The Bengals travel to the west coast off a mini-bye for another primetime matchup with the Los Angeles Chargers. LA enters Week 11 with a 6-3 record. Winners of three straight and four of their last five, the Chargers currently occupy the sixth seed in the AFC playoff race.
Chargers Offense
Los Angeles quarterback Justin Herbert was the third QB selected in the 2020 NFL Draft (No. 6 overall) behind Cincinnati's Joe Burrow (No. 1) and Miami's Tua Tagovailoa (No. 5). The former Oregon Duck currently ranks fifth in PFF passing grade, boasting an 84.4 grade. He has been efficient when throwing, tossing just one interception in his first nine games of 2024. He is coming off a Week 10 performance against Tennessee where he completed 14-of-18 passes for 164 yards and a touchdown while adding a rushing score. His 91.6 PFF offensive grade in Week 10 marked the highest figure across the league last week.
Herbert has produced a 90+ passer rating in all nine games this season. He joins Peyton Manning, Tom Brady, Aaron Rodgers and Philip Rivers as the only quarterbacks to start a season with a streak that long.
The Chargers, formerly one of the pass-heaviest teams in the NFL with Herbert, have zagged the other direction under first year head coach Jim Harbaugh: Los Angeles has thrown the second-fewest passes in the league this season (243), ahead of only the Eagles (238). Despite the lack of volume, PFF still charts Herbert with 17 big-time throws, tied for the fourth-most in the NFL. Thirteen of those throws have come since Week 7, pacing the NFL in that time frame. He has zero turnover-worthy plays over that stretch as well, according to PFF.
On the ground, former Ravens running back J.K. Dobbins leads the backfield with 670 yards, good for 10th in the league. He is also tied for seventh with six rushing touchdowns. LA reintroduced Gus Edwards to the backfield in Week 10 after he missed the previous four games with an injury. Edwards has carried the ball 48 times in five games played this season.
Los Angeles reworked their receiver room this offseason, moving on from veterans Keenan Allen and Mike Williams. They used a second-round draft pick on Georgia Bulldog Ladd McConkey. Among rookie receivers, McConkey ranks fourth in PFF receiving grade (78.3), fourth in yards (492), second in receptions (37) and tied for third in touchdowns (four).
Chargers Defense
The Los Angeles defense has been one of the best units in the NFL through the first 10 weeks. It has yet to allow more than 20 points in a game and ranks seventh in PFF defensive grade (75.3). The Chargers are the fourth team in the last 40 seasons to allow 20 or fewer points in each of their first nine games of a season, and they are allowing the fewest points per game in the NFL (13.1). However, the Chargers have played three offenses that are within the top half of the league in PFF offensive grade: the Kansas City Chiefs, the Arizona Cardinals and the Pittsburgh Steelers. They are 0-3 in those games, but they allowed only 18 points per game.
On the defensive line, edge rusher Khalil Mack ranks third among all defenders with a 91.6 defensive grade. He's been especially effective in the run game, posting a 91.7 PFF run-defense grade, tied for fourth in the NFL. Mack played just four defensive snaps in Week 10 due to injury. The other stalwart on the defensive line, Joey Bosa, has been banged up as well, playing over 20 snaps in just two games so far this season.
Despite the injuries, LA mustered up a seven-sack performance in their Week 10 victory over the Titans. Bud Dupree and Tuli Tuipulotu combined for four of those seven takedowns. Los Angeles is tied with the Baltimore Ravens for the fourth-most sacks in the NFL, tallying 31 on the year. They have turned things up a notch in the last three weeks, increasing their season-high sack total each week (five in Week 8, six in Week 9, seven in Week 10).
As a team, Los Angeles sits ninth in PFF run defense grade (70.4). They have allowed 995 rushing yards on 4.7 yards per carry this season.
The Chargers have been effective in pass coverage as well, holding the fourth-highest PFF coverage grade in the league (80.8). Despite losing top corner Asante Samuel Jr. in Week 4 to injury, Los Angeles has intercepted nine passes while allowing just nine touchdowns through the air.
Check out the Bengals 2024 Schedule.
