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LIVE BLOG: San Diego Chargers Beat Cincinnati Bengals In AFC Wild-Card Game

San Diego Chargers fan reacts to the Bolts' 27-10 win over the Cincinnati Bengals, Jan. 5, 2014.
Tarryn Mento
San Diego Chargers fan reacts to the Bolts' 27-10 win over the Cincinnati Bengals, Jan. 5, 2014.

1:17 p.m.: Next Stop: Denver

The San Diego Chargers advance to the second round of the playoffs, beating the Cincinnati Bengals 27-10. As the game wound down, fans were turning their attention to next week's game against AFC West rival Denver Broncos. Wonder what beer Interim San Diego Mayor Todd Gloria will use to wash down all his free food from Cincinnati Mayor John Cranley.

1:07 p.m.: Saving The Best For Last

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Chargers rip off their longest run of the year to go ahead, 27-10. The crowd inside starts chanting "Let's go, Chargers." It's playoff football time in San Diego.

12:53 p.m.: Uneasy Breaks

The crowd on the patio falls into an uneasy chatter during commercials. The Chargers hold a 10-point lead but after two comebacks in Saturday's wild-card games, most fans know no lead is safe.

12:45 p.m.: Good Food, Bad Wi-Fi

The Chargers get another interception but our internet connection is here and there.

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San Francisco 49ers fans are waiting for seats to watch the next game.

12:22 p.m.: INTERCEPTION!!

And we thought the commercials were loud. Crowd goes nuts as Chargers pick off Dalton. Interception run back inside Bengals' 5-yard line. Crowd loves it.

Panoramic view of crowd watching the Chargers-Bengals AFC wild-card game at Buffalo Wild Wings, Jan. 5, 2014.
Tarryn Mento
Panoramic view of crowd watching the Chargers-Bengals AFC wild-card game at Buffalo Wild Wings, Jan. 5, 2014.

12:17 p.m.: Field Goal

Chargers settle for a field goal to extend their lead 17-10. It's good to score but touchdowns are always better. In other news, we've ordered more wings: boneless.

12:14 p.m.: Old Man Rivers

After getting the ball back, the Chargers are making progress despite losing center Nick Hardwick to a neck injury in the first half. Woodhead has a nose for the end zone inside the 20.

12:07 p.m.: Fumble?

It's always dicey with instant replay and the refs, but everyone is exchanging high-fives right now. Chargers look to have the ball in good position.

Noon: Chargers Re-Take The Lead

The crowd was uneasy at the beginning of the half but as the Chargers move the ball and eventually score, cheers and applause fill the patio. Chargers up, 14-10.

11:59 a.m.: What You Missed During Halftime: Victory Is Sweet. And Spicy.

 Brian Ochaba bites into the blazin' wings challenge at Buffalo Wild Wings, Jan. 5, 2014.
Tarryn Mento
Brian Ochaba bites into the blazin' wings challenge at Buffalo Wild Wings, Jan. 5, 2014.

In a hot wing challenge between a Chargers fan, Aaron Rendon, and a Bengals fan, Brian Ochaba, the contestants had to eat a basket of the restaurant's hottest wings with no napkins and no water. Rendon won in 3:33.

Funny story: Ochaba is really not a Bengals fan. The only two Cincinnati fans that Wild Wings could find in the restaurant didn't want to step up, so Ochaba was a good sport and played along.

Perhaps it's an omen of things to come, but the Chargers fan won the wing eating contest.

UPDATE: Just before halftime, Bengals kicked a field goal, giving Cincinnati the lead, 10-7.

11:33 a.m.: Heading Into Halftime

The Chargers are hanging tough on the road in the bad weather, tied 7-7 thanks to a timely fumble by the Bengals.

The big story coming into the game was that the Bengals hadn’t lost at home all season and had beaten the Bolts six weeks ago in San Diego, 17-10. The Chargers had three turnovers in that game, which was their last loss before the four-game win streak that landed them in the AFC wild-card game.

Wild Wings is packed. General manager Robert Jones helped open the restaurant only three weeks ago, but the staff has been incredible and food is coming out of the kitchen in a timely manner. (A thanks to Jones for helping us keep our pesky MiFi running.) Also, the Sriracha wings are spicy and make typing difficult.

Andrew Sablan reacts to the Bengals fumble that was recovered by the Chargers, Jan. 5, 2014. Sablan was watching the game with his wife, his 1-month-old child and his 3-year-old daughter, who slept right through Sablan's cheering.
Tarryn Mento
Andrew Sablan reacts to the Bengals fumble that was recovered by the Chargers, Jan. 5, 2014. Sablan was watching the game with his wife, his 1-month-old child and his 3-year-old daughter, who slept right through Sablan's cheering.

11:10 a.m.: Bengals Fumble. Chargers Recover.

That is all.

10:31 a.m.: Touchdown

Danny Woodhead punches it in for the game's first score and the crowd at Wild Wings goes wild. The place is packed: 99 percent are Chargers fans. A pair of men in Bengals jerseys stood in line for a few minutes but then walked away.

10:12 a.m.: It's Game Time

The teams have traded punts. Both offenses moved the ball initially but stalled soon after. In other news, our sampler plate has arrived. Jinn, our server, is in nursing school and this is his second job.

9:49 a.m.: Kickoff Just A Few Minutes Away...

Bolts fans line up outside Buffalo Wild Wings to watch the Chargers face off against the Bengals, Jan. 5, 2014.
Tarryn Mento
Bolts fans line up outside Buffalo Wild Wings to watch the Chargers face off against the Bengals, Jan. 5, 2014.

... and fans are still waiting to get in. Some have been here since 8 a.m. Where are you? Any Bolts fans watching from Cincinnati? Share your photos on our Facebook page. Or let us know how you think the team is doing. You can also tweet us at @KPBSNews.