Chargers quarterback Justin Herbert runs for positive yardage during the first half of their game against the Cincinnati Bengals on Sunday night at SoFi Stadium. (Photo by David Crane, Los Angeles Daily News/SCNG)
Chargers QB Justin Herbert, #10, hands off to Gus Edwards, #4, during first quarter action at SoFi Stadium on Sunday, Nov. 17, 2024. (Photo by David Crane, Los Angeles Daily News/SCNG)
Chargers J.K. Dobbins, #27, dives in for a touchdown during second quarter action at SoFi Stadium on Sunday, Nov. 17, 2024. (Photo by David Crane, Los Angeles Daily News/SCNG)
Chargers Will Dissly, #81, beats Bengals Cam Taylor-Britt, #29, for a touchdown during first quarter action at SoFi Stadium on Sunday, Nov. 17, 2024. (Photo by David Crane, Los Angeles Daily News/SCNG)
Chargers QB Justin Herbert, #10, gets sacked by Bengals Trey Hendrickson, #91, and Cam Taylor-Britt, #29, during first quarter action at SoFi Stadium on Sunday, Nov. 17, 2024. (Photo by David Crane, Los Angeles Daily News/SCNG)
Chargers Derwin James, #3, stops the forward progress of Bengals Chase Brown, #30, during first quarter action at SoFi Stadium on Sunday, Nov. 17, 2024. (Photo by David Crane, Los Angeles Daily News/SCNG)
Chargers Will Dissly, #81, pulled in this pass for a TD during first quarter action at SoFi Stadium on Sunday, Nov. 17, 2024. (Photo by David Crane, Los Angeles Daily News/SCNG)
Chargers Quentin Johnston, #1, celebrates a touchdown during second quarter action at SoFi Stadium on Sunday, Nov. 17, 2024. (Photo by David Crane, Los Angeles Daily News/SCNG)
Chargers Poona Ford, #95, sacks Bengals QB Joe Burrow, #9, during second quarter action at SoFi Stadium on Sunday, Nov. 17, 2024. (Photo by David Crane, Los Angeles Daily News/SCNG)
Chargers Gus Edwards, #4, dives for yardage as Bengals Mike Hilton, #21, makes the tackle during second quarter action at SoFi Stadium on Sunday, Nov. 17, 2024. (Photo by David Crane, Los Angeles Daily News/SCNG)
Chargers Tuli Tuipulotu, #45, sacks Bengals QB Joe Burrow, #9, during second quarter action at SoFi Stadium on Sunday, Nov. 17, 2024. (Photo by David Crane, Los Angeles Daily News/SCNG)
Chargers Poona Ford, #95, celebrates a sack Bengals QB Joe Burrow, #9, during second quarter action at SoFi Stadium on Sunday, Nov. 17, 2024. (Photo by David Crane, Los Angeles Daily News/SCNG)
Chargers Ja’Sir Taylor, #36, breaks up a pass intended for Bengals Ja’Marr Chase, #1, during fourth quarter action at SoFi Stadium on Sunday, Nov. 17, 2024. The Chargers defeated the Bengals 34-27. (Photo by David Crane, Los Angeles Daily News/SCNG)
Bengals QB Bengals Joe Burrow, #9, gets pressure from Chargers Poona Ford, #95, during fourth quarter action at SoFi Stadium on Sunday, Nov. 17, 2024. The Chargers defeated the Bengals 34-27. (Photo by David Crane, Los Angeles Daily News/SCNG)
Chargers Derwin James, #3, breaks up a pass intended for Bengals Tee Higgins, #5, during fourth quarter action at SoFi Stadium on Sunday, Nov. 17, 2024. The Chargers defeated the Bengals 34-27. (Photo by David Crane, Los Angeles Daily News/SCNG)
Bengals QB Joe Burrow, #9, points to the end zone during a long drive to tie up the game during third quarter action at SoFi Stadium on Sunday, Nov. 17, 2024. The Chargers defeated the Bengals 34-27. (Photo by David Crane, Los Angeles Daily News/SCNG)
