Cincinnati Bengals score 22 unanswered points to cut the Chargers lead to two

A tale of two halves is underway in Cincinnati. The Los Angeles Chargers built a three-score lead, and the Bengals slowly erased it.

Just when it looked like everything was coming up Justin Herbert and the Los Angeles Chargers in Cincinnati, Joe Burrow and the Bengals ripped off 22-unanswered points to cut deep into the Chargers’ lead.

Los Angeles built a 24-0 lead in the first half, riding the hot hand of Herbert. The Chargers passer began the game with three touchdown passes, and even caught a two-point conversion from Keenan Allen as the visitors built their three-score lead.

But Burrow and the Bengals did not fold, and started to chip away at the big deficit.

Cincinnati finally reached the end zone on this deep connection from Burrow to Tee Higgins, who went up over a pair of defenders to finish the play for six:

The extra point was no good, but the Bengals were not done scoring in the second quarter. After Jesse Bates III recovered an Austin Ekeler fumble, Burrow finished the ensuing possession not with his arm, but with his legs:

After retreating into the pocket and scanning the field, Burrow decides to pull the football down and cuts right upfield for the rushing touchdown. This time Evan McPherson’s extra point split the uprights, and the Bengals were within 11.

Cincinnati opened the second half by receiving the kickoff and driving 45 yards over ten plays, finishing that possession with a field goal from McPherson to cut the Chargers’ lead to 24-16. Then, the Bengals defense struck again. Trey Hendrickson forced another Ekeler fumble, and the loose football was recovered by Germaine Pratt, giving Cincinnati an extra possession.

Enter Joe Mixon:

Mixon’s seven-yard plunge got the Bengals within two points of the Chargers. Zac Taylor would keep the offense on the field and try for the two-point conversion and the tie, but a rushing attempt from Mixon was denied by the Los Angeles defense.

Still, it has been a tale of two halves in Cincinnati, and as the fourth quarter beckons, the Bengals have possession and are near midfield. Can Cincinnati pull off the comeback? A win, coupled with with a Baltimore Ravens’ loss in the later games against Pittsburgh, would see the Bengals pull even with Baltimore atop the AFC North.