Tag: Chargers vs. Vikings preview

Who wins Week 10 matchup between Chargers, Vikings?

Vote for who you believe wins the Week 10 matchup between the Los Angeles Chargers and Minnesota Vikings.

The Chargers are set to face the Vikings on Sunday afternoon, where Los Angeles will look to pick up another win after their bounce-back performance against the Eagles.

However, though their 3-5 record may not reflect it, Minnesota has shown that they can compete with playoff contenders.

In Week 2, the Vikings made a lot of trouble for the Cardinals, but Arizona barely slipped by with a 34-33 win. Most recently, Minnesota lost in overtime to the Ravens 31-34, another potential playoff contender.

Again, the Vikings showed they can compete at a high caliber. However, they struggle with finishing how they start. Whether it’s penalties or bad play-calling, Minnesota has failed to close out games in a successful fashion, but this can change against the Chargers.

Against Philadelphia, Los Angeles barely escaped with a win after kicker Dustin Hopkins made a field goal in the game’s final seconds.

Will the Chargers keep their momentum from their bounce-back performance against the Eagles? Or will the Vikings find a way to keep Herbert off the field and dominate time of possession?

Who wins on Sunday?

Place your vote below.

[crowdsignal poll=10965045]

5 Vikings players who pose biggest threat to Chargers

Highlighting a few Minnesota Vikings players who could make it difficult for the Los Angeles Chargers.

The Los Angeles Chargers take on the Minnesota Vikings this Sunday at 2:05 p.m. PT.

Here are a few Vikings players who the Bolts must hone in on to increase their chances of coming out victorious in Week 10.

RB Dalvin Cook

Despite facing a civil lawsuit from an ex-girlfriend accusing him of assault, battery and false imprisonment, Cook is still expected to play. The stats might not justify it, but the Chargers’ run defense has slowly improved since Justin Jones’ return. However, there’s no denying that Cook is the most superior back in that timespan. Even though he only has two touchdowns on the season, Cook has a knack for churning yards, averaging 4.8 yards per carry. With his explosiveness and elusiveness, one bad angle, one slow read could end up being costly.

WRs Adam Thielen and Justin Jefferson

Expect Minnesota to resort to its ground game often. But given that the Chargers could be without Michael Davis and/or Asante Samuel Jr. again, Kirk Cousins will likely look to take advantage of a thin cornerback room. Thielen has 45 receptions for 477 yards and seven touchdowns this season, while Jefferson has 46 catches for 632 yards and four scores. Both are capable of getting open and making plays at any given moment with their speed and crafty route-running.

EDGE Everson Griffen

Danielle Hunter, who had 31 quarterback pressures and six sacks, would have been included. However, he suffered a torn pectoral muscle in Week 8 and will miss the remainder of the season. Despite the Vikings’ loss, Griffen’s partner in crime has been wreaking havoc. Griffen has 30 pressures and five sacks in 364 snaps this season. While the Chargers’ protection plan was better last weekend against the Eagles, Griffen is more than capable of doing damage.

S Xavier Woods

Not only could Justin Herbert potentially be in the face of pressure, but he will also have someone in Minnesota’s secondary seeking to eliminate his pass-catching targets and looking to turn the ball over. The addition of Woods has paid dividends for the Vikings, as he has been a role that caters to his strengths, giving him the ability to play closer to the line instead of as a deep safety as he played with the Cowboys. As a result, Woods has a sack, two interceptions, and allows a passer rating of just 31.4.

Keys to a Chargers’ victory over Vikings in Week 10

Highlighting what the Los Angeles Chargers must do in order to capture a victory over the Minnesota Vikings.

On Sunday afternoon, the Chargers are set to face off against the Vikings, looking to stay in the win column after their bounce-back game against the Eagles in Week 9.

There are a few key things that Los Angeles will need to do to secure a victory against Minnesota this week.

First and foremost, the Bolts need to stop the run. Teams like the Patriots and the Ravens figured out that one way to be successful was to run the ball early and often. So Los Angeles has to be stout at the point of attack up front and disciplined tacklers to limit Dalvin Cook from running wild.

The duo of Adam Thielen and Justin Jefferson is how Minnesota has earned most of its points this season. But, with Ryan Smith out for the season and rookie Asante Samuel Jr. and Michael Davis’ statuses still up in the air, Tevaughn Campbell and Kemon Hall must step up.

In addition, it’s crucial that when Cousins is throwing the ball, the front must get pressure to mitigate the lack of depth in the cornerback room.

Offensively, the Chargers need to continue to let quarterback Justin Herbert cook. This means Joe Lombardi must draw up a good game plan, like he did last Sunday against Philadelphia, to put him in manageable situations early and often and control the time of possession.

That includes the protection plan, which proved to be formidable, allowing more time for Herbert to throw. Further, getting Herbert on the move more often is essential.

It isn’t a question of whether Herbert and his offensive weapons are talented, but it’s about execution. Every piece of the puzzle needs to be firing on all cylinders. If they can replicate that performance, Los Angeles ‘ offense should dominate and force the Vikings’ defense to defend more plays.

“In terms of where we’re at halfway, we still have a lot of room to improve as a team, in all three phases,” Brandon Staley said. “We’ve seen some good improvement in all three phases; but we need to keep that coming to life by being intentional on first and second down run defense, getting negative plays.”