Chargers Vs. Vikings: Three Bold Predictions For Thursday's Cross-conference Matchup

Week 8 successful nan NFL originates Thursday night, arsenic nan Vikings return connected nan Chargers astatine SoFi Stadium successful Los Angeles.

Minnesota is successful past spot successful nan NFC North, contempt posting a respectable 3–3 record, including a back-and-forth grounds since their Week 1 triumph complete nan Bears. With J.J. McCarthy still retired pinch an ankle injury, it will officially beryllium Carson Wentz—who has thrown for 5 touchdowns and 4 interceptions this season—under halfway for a 4th crippled successful a row.

As for nan Chargers, they’re 4–2 aft an uncompetitive nonaccomplishment to nan conference-leading Colts past Sunday, but stay tied pinch nan Chiefs for 2nd successful nan ultra-competitive AFC West. While backmost Justin Herbert leads nan NFL successful passing yards pinch 1,913, Los Angeles is putting up a humble 21.6 points per game, 20th successful nan NFL.

Here are 3 bold predictions for Thursday night’s game.

Kimani Vidal has go L.A.'s lead backmost pinch Omarion Hampton out. / Charles LeClaire-Imagn Images

Fantasy owners, rejoice! After putting up a comparative dud to nan tune of conscionable 20 yards connected 9 carries past Sunday, I’m predicting Kimani Vidal to replicate his capacity from 2 weeks agone and past some.

In spot of nan injured Omarion Hampton, nan second-year backmost ran chaotic against nan Dolphins successful Week 6, rushing for 124 yards connected 8 carries. Meanwhile, Minnesota has allowed 117.7 rushing yards per crippled this season, nan 15th-most successful nan NFL, while besides allowing 2 100-plus-yard rushers successful Bijan Robinson and Quinshon Judkins (Steelers RB Kenneth Gainwell besides gashed them for 99, averaging complete 5 yards a carry). —Mike Kadlick

Carson Wentz will struggle successful apt last outing earlier J.J. McCarthy returns

Carson Wentz continues to commencement for nan Vikings successful spot of nan injured J.J. McCarthy. / Brad Rempel-Imagn Images

Wentz has been a serviceable replacement for nan injured McCarthy, but nan second-year backmost is nearing his return from a precocious ankle sprain. Although nan Vikings person gone 2–2 pinch Wentz, he’s struggled a spot complete nan past 2 weeks. He threw 2 interceptions without a touchdown and fumbled erstwhile during Minnesota’s 28–22 nonaccomplishment to nan Eagles successful what was his worst outing of nan season.

I’m expecting those struggles to proceed against a Chargers defense that has held opponents to little than 200 passing yards per crippled this season. L.A.’s walk unreserved hasn’t been arsenic effective since Khalil Mack went down pinch an injury, but nan Vikings’ violative statement has struggled to protect Wentz, who’s been sacked 14 times successful 4 games. 

I’m predicting Wentz will propulsion a brace of interceptions against nan Chargers and beryllium sacked three-plus times. —Karl Rasmussen 

Jim Harbaugh has nan Chargers astatine 4-3 to commencement nan 2025 season. / Kirby Lee-Imagn Images

The Vikings person alternated wins and losses to statesman nan 2025 season, but Thursday nighttime feels for illustration it could beryllium nan commencement of a losing streak for Kevin O’Connell’s team.

Minnesota has grounded to support its opponents nether 20 points successful 4 consecutive games. While they’ve mostly kept pace, nan bottommost is bound to autumn retired connected nan Wentz experiment. 

On nan flip side, Los Angeles is hopeless for a triumph here, fixed nan daunting section they play in. I’m going pinch nan Chargers, connected their location turf, to triumph this 1 convincingly, 27–13, to enactment successful nan AFC West race. —Kadlick

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