NFL forecast: Ride hot hand of Bengals over Chargers

Quarterbacks Joe Burrow and Justin Herbert, 2 of the apical picks successful the 2020 NFL draft, person their teams successful playoff presumption entering Sunday’s crippled successful Cincinnati.

Burrow’s Bengals (7-4) are 3-point favorites implicit Herbert’s Chargers (6-5).

Both teams started the play beardown earlier faltering. But Cincinnati is backmost connected track, portion the Chargers are inactive struggling.

The Bengals were 5-2 erstwhile they were upset by the Jets arsenic double-digit favorites, followed by a blowout location nonaccomplishment to the Browns earlier their bye week.

Cincinnati bounced backmost to whip the Raiders and Steelers by a combined 73-23 people the past 2 weeks.

Los Angeles started 4-1 but has mislaid 4 of its past six games, including past week’s 28-13 decision astatine Denver.

While Burrow (2,835 passing yards, 22 touchdowns, 12 interceptions) and Herbert (3,230-24-10) person played well, this crippled could beryllium decided by the moving crippled and defense.

The Bengals averaged 178.5 rushing yards successful their past 2 games, and the Chargers person the NFL’s worst rushing defense, giving up 145.3 yards per game.

Cincinnati is clicking connected some sides of the ball, ranking sixth successful the NFL successful scoring (28.1 ppg) and sixth successful scoring defence (20.5 ppga). We’ll backmost the hotter squad astatine home.

Here are 4 much plays (home squad successful CAPS):

Colts (-10) implicit TEXANS: Indianapolis had won and covered 5 of six games earlier blowing a 24-14 halftime pb successful past week’s 38-31 nonaccomplishment to Tampa Bay. Still successful the playoff hunt astatine 6-6, the Colts should beryllium focused against a squad it has owned successful caller years successful Houston. Indianapolis bushed the Texans 31-3 connected Oct. 17, has won and covered six of the past 7 meetings and is 8-0-1 ATS successful its past 9 trips to Houston. The Texans are 2-9 and coming disconnected a 21-14 location nonaccomplishment to the 3-8 Jets.

STEELERS (+4½) implicit Ravens: Pittsburgh manager Mike Tomlin has ne'er finished with a losing grounds successful 14 seasons arsenic Steelers coach. That people is successful jeopardy with Pittsburgh astatine 5-5-1. Baltimore has the No. 1 effect successful the AFC but has not been impressive, arsenic Lamar Jackson threw 4 interceptions successful past week’s 16-10 triumph implicit Cleveland. The underdog has covered the past 7 meetings successful the series, and the Steelers are an NFL-best 19-6 ATS successful their past 25 games getting points.

49ers (-3) implicit SEAHAWKS: These NFC West rivals are headed successful other directions. Seattle (3-8) has dropped 3 consecutive games portion scoring a full of 28 points and is moving connected a abbreviated week aft Monday’s 17-15 nonaccomplishment astatine Washington. San Francisco (6-5) has won and covered 3 games successful a enactment and 4 of 5 portion scoring 30 points oregon much successful each win. The Niners person allowed lone 15.3 points per crippled during their three-game triumph streak.

Patriots (+2½) implicit BILLS: Buffalo has been inconsistent, alternating wins and losses successful its past 7 games, with the past 2 losses 9-6 to the Jaguars and 41-15 to the Colts. New England has won and covered six consecutive games. The Patriots are connected a 6-1 ATS tally astatine Buffalo and riding a 19-8 screen streak arsenic underdogs.

Last week: 4-1

Season: 32-28

Contact newsman Todd Dewey astatine tdewey@reviewjournal.com. Follow @tdewey33 connected Twitter.