Originally, the Week 11 Sunday Night Football game was supposed to feature the New York Jets taking on the Indianapolis Colts. With both teams struggling in the first half of the season, the matchup was flexed out of primetime and was replaced with a much better matchup on paper.
The Cincinnati Bengals will fly west to take on the Los Angeles Chargers. The Bengals lost their first three games of the season but have since gone 4-3 to get back in the playoff race. Cincinnati was expected to be in contention for the AFC North title, but now they are striving to build momentum to just make the postseason.
Los Angeles had relatively low expectations this season, even with Jim Harbaugh patrolling the sidelines after winning a national championship at Michigan. L.A. was also re-vamping its offense, as they let Austin Ekeler and Mike Williams hit free agency and traded Keenan Allen to the Chicago Bears. It was supposed to be a rebuilding year for the Chargers, but they have taken advantage of a favorable early-season schedule.
STREAM: Watch Bengals vs. Chargers live with Fubo (free trial)
Cincinnati enters the week with a 4-6 record in third place in the AFC North, while Los Angeles is 6-3 and in second place in the AFC West.
Below, we provide a play-by-play as the Bengals take on the Chargers for Week 11's 'Sunday Night Football.'
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Bengals vs. Chargers live score
| Q1 | Q2 | Q3 | Q4 | F | |
| Bengals | 3 | 3 | 14 | 7 | -- |
| Chargers | 7 | 17 | 3 | -- | -- |
Bengals vs. Chargers updates, highlights from Sunday Night Football
All times ET.
11:25 p.m. -- Dobbins picked up seven yards on first down. He got the ball on second down, but lost a yard. Herbert was pressured, but found Palmer down the field. Offensive holding brings back the 10-yard completion.
A third and four conversion turned into third and 14. Herbert had McConkey wide open, but pressure forced him to sail the pass and Los Angeles has to punt.
11:15 p.m. -- Brown picked up three yards on the ground, and Burrow connected with Higgins for 10 yards. Brown got another carry, this one for nine yards. Burrow threw up a prayer of a pass and it was intercepted, but the Chargers got called for roughing the passer, negating the turnover.
Brown picks up a yard with a run to the left. Burrow tried scrambling away from pressure, but has to just throw it away to not get sacked. On third and nine, Burrow scrambled for again of 15 yards and a fresh set of downs.
Brown ran for four yards, and Burrow missed Sample on second down. He tried to find Chase downfield, but the pass was broken up. On fourth down, McPherson came on for the 48-yard attempt, and he barely missed it left.
11:05 p.m. -- Herbert hits Palmer for 12 yards to start the drive. The QB then missed Davis on second down with a swing pass that was tipped at the line. Third down got a little more manageable as a Bengals defender was flagged for a neutral zone infraction making it third and five instead of third and 10. Herbert missed Johnston.
The Chargers will punt to the white hot Bengals offense.
SCORE -- TOUCHDOWN! Bengals 27, Chargers 27
10:55 p.m. -- In the first play of the fourth quarter, Herbert took off running, but fumbled while he was getting tackled. Cincinnati takes over.
Burrow escapes pressure and hits Brown for a big 35-yard gain, but there is laundry on the field. It was on the defense, and declined so Cincinnati crosses mid field and is in Chargers territory. Brown picked up 12, but again more flags. This time they are on the offense so the rush was erased.
Burrow finds Chase for a five yard pick up on first and 18. Sample picked up nine to bring up third and four. Burrow avoids pressure and hits Brown for a 14-yard gain. The Bengals had hurried to the line because the Chargers had 12-men on the field but the penalty was declined.
On the fresh set of downs, Burrow nearly had Brown out of the backfield, but the pass was broken up. Burrow hits Chase for a 17-yard score and this game is all tied up with McPherson's kick.
BURROW. CHASE.
— NFL (@NFL) November 18, 2024
WE ARE TIED.
📺: #CINvsLAC on NBC/Peacock
📱: Stream on #NFLPlus pic.twitter.com/Iw2ZlHOqYK
End of 3rd quarter -- Chargers 27, Bengals 20
10:45 p.m. -- Dobbins got the first down carry, but didn't pick up any yards. Davis got a swing pass to the right and picked up six yards. Herbert hit McConkey down the right field sideline for a first down after a gain of 18.
