Los Angeles Chargers, Cincinnati Bengals to Face Off in Divisional Round of NFL Playoffs
AFC West Champions to Host AFC North Champions
The Los Angeles Chargers will host the Cincinnati Bengals in the AFC Divisional Round of the NFL playoffs on Saturday, January 21st. The game will be played at SoFi Stadium in Inglewood, California, and will be televised on CBS at 8:15 p.m. ET.
Chargers Enter Playoffs with Momentum
The Chargers finished the regular season with a 13-4 record, winning their first AFC West title since 2009. They are led by quarterback Justin Herbert, who threw for 4,762 yards and 38 touchdowns in the regular season. Herbert is also a threat on the ground, rushing for 356 yards and five touchdowns.
Bengals Look to Continue Cinderella Run
The Bengals finished the regular season with a 12-4 record, winning their first AFC North title since 2015. They are led by quarterback Joe Burrow, who threw for 4,611 yards and 34 touchdowns in the regular season. Burrow is also a threat on the ground, rushing for 257 yards and five touchdowns.
Key Matchups to Watch
There are several key matchups to watch in this game.
- Justin Herbert vs. Joe Burrow: Two of the best young quarterbacks in the NFL will face off in this game. Herbert has the edge in experience, but Burrow has been playing at a high level all season.
- Chargers' pass rush vs. Bengals' offensive line: The Chargers have one of the best pass rushes in the NFL, led by Joey Bosa and Khalil Mack. The Bengals' offensive line will have their hands full trying to protect Burrow.
- Chargers' wide receivers vs. Bengals' secondary: The Chargers have a talented group of wide receivers, led by Keenan Allen and Mike Williams. The Bengals' secondary will have to play well to contain them.
Prediction
The Chargers are a slight favorite in this game, but the Bengals are a dangerous team. This is a game that could go either way, but I predict that the Chargers will win 27-24.
