4:05 pm
December 9

Bengals @ Chargers

Which side will record a HIGHER TOTAL?

Bengals: Total Points Scored or Tie

Chargers: 1st Half Points Scored

 

Current odds:

Cincinnati Bengals: (+900)

Los Angeles Chargers: (-1,600)

 

• The line for this game is Los Angeles by 16 points.

•  Cincinnati already was without Andy Dalton (thumb) for the season but now has lost standout receiver A.J. Green (toe) for the rest of the campaign, and that rates as a huge blow for fill-in quarterback Jeff Driskel. “Losing A.J. is a big deal,” Driskel told reporters. “At the end of the day, we have other good players out there, and the coaches are going to do a good job of getting those guys in position to make plays. … We’re going to have to overcome and make some plays out there in his absence.” A shaky defense has been a major problem as the Bengals rank last in the NFL in scoring defense (30.9 points) and total defense (433.1 yards).

•  Philip Rivers has passed for two or more touchdowns every game this season and is clicking well with wideout Keenan Allen (83 catches, 996 yards), who had 14 receptions for 148 yards in last Sunday’s 33-30 win over Pittsburgh to fall one catch shy of matching the franchise mark he shares with Hall-of-Famer Kellen Winslow (1984). Running back Melvin Gordon (knee) likely will miss his second straight game and rookie Justin Jackson (eight carries, 63 yards versus Pittsburgh) is expected to receive more of the workload after Austin Ekeler struggled with just 21 yards on 13 carries. Safety Derwin James (three interceptions, 3.5 sacks) has been one of the top defensive rookies in the league while standout defensive end Joey Bosa has recorded three sacks in as many games since returning from a foot injury.

4/10
Confidence
StreakSmarter Pick
Bengals: Total Points Scored or Tie
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