Herbert tried a deep ball, but it was tipped away from Johnston. Dobbins broke several tackles and picked up 15 yards, to get us to the end of the third quarter.
SCORE -- TOUCHDOWN! Chargers 27, Bengals 20
10:40 p.m. -- Cincinnati starts its drive at midfield. Burrow checks down to Brown on first down, and he picks up three yards. Brown picked up five yards on second down. On third and two, Burrow missed Burton on a short pass to the left. The Bengals lined up on fourth down, but took a timeout.
The timeout was worth it because Burrow launched a ball to Higgins who had beat the Los Angeles secondary. 42-yard touchdown.
BURROW TO HIGGINS.
— NFL (@NFL) November 18, 2024
BENGALS NOT DONE.
📺: #CINvsLAC on NBC/Peacock
📱: Stream on #NFLPlus pic.twitter.com/HNgJW672DJ
10:33 p.m. -- Herbert missed Johnston on first down, and his pass to Palmer on second down was deflected at the line. On third and long, Herbert was sacked for a 12-yard loss. The Chargers will punt.
SCORE -- TOUCHDOWN! Chargers 27, Bengals 13
10:20 p.m. -- Brown picked up four yards on first down. Burrow then launched a ball down the field, but couldn't find Burton for a huge gain. The Cincy QB hit Higgins for a 23-yard gain. Fulton was flagged for illegal contact, but it was declined.
Brown finally broke off a big run, this time for 27 yards to get down to the Chargers 16. Burrow tried to find Higgins in the endzone, but it fell incomplete. Higgins caught his next target, for a gain of nine. Brown is able to pick up the first with a two-yard run up the middle.
On first and goal, it looked like an incomplete pass, but the defense was flagged for holding. Brown tried to run up the middle, but was swarmed by the defensive line for a three-yard loss. Burrow got hit by Joey Bosa, but was able to throw it to Drew Sample. Unfortunately, he lost four yards on the play.
Burrow hit Brown for a four yard gain on third down. Cincinnati either needs to kick to try to make it 27-9 or go for it and they are going for it. It was worth the risk as Burrow finds Chase for a four-yard touchdown.
Ja'Marr scores the first @Bengals TD of the night!
— NFL (@NFL) November 18, 2024
📺: #CINvsLAC on NBC/Peacock
📱: Stream on #NFLPlus pic.twitter.com/N2BIlJwowp
SCORE -- FIELD GOAL! Chargers 27, Bengals 6
10:10 p.m. -- Davis took the punt back 25 yards to the Chargers 41-yard line. Edwards got the first touch of the drive, but only picked up a yard. Herbert missed Johnston on second down, but found McConkey for 20 yards.
On the new set of downs, Dobbins lost three yards, getting hit in the backfield. Dissly had another reception, this time for seven yards. On third and six, Herbert tried to find Johnston deep down the left sideline, but after it was bobbled a few times, the ball fell to the turf.
Cameron Dicker lined up for a 53-yarder and nailed it.
10:05 p.m. -- On the first play of the second half for the Bengals, Burrow wasn't able to hit Chase, and then missed him again on second down. The QB tried to go to Gesicki, but the tight end fell down and the refs didn't throw a flag. Burrow was hit by two defenders and gingerly walked off the field.
The Bengals will punt right back to the Chargers.
10:00 p.m. -- After scoring to end the first half, LA gets the ball out of halftime. Herbert checks it down low to Dobbins for two yards, and then missed Dissly on second down. The QB then took a deep shot down the right field targeting Johnston, but missed him.
Los Angeles will punt.
Halftime -- Chargers 24, Bengals 6
SCORE -- FIELD GOAL! Chargers 24, Bengals 6
9:40 p.m. -- Dobbins picked up three yards on first down. Herbert found McConkey for an 11-yard gain, which leads to the two-minute warning.
Herbert hit Palmer for an 11-yard gain, but then missed him on his next attempt. Dobbins picked up two yards on his next carry to bring up third and eight. Herbert used his legs again and picked up the first down. The quarterback then lost a yard on first down.
Cincinnati got flagged for roughing the passer, giving Los Angeles some much needed yardage. Herbert found Dissly for a 24-yard gain down the right side of the field. Herbert spiked the ball to stop the clock and then missed Dobbins, but really was throwing the ball away.
Herbert tried to connect with Palmer, but missed him. Despite a called defensive pass interference penalty, the Chargers settled for a field goal going into halftime.
