Morning Bites: Bengals beat the Chargers 17-10

Doc: We have the Bengals all wrong
Game to game, we fret over the quarterback. Good Andy or Bad Andy? We’re as consistent with that as Dalton is consistent in providing reasons for it. We’re missing a larger point, though. In so doing, we’ve overlooked the bigger appeal and intrigue of this very solid Bengals season.

Burfict shakes off injury to make 13 tackles
Vontaze Burfict has shown uncanny instincts repeatedly tracking down runners to become the leading tackler in the NFL. Turns out, his instincts reading the thought process of his head coach are equally as effective.

Bengals paced by Vontaze Burfict's tough play
The second-year player had just sprained an ankle, rolling it in his team's final practice before it boarded a plane for a four-hour trip from the Ohio Valley to Southern California. And even though he still was being bothered and bugged by the stinging sensation left by the injury that had just come his way, the native Californian was resolved over the weekend to not let it make him miss his first game of the season.

In Tez they trust
Bengals tackling apparatus Vontaze Burfict sensed Sunday that head coach Marvin Lewis second-guessed his decision to play him with a sprained ankle.

Quick hits; What a rush; Tez's gritty 13
When the Bengals offensive line got shuffled early in Cincinnati's 17-10 victory over San Diego on Sunday at Qualcomm Stadium, the Bengals dug deep and came up with a season-high 164 rushing yards.

Vontaze Burfict inspires as Bengals knock out Chargers
Asking a football player on game day whether he can play through an injury can be a lot like asking a classroom of kids if they want an extended recess period. It's a no-brainer. Of course he will tell you that he can play.

Bengals defense comes up big in knocking off Chargers
Add Philip Rivers to the list. The Cincinnati Bengals defense has survived and defeated Ben Roethlisberger, Aaron Rodgers and Tom Brady this season during its trek to first place.

Bengals tough it out on offense
When the Bengals emerged from Qualcomm Stadium with a 15-round 17-10 decision over the Chargers, head coach Marvin Lewis knew exactly whom and what to thank.

Run game sends Bengals to 8-4
Cincinnati got its third straight win on the West Coast, defeating San Diego 17-10. With the win, the Bengals are 8-4 and maintain a two-game lead over the Ravens in the AFC North.

Run-game revival will help Cincinnati Bengals, Andy Dalton
On a wall inside meeting rooms used by members of the Cincinnati Bengals' offense, three simple numbers are posted. Behind them lies an unspoken, but well understood meaning for the men who walk by them every day.

Bengals run over Chargers in 17-10 win
The Bengals haven't had a 100-yard rusher all season. They showed Sunday how much that matters.

Dalton, Green lead Bengals to 17-10 win vs Bolts
An all-around strong effort led the Bengals to a 17-10 win in San Diego

Rapid Reaction: Cincinnati Bengals
A few thoughts on the Cincinnati Bengals' 17-10 victory over the San Diego Chargers.

Week 13 hot reads: Browns' Josh Gordon epitomizes risk-reward talent
The Bengals defense contained QB Philip Rivers and the Chargers' high-powered passing game to 243 net yards. It's tough for the Chargers to make the playoffs without winning at home. They are 2-3 at Qualcomm Stadium.

2013 NFL Grades, Week 13: Nick Foles continues impressive run
Huge road win for the Bengals for playoff purposes. They're now two games clear of the Ravens, although Andy Dalton and Co. weren't that impressive. An A.J. Green injury would be devastating. The defense did a really good job of limiting the Chargers at home though.

Bengals-Chargers Postgame Quotes
"That was a hard-fought football game. As I told them in there, I can’t be more proud of our effort, our energy and our resolve out there today."

Quotes of note: Establishing the run
All the talk of identity on offense fell the background Sunday in San Diego. The Bengals clearly had one. And they shoved it down the Chargers throat.

Mary Brown, widow of Bengals founder Paul Brown, dies
Mary Brown, the widow of the late Paul Brown, passed away Saturday morning at her Milford home. Brown, 84, who was Paul Brown's former secretary, found out that she had contracted bone cancer in August.

Bills were undone in a hurry by '88 Bengals
The 11-1 Buffalo Bills who came into Riverfront Stadium on Nov. 27, 1988, weren't any more ready to cope with the Bengals' no-huddle offense than were the 2-9 Dallas Cowboys the week before.

Nick Foles; Redskins-Giants ending; more NFL Week 13 thoughts
7. Cincinnati (8-4). In a field-position game, it’s always good to have a great punting day. Kevin Huber, who entered with a bad ankle, punted four times for a 55.5-yard average—and zero yards returned. Which means, of course, he had a 55.5-yard net. Which is quite fantastic. Included a 75-yard punt.

5 up, 5 down for Sunday
Denver’s not-so-secret weapon comes up huge Sunday at Kansas City.