Jim Harbaugh's Chargers are different.
We knew entering Sunday night's tilt versus the Cincinnati Bengals that Los Angeles was a more physical club, with a smothering defense and a balanced, multi-threat offense. But the team's mental fortitude had yet to be truly tested.
Sunday it was.
A 27-6 third-quarter lead got wiped out in a blink. The "Chargering" was in full effect.
Unlike previous seasons when the collapse would have been embarrassingly complete, Harbaugh's club bowed up, showed a backbone and made plays down the stretch to pull off a win. L.A. forced two long field goal attempts that Bengals kicker Evan McPherson booted wide. And with the game in the balance, Justin Herbert shrugged off a cold streak, made big throws and J.K. Dobbins -- a Comeback Player of the Year candidate -- dove into the end zone with 18 seconds left for the 34-27 win.
"Blowing them out would have been nice," veteran pass rusher Joey Bosa said, via the team's website. "But I think it's important for our team to pull off one like this. ... It's been a lot of games through the years where we've been put in that position and came up short. So I'm just proud of everybody ... winning is what matters."
The vibes with this Chargers team are different. They can stop a downward spiral that, in the past, would leave them flushed.
"This is different team. It's that simple," linebacker Daiyan Henley said. "This is a different team. This is not what the Chargers have been or what the fans here are used to."
The Chargers got off to a hot start, scoring three straight first-half touchdowns and getting an end-of-half field goal to go into the break up, 24-6. They smothered Joe Burrow and ripped apart a wanting Bengals D. It was a total beatdown.
Then the Bengals made their move, scoring 21 consecutive points to wipe out the lead with more than 12 minutes remaining. After both teams shuffled their feet -- the Bengals bungling opportunities, the Chargers bumbling on offense -- L.A. made the plays late to reverse the slide.
"Just because we lost the momentum didn't mean they had it," Harbaugh said. "We're going to get it back. Guys didn't flinch, didn't buckle, didn't even stumble. Just kept right on it."
Down the stretch, Herbert hit two pinpoint passes to Ladd McConkey, which spearheaded the late win. The QB authored some jaw-dropping plays early but had his own personal struggles in the second half before ripping the big-time throws. He might not have the passing volume L.A. needed in previous seasons, but his importance to the outcome of Chargers games remains critical.
"Start the MVP talks. Love it. He's a baller," Dobbins said of his QB.
The L.A. defense allowed more than 20 points for the first time all season but made stops outside the red zone that forced Cincy to settle for long field goal attempts and forced a late punt that led to the game-winning drive.
"I've been to this movie a few times. I know what it looks like," Harbaugh said. "There's no other defense we'd rather have than our defense."
The fourth consecutive victory pushed the Chargers to 7-3 and into the No. 5 seed in the AFC. Finally able to overcome their own miscues to pull out a win after years of coming up short, Harbaugh's team looks ready for a January dance.
