NFL Week 14 Primer: Cincinnati Bengals (5-7) at Los Angeles Chargers (9-3)

The Bengals will be making their way to California later this week with the hopes of starring in an upset when they take on the Los Angeles Chargers. This is the first time the Bengals will be playing in the Los Angeles area since the early 90s, which is fitting considering how they’re starting to resemble the teams of their lost decade before the new millennium.

The Bengals have lost four straight games, and while they aren’t mathematically eliminated from playoff contention, the fact they lost Andy Dalton and A.J. Green for the season pretty much has put the nail in the coffin. That doesn’t mean this team can’t still be entertaining though. An upset over the Chargers could be fun to watch for those still tuning in. Even covering the current two-touchdown spread feels like an achievement at this point.

As for the Chargers, they have the unfortunate task of trying to keep up with the Chiefs in the AFC West. Los Angeles could still very well and up with a bye week if Kansas City slips up in these last four weeks, but first, they have to take care of business in this trap game.

Here is everything you need to know for when the Bengals take on the Chargers:

Game: Cincinnati Bengals (5-7) at Los Angeles Chargers (9-3)

Date/Time: Dec. 9th, 2018 at 4:05 p.m. EST

Location: StubHub Center, Los Angeles, CA

Streaming: Fubo TV

Series Leader: Chargers lead the all-time series 19-14

Streak: Bengals have won the past four

Coaches vs. Opponent: Marvin Lewis: (5-2) vs. Anthony Lynn (0-0)

Television: The game will air on CBS-TV. In the Bengals’ home region, it will be carried by WKRC-TV (Ch. 12) in Cincinnati, WHIO-TV (Ch. 7) in Dayton and on WKYT-TV (Ch. 27) in Lexington. Broadcasters are Greg Gumbel (play-by-play), Trent Green (analyst), Bruce Arians (analyst) and Melanie Collins (sideline reporter).

Radio: The game will air on the Bengals Radio Network, led by Cincinnati flagship stations WLW-AM (700), WCKY-AM (ESPN 1530; all sports) and WEBN-FM (102.7). Broadcasters are Dan Hoard (play-by-play) and Dave Lapham (analyst). The game also will air nationally on Sports USA Radio. Broadcasters are Larry Kahn (play-by-play), John Robinson (analyst) and Troy West (sideline reporter).

SB Nation Chargers site: Bolts From The Blue

Weather: High 60’s, Mostly Cloudy [NFL weather]

Odds: Bengals open as, +14.5 [Odds Shark]

Bengals Notes

• Jeff Driskel completed 25 of 38 (65.8 percent) for 236 yards with one touchdown and one interception for a 80.6 passer rating in his first-career start last week. He aims for his third in row with a touchdown pass. He has a rushing touchdown in two of his past four games.
• Joe Mixon had 95 scrimmage yards (82 rushing and 13 receiving) last week. He has 250 scrimmage yards (125 per game) in his past two games. Mixon has a rushing touchdown in two of his past three games on the road. Since entering league in 2017, he is one of six AFC running backs with over 1,900 scrimmage yards (1,924) and 10 touchdowns (10). Giovani Bernard had 139 scrimmage yards (123 rushing and 16 receiving) in his last meeting against the Chargers. He aims for his third in a row vs. Chargers with at least 55 rushing yards.
• Tyler Boyd had a team-high 97 receiving yards in Week 13. He aims for his third in a row with at least 85 receiving yards. In his past four games on the road, he has 330 receiving yards (82.5 per game) and a touchdown. Boyd leads the team with 69 catches and 938 receiving yards. John Ross has a touchdown catch in three of his past five on road and four of his past six overall. Cody Core had 30-yard touchdown catch last week, which was the first of his career.
• Shawn Williams led the team with nine tackles last week. He aims for his third in row on road with at least 10 tackles and an interception. Williams is the only NFL player with over 80 tackles (82) and four interceptions in 2018. Rookie safety Jessie Bates has at least eight tackles in each of his five career road games. He is one of three NFL rookies (Fred Warner and Leighton Vander Esch) with over 85 tackles (87) and five passes defended (5). Geno Atkins had a sack in his last meeting with the Chargers. Rookie defensive end Sam Hubbard has a sack in two of his past three games.

Chargers Notes

• Philip Rivers completed 26 of 36 (72.2 percent) for 299 yards with two touchdowns and no interceptions for a 115.4 passer rating last week. He has at least two touchdown passes in each of team’s first 12 games this season, that is tied for the third-longest streak to begin a season in NFL history. He has completed 145 of 226 passes (64.2 percent) for 1,675 yards (279.2 per game) with 10 touchdowns and six interceptions for a 90.1 passer rating in six career games against the Bengals. In his past eight games at home, Rivers has completed 71.4 percent of passes (202 of 283) for 2,685 yards (335.6 per game) with 20 touchdowns and four interceptions for a 118.8 passer rating.
• Austin Ekeler has 481 scrimmage yards (80.2 per game) with four touchdowns (three receiving and one rushing) in his past six games at home. Rookie running back Justin Jackson rushed for a career-high 63 yards and his first-career touchdown last week. He aims for his third in a row with at least 50 rushing yards. He is averaging eight yards per carry (15 carries for 120 yards) in his past two games
• Keenan Allen had 14 catches for 148 yards and a touchdown in Week 13. He aims for his fifth in a row with a touchdown catch. He had eight catches for 106 yards in last home meeting with the Bengals. He aims for his third in a row at home with a touchdown catch. Since 2017, he has 103 catches (7.4 per game) for 1,342 receiving yards (95.9 per game) with seven touchdown catches in 14 home games. Mike Williams has three touchdown catches in his past three games at home.
• Joey Bosa had a sack in Week 13. He has three sacks in his past two games. Rookie safety Derwin James had an interception and three passes defended last week. He aims for his third in a row with an interception. Cornerback Desmond King had 10 tackles, two passes defended and a 73-yard punt return for a touchdown last week.