9:35 p.m. -- Brown gets the first carry of the ensuing Bengals drive and picks up five. Burrow found Chase for a two-yard gain, but was then sacked for a seven-yard loss on third down. Cincinnati will punt again.
SCORE -- TOUCHDOWN 21, Bengals 6
9:21 p.m. -- Edwards started the Chargers drive off with a five-yard gain. Herbert scrambled for a 30-yard gain on second down. Derius Davis got his first reception of the game, a 14-yarder. Edwards then picked up nine on the ground. The running back then gained four yards and picked up the first down.
LA had first and goal from the four yard line. Herbert missed Joshua Palmer in the endzone, but there was unnecessary roughness so the Chargers got a free first down. The QB targeted Fisk, but missed him. Hassan Haskins got back-to-back carries but only got one yard. On fourth down, the Chargers elected to go for it and Dobbins punched in the one-yard score.
JK Dobbins keeps the @Chargers rollin'
— NFL (@NFL) November 18, 2024
📺: #CINvsLAC on NBC/Peacock
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9:18 p.m. -- Starting their next drive, Burrow missed tight end Mike Gesicki on first down. He was able to connect with Iosivas for six yards, but then got sacked for a three yard loss. Cincinnati had to punt.
SCORE -- TOUCHDOW! Chargers 14, Bengals 6
9:12 p.m. -- McConkey is questionable to return for the Chargers with a shoulder injury, so someone will have to step up for Herbert. The LA QB finds Quentin Johnston for a 22-yard gain on first own and then followed that up with a 20-yard strike to Dissly. Two plays and the Chargers are already in Cincinnati territory.
Dobbins ran the ball for three yards and McConkey was able to return. Herbert finds Johnston for a 26-yard score and the Chargers offense is firing on all cylinders. Dicker knocks through the extra point.
JUSTIN HERBERT.
— NFL (@NFL) November 18, 2024
DIME, SEALED, DELIVERED.
📺: #CINvsLAC on NBC/Peacock
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SCORE -- FIELD GOAL! Chargers 7, Bengals 6
9:05 p.m. -- After flipping sides of the field for the second quarter, Brown picked up two yards on the ground and gets it to the Chargers 25-yard line. Burrow tried to find Trenton Irwin, but the pass was broken up by Kristian Fulton who was flagged for defensive pass interference.
After the free first down, Brown picked up two yards on the ground. Higgins was able to return to the field and instantly caught a pass for six yards. Burrow tried to find Burton in the endzone on third down, but it fell incomplete. McPherson nailed his 27-yard field goal.
End of 1st quarter -- Chargers 7, Bengals 3
8:55 p.m. -- Brown picked up two yards on the ground on first down. Burrow hits Higgins for his first reception of the night that goes for 20 yards and a first down. Burrow then got sacked for a four-yard loss. Hudson makes up for his earlier penalty and brings in a four-yard reception.
On third and long, Burrow checks down to Hudson again, this time for nine yards. It is fourth and short from the LA 35. The Bengals elect to go for it, but call a timeout after lining up due tot he play clock nearly expiring. After lining back up, it was then Los Angeles that took a timeout.
When the play finally happened, Burrow hit Higgins or a X yard gain for the first down. The ball came out at the end of the play after Higgins took a shot from a Chargers defender. Los Angeles recovered and took it back for a touchdown, but review showed that Higgins was indeed down. Cincy retained possession and Higgins was helped off the field by trainers.
SCORE -- TOUCHDOWN! Chargers 7, Bengals 3
8:50 p.m. -- Herbert dropped back to pass on first down, but was sacked fora five-yard loss. On second down, he scrambled up the middle for a 20-yard gain. Herbert completed his first pass to Tucker Fisk for six yards. The Chargers QB hit Ladd McConkey for 20 yards, but the wide receiver stayed down after the play. There was a play for defensive holding, but it was declined.
Herbert then found tight end Will Dissly down the middle for a 29-yard touchdown. Cameron Dicker made the extra point.
Herbert finds Dissly up the seam! 29-yard touchdown!
