Kevin Huber kicked the football 30 yards to the Chargers 14-yard line after the Bengals failed to convert a third down with 1:54 remaining in the first half. Consecutive incomplete passes and a dump off pass that would have forced San Diego to punt was negated due after Michael Johnson jumped offsides. Philip Rivers completed a 28-yard pass to a wide open Danario Alexander, reaching the Chargers 47-yard line with a minute remaining in the half.

An incomplete pass, seven-yard pass to Antonio Gates and two false start set up a third and 13 with :42 remaining in the second. Yet they converted. Rivers floats the football on a fade to Malcom Floyd near the left sidelines, posting the 24-yard reception to the Bengals 32-yard line, obviously in field goal range. Danario Alexander sat the zone on the next play, opened by a fade route on that side of the field that consumed additional defenders, picking up 12 yards to the 20-yard line.

Following a spike to stop the clock, Rivers scrambled on second down for another 11 yards, running out of bounds at the nine-yard line with :09 remaining in the first half. After Ronnie Brown is stopped at the one-yard line, the Chargers use their final timeout and Nick Novak converts the 19-yard field goal, taking a 13-10 half time lead.