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Another week, another offensive fireworks display, and another close loss for Cincinnati. For those of you keeping score, that's the Bengals fourth loss this season by less than a touchdown and their second by a single point.
Joe Burrow and Ja'Marr Chase were both electric and while neither set a career high (surprisingly), they continued this season's insane offensive pace. Collectively they lead, or are tied for the lead, in seven statistical categories that the NFL tracks. Burrow leads in passes completed, attempted, Yards passing, and is tied for the lead in passing touchdowns. Chase "only" leads in three - receptions, yards receiving, and touchdown receptions.
If the defense could just get it together they might have a chance to make some noise in the playoffs, and that is still in play too. A recent article published on ESPN.com (you'll need ESPN+ to read it) lists the Bengals with a 36.9% chance to make the playoffs, and a .6% at still taking the AFC North. That's not great on either of them, but with the upcoming schedule I see five of the next seven games as very winnable (@LAC, @DAL, @TEN, CLE, DEN) with the two Pittsburgh games tossups at worst and a split would potentially leave the Bengals at 10-7. They're still walking a fine line between hope and despair, keep your fingers crossed Bengal Nation.
Cincinnati (4-6) @ Los Angeles Chargers (6-3)
Kickoff - 8:20p NBC/Peacock
Line - Los Angeles -1.5 O/u 46.5
Series - Chargers lead 23-15
Last meeting - Chargers 41-22 on December 5, 2021 in Cincinnati, OH
Bit and Baubles
Joe Burrow and Ja'Marr Chase are the first teammates to lead the NFL in passing and receiving yards since Matt Stafford and Cooper Kupp in 2021.
The Chargers are the fourth team since 1990 to allow 20 points or fewer in their first nine games of a season, the others were the '90 Giants, '99 Jaguars, and 2013 Chiefs.
Injury Report
Bengals
Charlie Jones - WR - Questionable
Tee Higgins - WR - Questionable (Quadriceps)
Orlando Brown Jr. - OT - Questionable (Knee)
B.J. Hill - DT - Questionable (Knee)
Chargers
Stone Smartt - TE - Questionable (Ankle)
Trey Pipkins III - OT - Questionable (Ankle)
Kristian Fulton - CB - Questionable (Hamstring)
Khalil Mack - LB - Questionable (Groin)
Fantasy Advice
There is NO shock that you should be starting the usual suspects of Burrow, Chase, and Higgins, but Mike Gesicki has quietly become a dependable fill-in/streaming option and Andre Iosivas has too (if a bit TD dependent) if you have someone on a bye. If your league has IDPs (and if you don't, you won't know what an IDP is) LBs Germaine Pratt and Logan Wilson are solid streaming options.
Speaking of IDPs, Bud Dupree might be another good choice, he had 2 sacks and a FF last week and has a sack in 3 of his last 4 games against Cincinnati. Ladd McConkey is far and away the most targeted receiver on the Bolts, if you're looking for big play possibilities though, Josh Palmer has averaged over 30 YPC the last three weeks.
Prediction
Bengals 27-23
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