— NFL (@NFL) November 18, 2024
📺: #CINvsLAC on NBC/Peacock
📱: Stream on #NFLPlus pic.twitter.com/zBH6Cpwcm4
SCORE -- FIELD GOAL! Bengals 3, Chargers 0
8:40 p.m. -- Burrow didn't target his top wide receiver on the first drive, but wasted little time going to Ja'Marr Chase on the second. He hit Chase for a 12-yard gain. Brown got another carry, this time for five yards, but he was brought down with a horse collar tackle, giving him 14 more yards.
Burrow found Chase for a five-yard pickup, and then Brown ran up the middle for a three-yard gain. Cincinnati had it third and inches on the LA 5, and Brown picked up two yards for the first down.
Burrow missed Chase on first down. He then tried to hit Andrei Iosivas, but tight end Tanner Hudson was flagged for an illegal shift. On the rplay of second down, Burrow was pressured and just shoveled it towards an offensive lineman, but was called for intentioanl grounding. With the penalty and loss of down, the Bengals faced third and goal from the 18-yard line.
Burrow connected with a Chase for a 10-yard pickup leading to kicker Evan McPherson connecting on a 26-yard field goal.
8:35 p.m. -- Los Angeles' offensive night opened with Gus Edwards picking up eight yards on the ground. JK. Dobbins got the second touch of the game, but he was stopped in the backfield. On third down, the Chargers kept it on the ground with Edwards, who wasn't able to gain any yards. Los Angeles will punt it right back to Cincinnati.
8:30 p.m. -- After the review, the ruling on the field was upheld. Brown picked up three yards on the ground, and then Burrow hit the running back for a one-yard gain through the hair.
On third and six, Burrow missed Tee Higgins to bring up fourth down. Cincinnati will punt.
8:25 p.m. -- Chase Brown gets a carry on the first play from scrimmage of the game. He takes it up the middle for five yards. Quarterback Joe Burrow hit Jermaine Burton for an eight-yard gain, but the play was reviewed as Chargers head coach Jim Harbaugh threw the challenge flag.
8:20 p.m. -- Kickoff is here. Los Angeles has won the toss and chose to defer. The Bengals will start with the ball.
Pregame
8:00 p.m. -- The home team is ready and before the game gets underway, can we take anoher second to just appreciate the best jerseys in the NFL?
bring ‘em out pic.twitter.com/9oK11Y3tzo
— Los Angeles Chargers (@chargers) November 18, 2024
7:30 p.m. -- The matchup between the Bengals and the Chargers should be a good one. Both teams have one of the better young quarterbacks in the league under center. Cincinnati's Joe Burrow has already led his team to a Super Bowl in his career (ironically at SoFi Stadium).
Joey B ready for some SNF. pic.twitter.com/enxObpNIim
— Cincinnati Bengals (@Bengals) November 17, 2024
Los Angeles may have finally found the right head coach to pair with Justin Herbert as the pair is already paying early dividends in Year 1 of the Jim Harbaugh era.
snf herbo pic.twitter.com/Mrd8WnXcs6
— Los Angeles Chargers (@chargers) November 17, 2024
7:15 p.m. -- If you are interested in betting on this game, Caesars Sportsbook has you covered. This game is a pick'em on the moneyline with both teams at -110. Los Angeles is the one-point favorite, and the point total is set at 48.5.
6:50 p.m. -- We are an hour and a half before kickoff which means that we have inactives. Cincinnati wide receiver Tee Higgins is notably active.
.@KetteringHealth Inactives for #CINvsLAC pic.twitter.com/iJV3fmaPeg
— Cincinnati Bengals (@Bengals) November 17, 2024
Los Angeles will be without linebacker Khalil Mack.
our inactives for #CINvsLAC
— Los Angeles Chargers (@chargers) November 17, 2024
QB Easton Stick (emergency 3rd QB)
WR DJ Chark Jr.
RB Kimani Vidal
OLB Khalil Mack
OL Brenden Jaimes
OL Jordan McFadden
TE Hayden Hurst
6:30 p.m. -- Cincinnati will be wearing its orange helmets, with white jerseys and orange pants.
Orange in LA.
— Cincinnati Bengals (@Bengals) November 12, 2024
🟠⚪️🟠⚪️#CINvsLAC | @PennStationSubs pic.twitter.com/Ut6onARiWt
Los Angeles will be rocking its classic powder blue jerseys with white helmets and white pants.
powder 😮💨 pic.twitter.com/jOzikw5Sci
— Los Angeles Chargers (@chargers) November 17, 2024
6:15 p.m. -- We are just shy of two hours before kickoff. When the game begins, weather won't be a factor as SoFi Stadium is a domed building, with several windows. Even if it wasn't, it is 65 and sunny outside SoFi right now.
