a “signature win,” Harbaugh acknowledged the significance of this victory as the team prepares for a challenging upcoming stretch. The Chargers are set to face the Baltimore Ravens at home next Monday night, marking the third time brothers Jim and John Harbaugh will compete as head coaches against each other.
Following the clash with the Ravens, the Chargers will take on the Atlanta Falcons before bringing the Tampa Bay Buccaneers to their home field. With a current record of 7-3, the team has now matched its best start since 2018 and holds the AFC’s fifth playoff spot.
“When we find ourselves in winning situations, we strive to maintain that lead and execute our plan effectively. We work hard for these opportunities, and while nothing is guaranteed, we are committed to making it happen,” linebacker Daiyan Henley explained.
In terms of what’s working for the team, the Chargers have excelled at starting games strong, outscoring opponents 138-49 in the first half—an impressive 89-point margin, which is the second best in the league, trailing only Detroit.
However, they need to enhance their pass defense as they allowed seven completions of 20 yards or more in the recent match after having given up only two such completions in the previous two weeks. Notably, one of these was a 42-yard touchdown catch by Tee Higgins on a pivotal fourth-and-2 play late in the third quarter.
In positive developments, wide receiver Ladd McConkey has recorded over 100 yards in receiving in two of the last three games, with 123 yards against the Bengals marking the seventh-highest receiving total for a rookie in franchise history.
Conversely, cornerback Ja’Sir Taylor faced another challenging performance, attributing to seven of quarterback Joe Burrow’s pass attempts and yielding five receptions for 123 yards, including the long touchdown from Higgins.
In the realm of injuries, linebacker Khalil Mack was inactive for the first time since joining the Chargers in a trade last year, while cornerback Cam Hart remains in concussion protocol.
Key numbers to note include 246—the consecutive pass attempts by Herbert without an interception, setting a new team record after surpassing his previous streak of 233 from the end of last season into the current one. Additionally, linebacker Tuli Tuipulotu leads the league with six sacks recorded in November, making him the fourth player in franchise history to achieve three consecutive games with multiple sacks.
Looking ahead, the Chargers will aim to break a four-game regular-season losing streak against the Ravens, having fallen 20-10 to them during their previous encounter last season.