Herbert, Vidal lead Chargers in commanding win over Vikings

INGLEWOOD, Calif. — The Los Angeles Chargers defeated the Minnesota Vikings 37-10 on Thursday night time at SoFi Stadium.

4 days in the past, the Chargers performed their worst recreation of the season. They have been embarrassed and overwhelmed down by the Indianapolis Colts in a 38-24 loss at residence.

“We regarded like s—,” a dejected Derwin James Jr. stated after that recreation.

Even earlier than, the Chargers had appeared out of sync. They’d misplaced three of their previous 4, and their sole win, a 29-27 victory over the lifeless 1-6 Miami Dolphins, did not sit proper with the staff.

“We imagined to blow them out,” a pissed off James stated then.

In the end, the Chargers had regarded nothing just like the staff that started the season 3-0 by sweeping the AFC West.

However the paradigm shifted in a major method Thursday. The Chargers performed certainly one of their finest video games of the season in a pummeling of Minnesota.

Of their first full recreation with deal with Joe Alt since Week 3, the Chargers did no matter they wished on offense, and their protection shut down the Vikings to keep away from their second two-game shedding skid this season.

It was a much-needed win for a Chargers staff spiraling towards irrelevance. The win offers them an opportunity to reclaim first place within the AFC West if the Denver Broncos lose Sunday.

Development to observe: Justin Herbert’s interceptions.

Herbert’s skill to hit throws that few different quarterbacks within the NFL can replicate is what makes him nice, however this season he has additionally put the ball in hurt’s method. He threw his seventh interception of the 12 months Thursday. Herbert was backed up towards the Chargers’ objective line, rolling to his left, and tried to hit a smothered Ladd McConkey with a cross that was tipped and intercepted. The Vikings scored their first landing on the following drive. On this recreation, the place the Chargers dominated, it was a meaningless turnover, however Herbert’s poor decision-making in current weeks might harm the Chargers if it continues.

Most stunning efficiency: Kimani Vidal.

The Chargers’ sixth-round decide in 2024, who was launched after the staff reduce the roster to 53 gamers, racked up 117 yards on 23 carries and scored his first profession speeding landing.

Vidal additionally had a standout efficiency towards the Dolphins in Week 5, with 124 speeding yards towards the league’s worst run protection, however till Thursday, that recreation appeared like an anomaly. By dashing a protection that held the Philadelphia Eagles’ Saquon Barkley to only 44 yards and a couple of.4 speeding yards per carry simply final week, Vidal confirmed he is usually a constant influence participant.

Stat to know: Oronde Gadsden II is the primary rookie tight finish since Mike Ditka in 1961 with 240 receiving yards and two receiving touchdowns in a two-game span.

Gadsden, who completed with 5 catches for 77 yards and a landing, has emerged as certainly one of Herbert’s favourite targets and one of many Chargers’ finest receiving tight ends in current reminiscence. A fifth-round rookie, Gadsden had essentially the most receiving yards by a Chargers tight finish since Antonio Gates in 2009 in final week’s recreation, when he completed with seven catches for 164 yards and a rating. He seems to be headed towards having a major position within the passing offense this season.

Subsequent recreation: at Tennessee Titans (1 p.m. ET, Nov. 2)

There isn’t a sugarcoating it. The Vikings performed certainly one of their worst video games within the four-year Kevin O’Connell period Thursday night time, and it left them at a crossroads in a season that’s quickly deteriorating.

It was the second-worst loss within the O’Connell period by level differential. The worst was a 40-3 loss to the Dallas Cowboys in 2022.

The Vikings are actually 3-4 and squarely positioned in final place of the NFC North, with the NFL’s most tough remaining schedule forward of them. The Chargers, losers in three of their earlier 4 video games, dominated them in each section. The Vikings are ravaged by accidents, which continued to pile up Thursday as tight finish Josh Oliver (foot) and cornerback Jeff Okudah (concussion) have been added to the checklist, and the staff is now dealing with an enormous aggressive determination.

Will the Vikings deem quarterback J.J. McCarthy (ankle) able to return for his or her subsequent recreation, Nov. 2 on the Detroit Lions? And in that case, will they keep on with him regardless of how he performs — figuring out their playoff hopes are within the steadiness?

The Vikings dedicated to a money payroll this season of greater than $350 million, hoping they might compete for a deep playoff run whereas growing McCarthy in actual time. It would not look good for the previous, and now it is perhaps time to seek out out concerning the latter.

Most stunning efficiency: The Chargers gashed the Vikings’ protection in each method possible. Some opponents have managed to build up yards towards them this season, however earlier than Thursday night time, the Vikings had a minimum of been capable of restrict scoring.

They entered the sport tied for No. 10 within the NFL with a mean of 20 offensive factors allowed per recreation. However they’d no solutions Thursday for Justin Herbert, who weaved by way of their blitzes to hurry for 62 yards and throw three touchdowns. The Chargers confronted little resistance in amassing a complete of 419 yards and 29 first downs.

What to make of Wentz’s efficiency: In what may need been his final begin for some time, Carson Wentz was clearly in ache all through the sport — largely due to a left shoulder damage suffered Oct. 5 that’s nonetheless requiring a harness. He additionally appeared to hit his throwing hand on Chargers linebacker Khalil Mack’s helmet within the first half.

It is admirable that Wentz stored pushing by way of, however at occasions it was powerful to observe. Rookie Max Brosmer would have been subsequent in, and the Vikings possible did not wish to expose him to the mess Wentz was experiencing.

Development to observe: The Vikings performed virtually the whole recreation with out their beginning tackles, Christian Darrisaw and Brian O’Neill, despite the fact that each had performed each snap in Week 7.

O’Neill (proper knee) was inactive and Darrisaw (left knee) left after 9 snaps and didn’t return. That left the Vikings to go a lot of the method with backup Justin Skule at left deal with and third-string deal with Walter Rouse on the appropriate aspect. It wasn’t a recipe for creating working lanes or defending the quarterback, and it confirmed. The Vikings completed with 34 speeding yards and took 5 sacks.

Subsequent recreation: at Detroit Lions (1 p.m. ET, Nov. 2)