Experts easily siding with Bengals in huge AFC showdown with Chargers

It’s been a long time since the Cincinnati Bengals have played a game with such a playoff-like atmosphere. The 7-4 Bengals host the 6-5 Los Angeles Chargers in a battle of two of the three current AFC Wild Card teams.

And despite not being used to these types of games, the experts at NFL Pick Watch as a whole love the Bengals’ chances to knock off the Chargers, get to 8-4 and give themselves another key victory in their push for the postseason.

Among the 100-plus experts polled, the vote was 73 percent to 27 percent in favor of the Bengals. Quite the gap, but you’re also talking about two teams going in completely opposite directions. The Bengals have played like gangbusters since their bye while the Chargers have dropped four of their last five after starting the season 4-1. L.A. is coming off a 28-13 loss to the Denver Broncos.

It’s a much closer spread when involving the spread of Bengals -3. Only 54 percent of the pickers are taking the Bengals to cover.

List

Chargers vs. Bengals preview: 7 things to know about Week 13