The Minnesota Vikings (3-5, 1-3 away) and Los Angeles Chargers (5-3, 2-2 home) square off in an interleague matchup and first meeting since 2019. Minnesota won that matchup, 39-10, on the road.
Sunday’s Week 10 kickoff is at 4:05 p.m. EST inside SoFi Stadium in Inglewood, CA. Los Angeles is a 3-point favorite against the Vikings, and the over-under total is 54 points.
What to Know – Minnesota Vikings
Minnesota aims to snap a two-game losing skid in a season filled with tough luck. The Vikings have dropped a pair of overtime contests, and their five losses have come from a combined 18 points.
Veteran quarterback Kirk Cousins has managed the Vikings’ offense that scores 24.3 points per game. Cousins has passed for 2,140 yards with 16 touchdowns and only two interceptions. The Vikings are tenth in the league averaging 260.3 yards through the air.
Star running back Dalvin Cook is having a quiet season after his stellar 2020 campaign. Cook has found the endzone just twice this season and sits in eighth in league with 554 yards on the ground.
Justin Jefferson paces the Vikings in the passing game with 46 receptions and 632 yards. Adam Thielen leads the team with seven receiving touchdowns, which ranks fourth in the NFL.
Minnesota is 4-4 against the spread this season and 4-11 ATS over their last 15 games. The Vikings own a 4-1 mark ATS against the Chargers in their last five contests.
What to Know – Los Angeles Chargers
The Chargers pulled out a 27-24 road victory over the Eagles last week to break a two-game losing skid and maintain their position atop a tight AFC West division. The last thing Los Angeles wants to do is drop a home tilt and compromise their spot in the standings.
The offensive line will have to come ready to play against a Minnesota defense that is leading the league in average sacks. Justin Herbert guides an offense that scores 24.9 points per game. The Chargers are fourth in the league passing for 293.8 yards per game.
All-purpose back Austin Ekeler has accounted for 804 yards of offense (479 rushing, 325 receiving) and eight touchdowns. Ekeler is expected to see more action in Sunday’s contest, with backup running back Justin Jackson listed as questionable for the matchup.
Keenan Allen and Mike Williams provide Herbert with elite targets on the outside. Allen’s hauled in 57 passes for 600 yards and a pair of scores, while Williams has 575 yards and six touchdowns. If Allen can go, both should have big games against a Vikings secondary riddled with injuries.
Los Angeles sports a 9-3 record ATS over their last 12 contests and 5-3 mark ATS this season. The Chargers are 5-1 ATS in their last six matchups against NFC opponents.
The Pick is In
Minnesota should move the ball against the Chargers’ defense that ranks last in rushing yards allowed. Los Angeles will do the same through the air against Minnesota, who could be without their two starting cornerbacks and strong safety.
The Vikings keep it close, but the Chargers get a four-point victory at home to cover the spread.
Betting Pick: Los Angeles Chargers -3
