Bengals 20, Chargers 13
Andy Dalton threw for one touchdown and ran for another and BenJarvus Green-Ellis went over 100 yards rushing for the third straight game as visiting Cincinnati outlasted San Diego.
Dalton completed 25 of 39 passes for 211 yards, Green-Ellis finished with 118 yards on 25 carries and A.J. Green made nine catches for 85 yards for the Bengals (7-5), who have won four straight to keep themselves in the AFC wild-card race.
Demorrio Williams ran one of Dalton’s two interceptions back 31 yards for San Diego’s lone touchdown. Philip Rivers went 26-of-48 for 280 yards but was picked off in the end zone by Reggie Nelson with 49 seconds left to finish the Chargers’ final drive.
Cincinnati grabbed an early lead with 7:39 left in the first quarter, when Dalton capped the opening drive of the game with a 19-yard touchdown pass to tight end Jermaine Gresham. San Diego (4-8) cut it to 7-3 on Nick Novak’s 20-yard field goal on the ensuing drive and Williams gave the Chargers the lead two plays later.
The Bengals were trailing 13-10 in the fourth quarter when Dalton drove them 51 yards in 14 plays, carrying it up the middle for a 6-yard score and a 17-13 lead. Rivers was sacked and fumbled on the ensuing drive, and Mike Nugent kicked a 24-yard field goal to increase the lead.
GAME NOTEBOOK: San Diego was held to a total of 46 yards rushing on 11 carries. … The Bengals are tied with the Pittsburgh Steelers for the final wild-card spot. Cincinnati visits Pittsburgh in Week 16. … The Bengals were without rookie WR Mohamed Sanu (left foot). Sanu could be placed on injured reserve Monday after suffering the injury in practice last week.