Bengals vs. Chargers start time
- Date: Sunday, Nov. 17
- Start time: 8:20 p.m. ET
Kickoff from SoFi Stadium in Los Angeles is set for 8:20 p.m. ET. With all of the pre-game festivities, it wouldn't be surprising if the game kicks off a few minutes late.
What channel is Bengals vs. Chargers on today?
When this game was originally scheduled, it was on CBS, but NBC's primetime lights came calling. You can also stream the game on Peacock, or through Fubo, which includes NBC in its channel listing.
Bengals schedule 2024
| Week | Date | Opponent | Time (ET) | TV | Tickets |
| 1 | Sept. 8 | vs. Patriots | 1 p.m. | CBS | -- |
| 2 | Sept. 15 | at Chiefs | 4:25 p.m. | CBS | -- |
| 3 | Sept. 23 (Mon.) | vs. Commanders | 8:15 p.m. | ABC | -- |
| 4 | Sept. 29 | at Panthers | 1 p.m. | FOX | -- |
| 5 | Oct. 6 | vs. Ravens | 1 p.m. | CBS | -- |
| 6 | Oct. 13 | at Giants | 8:20 p.m. | NBC | -- |
| 7 | Oct. 20 | at Browns | 1 p.m. | CBS | -- |
| 8 | Oct. 27 | vs. Eagles | 1 p.m. | CBS | -- |
| 9 | Nov. 3 | vs. Raiders | 1 p.m. | FOX | -- |
| 10 | Nov. 7 (Thurs.) | at Ravens | 8:15 p.m. | Prime | -- |
| 11 | Nov. 17 | at Chargers | 8:20 p.m. | NBC | -- |
| 12 | — | BYE | — | — | -- |
| 13 | Dec. 1 | vs. Steelers | 1 p.m. | CBS | Buy now |
| 14 | Dec. 9 (Mon.) | at Cowboys | 8:15 p.m. | ESPN | Buy now |
| 15 | Dec. 15 | at Titans | 1 p.m. | FOX | Buy now |
| 16 | Dec. 19 (Thurs.) | vs. Browns | 8:15 p.m. | Prime | Buy now |
| 17 | TBD | vs. Broncos | TBD | TBD | Buy now |
| 18 | TBD | at Steelers | TBD | TBD | Buy now |
Chargers schedule 2024
| Week | Date | Opponent | Time (ET) | TV | Tickets |
| 1 | Sept. 8 | vs. Raiders | 4:05 p.m. | CBS | -- |
| 2 | Sept. 15 | at Chargers | 1 p.m. | Fox | -- |
| 3 | Sept. 22 | at Steelers | 1 p.m. | CBS | -- |
| 4 | Sept. 29 | vs. Chiefs | 4:25 p.m. | CBS | -- |
| 5 | Bye week | ------------- | ------------- | ----- | ----- |
| 6 | Oct. 13 | at Broncos | 4:05 p.m. | CBS | -- |
| 7 | Oct. 21 (Mon.) | at Cardinals | 9 p.m. | ESPN+ | -- |
| 8 | Oct. 27 | vs. Saints | 4:05 p.m. | Fox | -- |
| 9 | Nov. 3 | at Browns | 1 p.m. | CBS | -- |
| 10 | Nov. 10 | vs. Titans | 4;05 p.m. | Fox | -- |
| 11 | Nov. 17 | vs. Bengals | 8:20 p.m. | NBC | -- |
| 12 | Nov. 25 (Mon.) | vs. Ravens | 8:15 p.m. | ESPN | Buy now |
| 13 | Dec. 1 | at Falcons | 1 p.m. | CBS | Buy now |
| 14 | Dec. 8 | at Chiefs | 8:20 p.m. | NBC | Buy now |
| 15 | Dec. 15 | vs. Buccaneers | 4:25 p.m. | Fox | Buy now |
| 16 | Dec. 22 | vs. Broncos | 4:05 p.m. | Fox | Buy now |
| 17 | TBD | at Patriots | TBD | TBD | Buy now |
| 18 | TBD | at Raiders | TBD | TBD | Buy now |
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