Herbert, Vidal lead Chargers in commanding win over Vikings

Inglewood, California – The los angeles chargers defeated minnesota vikings 37-10 Thursday night at SoFi Stadium.

Four days earlier, the Chargers played their worst game of the season. they were embarrassed and beaten indianapolis colts Defeat 38–24 at home.

“We looked like this—,” sad derwin james jrSaid after that game.

Even before this, the chargers had appeared out of sync. They had lost three of their last four, and their only win was a 29–27 victory over Bejan 1–6. miami dolphinsDidn’t sit well with the team.

A disappointed James then said, “We should have blown them up.”

After all, the Chargers didn’t look like the team that started the season with a 3-0 loss to lead the AFC West.

But on Thursday the paradigm changed in a significant way. The Chargers played their best game of the season in Minnesota.

In his first full game with the tackles Joe Alt Since Week 3, the Chargers have done exactly what they wanted in terms of offense, and their defense shut out the Vikings to avoid their second two-game losing streak this season.

This was a much-needed win for a Chargers team that was sliding toward irrelevance. This win gives them a chance to regain first place in the AFC West denver broncos Lose Sunday.

Viewing Trends: Justin HerbertInterception of.

Herbert’s ability to hit throws that few other quarterbacks in the NFL can replicate is what makes him great, but he has also put the ball in harm’s way this season. On Thursday, he threw his seventh interception of the year. Herbert was backed up against the Chargers’ goal line, rolled to his left and tried to kick a buried ball. lad mcconkey With a pass that was tipped and intercepted. The Vikings scored their first touchdown on the next drive. In a game where the Chargers dominated, it was a meaningless turnover, but Herbert’s poor decision-making in recent weeks could hurt the Chargers if it continues.

Most Amazing Performance: Kimani Vidal,

The Chargers’ sixth-round pick in 2024, who was released after the team cut the roster to 53 players, rushed for 117 yards on 23 carries and scored the first rushing touchdown of his career.

Vidal also had a standout performance against the Dolphins in Week 5, with 124 rushing yards against the league’s worst run defense, but by Thursday, that game was looking like an anomaly. breaking down the defense philadelphia eagles, Saquon Barkley By averaging just 44 yards and 2.4 rushing yards per carry last week alone, Vidal showed he can be a consistent impact player.

Statistics to know: Oronde Gadsden II This is the first rookie tight end with 240 receiving yards and two receiving touchdowns in a two-game span since Mike Ditka in 1961.

Gadsden, who finished with five catches for 77 yards and a touchdown, has emerged as one of Herbert’s favorite targets and one of the Chargers’ best tight ends in recent memory. Fifth-round rookie Gadsden entered last week’s game holding the record for most receiving yards by a Chargers tight end since Antonio Gates in 2009, when he had seven catches for 164 yards and a score. It appears he is poised to play a significant role in the passing offense this season.

Next game: But tennessee titans (1 p.m. ET, Nov. 2)

There is no sugarcoating this. The Vikings played one of their worst games in four years Kevin O’Connell The Era Thursday night, and it left them at a crossroads in a season that is rapidly deteriorating.

It was the second-worst defeat by point differential in the O’Connell era. The worst defeat was 40-3 dallas cowboys In 2022.

The Vikings are now 3-4 and in last place in the NFC North with the NFL’s toughest remaining schedule. The Chargers, having lost three of their last four games, dominated them at every stage. The Vikings have been devastated by injuries, which continued on Thursday as did tight ends josh oliver (foot) and cornerback Jeff Okudah (Concussion) was added to the list, and the team now faces a massive competitive decision.

Will the Vikings consider a quarterback? JJ McCarthy (ankle) set to return for their next game on November 2nd detroit lionsAnd if so, will they stick with him no matter how he plays, knowing their playoff hopes are in the balance?

The Vikings committed to a cash payroll of more than $350 million this season, hoping they can compete for a deep playoff run while developing McCarthy in real time. It doesn’t look good for the former, and now it’s time to find out about the latter.

Most Amazing Performance: The Chargers crushed the Vikings’ defense in every way possible. Few opponents have managed to pile up yards against them this season, but before Thursday night, the Vikings were able to limit the scoring.

He entered the game tied for No. 10 in the NFL with an average of 20 offensive points per game. But they had no answer on Thursday Justin HerbertWho worked hard on his offense to rush for 62 yards and throw three touchdowns. The Chargers faced little resistance in gaining 419 total yards and 29 first downs.

What Wentz’s performance means: Which may have been his last start for some time, carson wentz Was clearly in pain throughout the game – primarily due to a left shoulder injury suffered on October 5, which still requires a harness. He also appeared to hit his throwing hand at a Chargers linebacker khalil mackHelmet in the first half.

It’s admirable that Wentz kept moving forward, but it was hard to watch at times. Cheater max brosmer Would have been next, and the Vikings probably didn’t want to expose him to the mess Wentz was experiencing.

Viewing Trends: The Vikings played almost the entire game without their starting tackle, Christian Darrisaw And Brian O’NeillEven though both played every snap in Week 7.

O’Neal (right knee) was inactive and Darrisaw (left knee) left after nine snaps and did not return. This left the Vikings with backups most of the way. Justin Schooley At left tackle and third-string tackle walter rouse to right. This was no recipe for creating running lanes or protecting the quarterback, and it showed. The Vikings finished with 34 rushing yards and took five sacks.

Next game: But detroit lions (1 p.m. ET, Nov. 2)