The Minnesota Vikings have the weapons to stress the Los Angeles Chargers struggling defense even at home
The Chargers must respond with their back against the wall.
The Los Angeles Chargers return home for a short week of recovery and redemption after a rough outing in Indianapolis. Last Sunday’s loss to the Colts exposed plenty of issues – from a defense that was repeatedly gashed on the ground and through the air, to an offensive line that struggled to keep Justin Herbert upright for four quarters.
With the Minnesota Vikings coming to town for Thursday Night Football, the pressure is on in more ways than one. The good news for Los Angeles is the expected return of left tackle Joe Alt, whose presence should provide much-needed stability to a battered offensive front.
At 4-3, the Chargers enter must-win territory in a loaded AFC, where every game could swing playoff hopes. A national-stage matchup under the primetime lights offers a chance to steady the ship—but only if the defense can tighten up and Herbert can finally get the protection he needs to get this offense rolling again. I spoke to our Vikings beat writer at A to Z Sports, Tyler Forness, about what the Chargers should expect when the teams face off in LA.
Los Angeles Chargers vs. Minnesota Vikings Preview
The Vikings outgained the Eagles and won the time-of-possession battle. What went wrong in the red zone to cause them to lose the game?
There were a lot of red zone issues for the Vikings on Sunday afternoon. The biggest of those is Carson Wentz. We are so far removed from his near-MVP run in 2017 that it feels like ancient history, but you can see flashes of that occasionally. Unfortunately, the most significant issues come from him not trusting his eyes. Multiple times, we’d see Wentz staring down his target and not throwing the football, including against the Philadelphia Eagles this week. One touchdown in six red zone trips is entirely unacceptable. Wentz needs head coach Kevin O’Connell to hold his hand with the play calling, and it has shown to work, but the inconsistency at quarterback is a big deal.
The Vikings have clearly missed Andrew Van Ginkel. If he does play Thursday, what impact can he make?
The most significant factor with a Brian Flores defense is maximizing versatility. Dallas Turner has been good over the last few games, but only having one player who can be an edge rusher and play off the ball is so valuable. Once Van Ginkel returns, Flores is going to use simulated pressures up the wazoo to attack Justin Herbert. Plus, Van Ginkel is a more consistent winner on the edge than Turner is right now, which is to be expected. That element has been missing from the Vikings’ pass rush, but the interior guys are playing much better, which has kept the defense playing at a high level.
Carson Wentz is obviously coming off a bad game. How long is the leash heading into Thursday night? Could we see a mid-game quarterback change?
The theory is that Wentz should be pulled if he plays poorly. In fact, he shouldn’t even be starting at quarterback. Unfortunately, the Vikings put themselves in this position by not getting more serious about the backup quarterback position. They tried to keep Sam Darnold and Daniel Jones, but both players wanted to move on, and they have been proven right. If Wentz does get injured or pulled, it won’t be McCarthy playing in his place, but UDFA Max Brosmer from the University of Minnesota. He had a phenomenal training camp, but they have been rightfully hesitant to make that move because he’s arguably not ready. If things go as badly as they’ve gone recently, the fan outcry will be to put in Brosmer.
Final score prediction
This is a tough one. The last time these two teams played, the Vikings were coming off a loss to the Philadelphia Eagles by six points. This time, the game is in Los Angeles, and the Vikings should be in a better spot. However, the Eagles destroyed them on defense in the previous matchup and last week. The most significant difference is that this unit is a much more defined version, as the Vikings have an identity on defense. They also tried blitzing the hell out of Herbert two years ago, and he carved them up for 400+ yards through the air. Will Flores have enough to prevent Herbert from utilizing his magic? That’s the big question, but I think the Vikings come up just short.
Chargers 23, Vikings 20.
Los Angeles Chargers News
The Los Angeles Chargers found a hidden gem in late round draft pick
Chargers rookie tight end Oronde Gadsden is quickly becoming a reliable playmaker for the team’s offense.
