NFL Week 11 Sunday Night Football features the Cincinnati Bengals (4-6) and Los Angeles Chargers (6-3). SNF will be live on NBC at 8:20 p.m. ET from SoFi Stadium and can also be streamed on Peacock.
Led by Jim Harbaugh and Justin Herbert, the Chargers roll into Sunday Night Football on a three-game winning streak and winners of four of their last five. The Bengals are under .500 but have had some bad luck with five of their losses coming in one-possession games. With Joe Burrow and Ja'Marr Chase healthy and in form, the Bengals are more than capable of pulling off an upset.
Among our Bengals vs Chargers picks and Sunday Night Football best bets: a pick against the spread, the over/under and an anytime touchdown bet.
Bengals vs. Chargers Predictions
| Game | Time (ET) | Pick |
|---|---|---|
  | 8:20 p.m. | |
| 8:20 p.m. | |
| 8:20 p.m. | |
Specific betting recommendations come from the sportsbook offering preferred odds as of writing. Always shop for the best price using our NFL Odds page, which automatically surfaces the best lines for every game. | ||
Bengals vs. Chargers Pick Against the Spread
By Billy Ward
In games with Tee Higgins active, the Bengals are 3-2. Both losses came to seven-win teams (Ravens and Commanders); Cincinnati managed to put up at least 33 points in both games.
Higgins is expected to be back for SNF. He’s been the difference-maker for Cincinnati this season, with the Bengals going 1-4 in their five games without him.
Cincinnati has a tough test against the top-10 Chargers defense. Los Angeles hasn't topped 27 points in a game all season, and rely on its defense to win games.
I don’t think that will happen against a full-strength Bengals offense. In addition to the talented wide receiver duo of Higgins and Ja’Marr Chase, Chase Brown has emerged as a weapon out of the backfield, and he could be in line for a big day against the Chargers' run refense.
I’d make the Bengals slight favorites, so I’m happy to get the extra point and a half on the spread.
Pick: Bengals +1.5 (-110)
Bengals vs. Chargers Over/Under Prediction
Games involving Los Angeles average fewer than 34 points per game combined, the fewest in the NFL. Obviously, this is not only due to Jim Harbaugh's obsession with establishing the ground attack, but the Chargers also have one of the best defenses in the NFL.
The Chargers defense is third in adjusted net yards per pass attempt against, a metric that takes yards per attempt and additionally factors in interceptions, sacks and even yardage lost due to those sacks.
Limiting the Bengals pass offense is a tall task, but the Chargers defense is capable of allowing L.A. to dictate what kind of game it wants to play. Even if Cincinnati can move the ball between the 20s, the Chargers defense ranks third in red-zone conversion rate, making it difficult to finish drives against them.
The Chargers' rebuilt offensive line has improved tremendously since 2023, but as a team they still rank 25th in adjusted sack rate. The Bengals will not be an easy team to gash on the ground either as they are eighth best in yards per carry allowed to opposing runners.
Considering the Chargers have yet to allow a team to score more than 20 points this season, I like my chances of them being able to be stubborn with the running game. All the while, the clock will be ticking and we'll cash the under in a 21-20 type affair.
Pick: Under 48 (-110; Bet to Under 47)
Bengals vs. Chargers Anytime TD Pick
Chase Brown has been great this season and has firmly taken over the backfield with Zack Moss out for the season.
Brown had 10 red-zone opportunities over the last two games with 40 total carries and 16 targets in that span. He's had a snap count of at least 80% in each of those games and is one of the only bell-cow backs in the league right now.
This matchup isn't a great one vs. the Chargers, who have been one of the better defenses in the league this season but are more susceptible against the run.
Brown's passing game usage makes him script proof, so he can score regardless of how this game plays out, and he's scored in six of the last seven games.
With a 48-point total and a close spread, there should be plenty of touchdowns scored in this game. I have Brown at well over a 50% chance of scoring, making this a great bet at plus odds.
Pick: Chase Brown Anytime Touchdown (+105)
