The Los Angeles Chargers are set to face the Cincinnati Bengals on Sunday Night Football, where Justin Herbert and Joe Burrow will battle for the second time in their careers. Both were taken in the 2020 draft, with Burrow going first overall and Herbert sixth, respectfully.

The first time these two teams played, in 2021, the Chargers walked away with a 41-22 win. But that was then, now things are much different. The Chargers have a new regime and the Bengals are without two main key offensive players they had last time in Joe Mixon, who is now on the Houston Texans, and Tyler Boyd, who is now on the Tennessee Titans.

The Chargers like their chances in this one, but because they don't play each other often, there is a lot of unknown between the two. So, I talked to A to Z Sports' John Sheeran who covers the Bengals to get a better grip on the team and their season.

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4 burning questions for Chargers vs. Bengals

“The Chargers have 31 sacks in the year and have really turned it up a notch with their ability to generate pressure in the last few weeks. The common view of the Bengals is that they don’t protect Burrow well enough. Can you see this defensive front cause trouble?”

There are more defensive lines that could give the Bengals trouble than not, and the Chargers fall in the trouble category. Cody Ford has been playing for Orlando Brown Jr. at left tackle recently and the downgrade has been noticeable against good competition. The real problem is the interior as guards Cordell Volson and Alex Cappa played like true liabilities of late. Out of 57 guards, Volson ranks 52nd in Pro Football Focus’ pass blocking grade for true pass sets, and Cappa ranks 51st. Poona Ford and Teair Tart should have advantageous matchups inside, and using stunts to get Khalil Mack against them should also be a priority.

“I think one of the more underrated parts of the Chargers defense is the secondary. But, Ja’Marr Chase has been on a heater lately. If you were DC Jesse Minter, what look would you go with against him in this game?”

You can only hope to bracket him. Make him beat you by 1000 cuts along the sideline. Chase is arguably the best player in the league with the ball in his hands. Any crevice of space he gets over the middle is bad news for the opposition. Leverage your coverage towards the inside and don’t let him get overtop of you. It’s worked for the Chiefs in the past, but I suppose that’s the luxury of having Steve Spagnuolo.

“There are plenty of big-time names on this offense that the casual NFL fan knows. But, who’s one guy quietly having a great season that Chargers fans may not know?”

I would’ve said rookie tight end Erick All Jr. but he just tore his ACL a couple of weeks ago. The ugly truth of the matter is this offense is really just Joe Burrow and Chase right now. Mike Gesicki has done well to compensate for Tee Higgins’ injury over the last few weeks and Chase Brown has had his moments, but there’s very little reliability elsewhere. Andrei Iosivas and Jermaine Burton not living up to the offseason hype has really made an impact along with the guard play tanking the offensive line.

“The Bengals appear to be a team that is capable of being a good run defense team. This offense is predicated on running the ball at the most key and opportune times. What kind of success could the Chargers have in that area with how the Bengals have fared lately?”

It’s been a give-and-take thing with this defense. When they sell out to stop the run, their secondary isn’t talented enough to hold up against the pass, and vice versa. JK Dobbins absolutely torched the Bengals years ago and while I don’t think 160 yards and 2 touchdowns on just 13 carries will happen again like it did all the way back in 2021, he does have the breakaway speed to get past this very slow defense. Could be a very deja vu moment for Lou Anarumo.

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Cincinnati will go on the road for yet another night game.