Bengals Ja’Marr Chase, #1, scores a touchdown as Chargers Cam Hart, #20, defends on the play during third quarter action at SoFi Stadium on Sunday, Nov. 17, 2024. The Chargers defeated the Bengals 34-27. (Photo by David Crane, Los Angeles Daily News/SCNG)
Bengals Ja’Marr Chase, #1, scores a touchdown as Chargers Derwin James, #3, defends on the play during fourth quarter action at SoFi Stadium on Sunday, Nov. 17, 2024. The Chargers defeated the Bengals 34-27. (Photo by David Crane, Los Angeles Daily News/SCNG)
Chargers J.K. Dobbins, #27, is pulled down by Bengals Kris Jenkins, #90 and Germaine Pratt, #57, during first quarter action at SoFi Stadium on Sunday, Nov. 17, 2024. (Photo by David Crane, Los Angeles Daily News/SCNG)
Chargers QB Justin Herbert, #10, gets sacked by Bengals Logan Wilson, #55, and Joseph Ossai, #58, during third quarter action at SoFi Stadium on Sunday, Nov. 17, 2024. The Chargers defeated the Bengals 34-27. (Photo by David Crane, Los Angeles Daily News/SCNG)
Chargers Josh Palmer, #5, goes up to intercept a pass intended for Bengals Josh Newton, #28, during third quarter action at SoFi Stadium on Sunday, Nov. 17, 2024. The Chargers defeated the Bengals 34-27. (Photo by David Crane, Los Angeles Daily News/SCNG)
Chargers Alohi Gilman, #32, pulls in a pass as Bengals Andrei Iosivas, #80, defends on the play during third quarter action at SoFi Stadium on Sunday, Nov. 17, 2024. The Chargers defeated the Bengals 34-27. (Photo by David Crane, Los Angeles Daily News/SCNG)
Chargers running back J.K. Dobbins dives into the end zone in front of the Cincinnati Bengals Josh Newton for a go-ahead touchdown with 18 seconds left on Sunday night at SoFi Stadium. The Chargers held on to win, 34-27. (Photo by David Crane, Los Angeles Daily News/SCNG)
Chargers Tuli Tuipulotu, #45, Ja’Sir Taylor, #36, and Morgan Fox, #56, celebrate a missed field goal attempt by Bengals Evan McPherson, #2, during fourth quarter action at SoFi Stadium on Sunday, Nov. 17, 2024. The Chargers defeated the Bengals 34-27. (Photo by David Crane, Los Angeles Daily News/SCNG)
Chargers Derwin James, #3, celebrates a chargers win at SoFi Stadium on Sunday, Nov. 17, 2024. The Chargers defeated the Bengals 34-27. (Photo by David Crane, Los Angeles Daily News/SCNG)
Chargers QB Justin Herbert, #10, greets Bengals Trey Hendrickson, #91, after the Chargers defeated the Bengals at SoFi Stadium on Sunday, Nov. 17, 2024. The Chargers defeated the Bengals 34-27. (Photo by David Crane, Los Angeles Daily News/SCNG)
Chargers quarterback Justin Herbert (10) is pressured by Cincinnati Bengals defensive end Trey Hendrickson (91) during the first half of an NFL football game Sunday, Nov. 17, 2024, in Inglewood, Calif. (AP Photo/Gregory Bull)
Cincinnati Bengals quarterback Joe Burrow (9) throws a pass during the first half of an NFL football game against the Chargers, Sunday, Nov. 17, 2024, in Inglewood, Calif. (AP Photo/Eric Thayer)
Chargers tight end Will Dissly (81) celebrates his touchdown catch during the first half of an NFL football game against the Cincinnati Bengals, Sunday, Nov. 17, 2024, in Inglewood, Calif. (AP Photo/Eric Thayer)
