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    • Chargers defeated Bengals in signature win under Jim Harbaugh
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    Chargers defeated Bengals in signature win under Jim Harbaugh

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    INGLEWOOD, Calif. – Jim Harbaugh’s postgame reaction was fitting for what happened during a thrilling 34-27 Sunday Night Football victory over the Cincinnati Bengals.

    “Great win,” Harbaugh shouted. “Great team win. It was great.”

    Harbaugh may have solved what has traditionally plagued the Los Angeles Chargers. The Chargers have notoriously found unique ways to lose games. Sunday night was reminiscent of the Chargers’ most recent epic nightmare, a playoff loss to the Jacksonville Jaguars in the 2022 postseason.

    Los Angeles had a 27-point lead before wobbling to Jacksonville in 2022.

    On Sunday, the Chargers got a 27-6 lead in the second half and tied the game at 27 in the fourth quarter.

    Unlike the Jacksonville debacle, however, the Chargers battled through adversity and withstood a furious second-half rally from Cincinnati.

    “It was like two heavyweights going at it,” Harbaugh said. “Offensively, we were at our best when our best was needed. Defense was at our best when our best was needed. Special teams, we’re at our best when our best was needed. It’s a complete team effort to do that. But all three phases have stepped up and played their best football when our best football was needed most.”

    In a game of two halves, the Chargers held a commanding 24-6 lead at halftime. But the Chargers’ lead disappeared when Joe Burrow and the Bengals scored 21 points and tied the game, 27-27, in the final quarter.

    Bengals kicker Evan McPherson missed a field goal from 48 yards out, and a 51-yard field goal with under two minutes left in the fourth quarter, giving the Chargers an opening. The Chargers defense then forced Cincinnati to punt with 55 seconds left.

    Justin Herbert and the Chargers needed just 27 seconds to go 84 yards down that field for a game-winning drive capped by a 29-yard touchdown run by running back JK Dobbins.

    Burrow made another desperation attempt, but his Hail Mary pass with three seconds left was batted down by Chargers safety Derwin James Jr.

    “Shout out to the defense for giving us that opportunity,” Herbert said. “We knew we had to make a play. It came down to that drive. Ladd (McConkey) had some really big catches, and then, you know, JK (Dobbins) with that huge run. So, props to the guys who persevere, stay patient and get the job done.”

    Los Angeles has won four straight games, the team’s longest winning streak since the 2022 season. But Sunday’s win in primetime against a Burrow-led Bengals team was a signature win that the team was missing before Week 11.

    Sunday’s performance could be a turning point for a Harbaugh-led Chargers club trying to establish a winning culture.

    “We’re trying to bring attention to the league. Let them know that we’re serious about what we do. I think that just fits the kind of culture that we have,” said Chargers linebacker Daiyan Henley, who is a game-player high 11 tackles, said. “This is a different team. This is not what the Charges have been. This is not what the fans should be used to. When there are times when we should be winning, we try to contain it and make sure we do that.” That is what we prepare for, what we work for. Nothing is guaranteed, but we are working for it.”

    Follow Tyler Dragon of USA TODAY Sports on X @TheTylerDragon.

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