NFL Wild Card Weekend: City Of Champions Staff Makes Its Picks
By Matt Gajtka
San Diego Chargers (9-7) at Cincinnati Bengals (11-5), Sunday at 1:10 p.m. ET on CBS
Gajtka: Call San Diego lucky, but the Chargers are still alive for a Wild Card battle in the tiger den of Cincinnati. I could argue the Bolts will play looser than they did last week, when they nearly let Kansas City’s second-stringers scuttle their playoff chances. On the Bengals’ side, with the exception of their December loss to the Steelers, they’ve been in every game for the past 12 weeks, posting a 9-3 record over that span. Cincy also beat the Bolts in Week 13. This is the Bengals’ year, finally. Prediction: Bengals 35, Chargers 21.
Dec 1, 2013; San Diego, CA, USA; San Diego Chargers quarterback Philip Rivers (17) throws over the reach of Cincinnati Bengals defensive end Carlos Dunlap (96) during the second half at Qualcomm Stadium. The Bengals won 17-10. Mandatory Credit: Christopher Hanewinckel-USA TODAY Sports
Shetler: A lot of people say the Chargers don’t belong in the playoffs. That’s usually the team that pulls an upset and proves people wrong. Andy Dalton was horrible in Week 17 vs. the Ravens and if he continues to turn the ball over, the Bengals will lose. I know Cincinnati has been waiting a long time to break their playoff drought. They will have to wait one more year. Chargers 27, Bengals 24.
McDowell: Not enough San Diego defense to stymie the Bengals’ offense. Bengals 34, Chargers 17.
Weiss: It’s not December anymore and the Bengals haven’t lost at home all season. Bengals 30, Chargers 13.
Tunno: The Dalton-to-A.J. Green connection will give Marvin Lewis his first playoff ‘W.’ (I think.) Bengals 35, Chargers 24.
Snyder: Bengals 28, Chargers 20.
STAFF TOTAL: BENGALS 5-1