Bengals’ Playoff Chances Ripped by NFL Fans After Brutal Loss to Herbert, Chargers

Taylyn HadleyNovember 18, 2024

Scott Winters/Icon Sportswire via Getty Images

The Cincinnati Bengals are on track to miss the playoffs for the second straight year after their season struggles continued in a devastating 34-27 loss to the Los Angeles Chargers.

Just three years removed from their 2021 Super Bowl appearance and two years from falling in the 2022 AFC Championship game, the Bengals have struggled to resemble the successful team they once were.

The Chargers can thank running back J.K. Dobbins for a game-sealing rushing touchdown that extended their lead, putting the pressure on the Bengals to score a touchdown with just 18 seconds left.

NFL @NFLJK DOBBINS. GO-AHEAD TD WITH 18 SECONDS LEFT.

📺: #CINvsLAC on NBC/Peacock
📱: Stream on #NFLPlus pic.twitter.com/ou4r33q38K

In result of their loss, the Bengals dropped to 4-7 on the season as the Chargers improve to 7-3.

Quarterback Joe Burrow completed 28-of-50 passes for 356 yards, three touchdowns and zero interceptions. On the other side, Justin Herbert had a standout performance, completing 17-of-36 passes for 297 yards, two touchdowns and one fumble.

NFL @NFLJUSTIN HERBERT.

DIME, SEALED, DELIVERED.

📺: #CINvsLAC on NBC/Peacock
📱: Stream on #NFLPlus pic.twitter.com/S8bDv726FX

The Chargers dominated the first half, taking a commanding 24-6 lead entering halftime and holding the Bengals to just two field goals, preventing them from reaching the end zone until midway through the third quarter.

Cincinnati stormed back in the third quarter, cutting the deficit to seven points as they entered the fourth. In a finish that nobody saw coming, the Bengals tied it 27-27, keeping the Chargers and NFL fans on their toes. Despite their strong comeback, their early deficit proved too much to overcome.

NFL @NFLBURROW TO HIGGINS.

BENGALS NOT DONE.

📺: #CINvsLAC on NBC/Peacock
📱: Stream on #NFLPlus pic.twitter.com/HNgJW672DJ

The Bengals are two games behind the Denver Broncos for the last Wild Card spot, while the Chargers, now the No. 1 Wild Card seed in the AFC, are on track to make their first playoff appearance since 2022.

Despite their exciting attempt at a comeback, fans took to social media to express their frustrations with Burrow and the Bengals for their lackluster season following their seventh loss of the season.

Dante Koplowitz-Fleming @DanteKopFlemJoe Burrow has lost 3 games this season in which he had 3+ pass TD, 300+ pass yards and 0 INT — the most such losses in a season in the Super Bowl era@NFLPlus

Arif Hasan, but NFL 🏈 @ArifHasanNFLjoga bonito https://t.co/LUk35QdGD3 pic.twitter.com/j84eQnX4RP

Alpine Fan Joel @BengalScoutJoelAll the Bengals need to compete next year is a new LG, RG, WR2, WR3, TE1, DT1, NT1, Nickel DT, EDGE 2, a LB that can cover, CB1, CB2, FS

Chatterbox Sports @CBoxSports#Bengals fans listening to the “we improved” narrative this past off-season. pic.twitter.com/CjoP2ElJ9N

Blake Jewell @BlakeJewellNFLHaving to watch the Bengals defense every week pic.twitter.com/zNh0tQOC49

DeAngelo Vickers @DAVickerssThis @Bengals performance is unbelievably bad. I can’t fathom what I am watching

Bengals Graphics @BengalsGraphic5Bengals really might be a bad team unfortunately

Bengals88 @Bengals88OilmanLife long bengal fan, watched every game , every preseason game that I’ve ever been able to watch every single year. I’m going to bed and not finishing a game for the first time ever. That’s how bad this team is. Fix it @Bengals coaches, ownership and players. This is broken bad

Hayden McCalib™ @hayden5mccalibThe Bengals want to be the worst team in the league. They are comically bad. Do not root for them unless you want to be disappointed for the rest of your life. Ownership is the root of the problem and it trickles all of the way down.

Brice Odel @datdude_brice43Unpopular opinion in my part of the world but the Bengals are a very untalented team outside of a generational QB/WR duo. https://t.co/P6XFriEG3O

tmagled @tmagledthis is the most depressing bengals defense ive ever had to watch

i dont even really understand how theyve gotten so bad

just sit here assuming we lose if we dont score 5+ TDs, sad af pic.twitter.com/AU3oJz8zHS

Timmy Hall🎙 @TimmyHallRadioThis is the most frustrating Bengals season since they’ve had Joe Burrow….by a mile. Everything feels bad. Feels off. Feels like they have zero chance at a championship if things don’t change drastically. Just wasting two brilliant players.

Zachary Paschal @almightyy_zachAll these sports analysts trying to hype up The Bengals because of who they have on their roster, truth is they’re not good.

𝓐𝓵𝓮𝔁 ⚡️ @alexfrmdaygoThere not even bad calls, bengals players are making bad plays https://t.co/sofl1LBrI4

The Bengals head into a bye week, while the Chargers will face the 7-4 Baltimore Ravens at home next Monday.