Chargers quarterback Justin Herbert (10) throws a pass during the first half of an NFL football game against the Cincinnati Bengals, Sunday, Nov. 17, 2024, in Inglewood, Calif. (AP Photo/Gregory Bull)
Chargers running back J.K. Dobbins (27) runs back to the bench after scoring a rushing touchdown during the second half of an NFL football game against the Cincinnati Bengals, Sunday, Nov. 17, 2024, in Inglewood, Calif. (AP Photo/Gregory Bull)
Chargers running back J.K. Dobbins (27) jumps into the end zone to score a rushing touchdown past Cincinnati Bengals cornerback Josh Newton (28) during the second half of an NFL football game Sunday, Nov. 17, 2024, in Inglewood, Calif. (AP Photo/Gregory Bull)
Cincinnati Bengals wide receiver JaMarr Chase (1) celebrates his touchdown catch during the second half of an NFL football game against the Chargers, Sunday, Nov. 17, 2024, in Inglewood, Calif. (AP Photo/Eric Thayer)
Chargers head coach Jim Harbaugh, right, celebrates after a rushing touchdown by running back J.K. Dobbins (27) during the first half of an NFL football game against the Cincinnati Bengals, Sunday, Nov. 17, 2024, in Inglewood, Calif. (AP Photo/Gregory Bull)
Cincinnati Bengals cornerback DJ Turner II (20) breaks up a pass intended for Chargers wide receiver Quentin Johnston (1) during the second half of an NFL football game Sunday, Nov. 17, 2024, in Inglewood, Calif. (AP Photo/Gregory Bull)
Cincinnati Bengals wide receiver Tee Higgins, right, celebrates his touchdown catch with wide receiver JaMarr Chase (1) during the second half of an NFL football game against the Chargers, Sunday, Nov. 17, 2024, in Inglewood, Calif. (AP Photo/Eric Thayer)
Cincinnati Bengals wide receiver JaMarr Chase (1) catches a touchdown past Chargers cornerback Cam Hart (20) during the second half of an NFL football game Sunday, Nov. 17, 2024, in Inglewood, Calif. (AP Photo/Eric Thayer)
Chargers running back J.K. Dobbins (27) scores a rushing touchdown during the first half of an NFL football game against the Cincinnati Bengals, Sunday, Nov. 17, 2024, in Inglewood, Calif. (AP Photo/Gregory Bull)
Chargers running back J.K. Dobbins (27) leaps into the end zone to score a rushing touchdown during the first half of an NFL football game against the Cincinnati Bengals, Sunday, Nov. 17, 2024, in Inglewood, Calif. (AP Photo/Gregory Bull)
Chargers wide receiver Quentin Johnston (1) does a back flip in the end zone after his touchdown catch during the first half of an NFL football game against the Cincinnati Bengals, Sunday, Nov. 17, 2024, in Inglewood, Calif. (AP Photo/Gregory Bull)
Chargers tight end Will Dissly (81) is tackled by Cincinnati Bengals cornerback Cam Taylor-Britt (29) and linebacker Germaine Pratt during the first half of an NFL football game Sunday, Nov. 17, 2024, in Inglewood, Calif. (AP Photo/Gregory Bull)
Show Caption1 of 41Chargers quarterback Justin Herbert runs for positive yardage during the first half of their game against the Cincinnati Bengals on Sunday night at SoFi Stadium. (Photo by David Crane, Los Angeles Daily News/SCNG)
ExpandINGLEWOOD — Chargers coach Jim Harbaugh wanted it loud at SoFi Stadium.
It was loud.
He wanted a home-field advantage Sunday night.
He got it.
Harbaugh wanted exposure for his up-and-coming team.
He got that, too, and it wasn’t all he had hoped for Sunday night.
The Chargers built a commanding lead by the early minutes of the third quarter, but then watched it all slip away as the Cincinnati Bengals rallied to tie the score in the fourth before winning it 34-27, thanks to J.K. Dobbins’ 29-yard touchdown run with 18 seconds remaining in the game.
“Just pure joy,” Chargers left tackle Rashawn Slater said of watching Dobbins run for the winning touchdown. “Just pure joy, honestly.”
Asked what was going through his mind as quarterback Justin Herbert marched the Chargers on a four-play, 84-yard drive in only 27 seconds, Slater said, “Just protect, protect. We have faith in the receivers and the backs and everyone to take care of everything else. It’s just total faith in those guys.”
Bengals quarterback Joe Burrow got his team to the Chargers’ 43-yard line in the final seconds with a 27-yard completion, but his final two throws fell incomplete. Derwin James Jr. leaped at the goal line and batted down a Hail Mary headed right for Tee Higgins on the final play to preserve the Chargers’ fourth consecutive win.
The Chargers are 7-3; the Bengals are 4-7.
“It says a lot,” Harbaugh said of how the Chargers won, refusing to fold after squandering a 27-6 lead. “It was two heavyweights going at it. They (the Bengals) are a great football team. Our guys just kept playing, just kept playing. We’ve got the right guys at the right time, and that’s all a coach can ask for.”
The Chargers led 27-6 by the early minutes of the third quarter, got caught 27-27 by the opening minutes of the fourth and pulled together the winning drive after Bengals kicker Evan McPherson missed tiebreaking field goal attempts of 48 yards with 7:31 remaining and 51 yards with 1:48 left.
Herbert and the Chargers got the ball back at their 16-yard line with 45 seconds to play. He completed a pass to rookie wide receiver Ladd McConkey for a 28-yard gain on first down, threw an incomplete pass on first down at the 44 and then hit McConkey for a 27-yard gain to the Bengals’ 28.
Dobbins then ran the rest of the way for the go-ahead touchdown, breaking tackles and racing down the left sideline. He leaped across the goal line and into the end zone.
Herbert completed 17 of 36 passes for 297 yards and touchdown passes of 29 yards to tight end Will Dissley and 26 yards to wide receiver Quentin Johnston, and he also ran five times for a team-best 65 yards. Dobbins rushed for 56 yards and two touchdowns on 11 carries.
“J.K. was incredible,” Harbaugh said.
On a night when the Chargers honored the greats of their past, including running back LaDainian Tomlinson, it sure felt like they had found an advantage at home at SoFi Stadium. The fans cheered the Chargers’ victory over the Tennessee Titans last Sunday, but this was different.
Of course, it helped that there was plenty to cheer for, starting with a 24-6 lead by halftime that featured Herbert’s two touchdown passes, Dobbins’ 1-yard scoring run and three sacks of Burrow. Outside linebacker Tuli Tuipulotu had 1½ sacks, sharing one with safety James.
Cameron Dicker’s 19-yard field goal made it 24-6 on the final play of the half. He also kicked a 53-yard field goal that made it 27-6 with 10:29 left in the third quarter.
It was all Harbaugh could have hoped for to start Sunday’s game, the first in a series of four against quality opponents. After the Bengals, the Chargers face the Baltimore Ravens (7-4), the Atlanta Falcons (6-5) and the two-time defending Super Bowl champion Kansas City Chiefs (9-1).
By halftime Sunday, it seemed the Chargers were well on their way to dispatching the Bengals, who seemed incapable of pressuring Herbert or adequately protecting Burrow. Herbert completed his first seven passes and was 10-of-14 for 183 yards and two touchdowns at the break.
Standing behind a leaky offensive line, Burrow completed 12 of 17 passes for 111 yards. He rallied the Bengals with three touchdown passes in the second half, including a 17-yard scoring pass to Ja’Marr Chase for the tying touchdown, 27-27, with 12:21 remaining in the game.
Burrow completed 28 of 50 passes for 356 yards.
“That was a complete team win today,” James said.