Los Angeles Chargers: Staff predictions vs. Minnesota Vikings

The Los Angeles Chargers are coming off a lopsided win over the Jacksonville Jaguars and look to play spoiler against the Minnesota Vikings.

The Los Angeles Chargers‘ season is officially over, as they have been eliminated from playoff contention, which is ironic as the team played its best game of the season against the Jacksonville Jaguars on Sunday.

Now, the Chargers have nothing to play for other than being a spoiler for the Minnesota Vikings. The team can help their LA counterparts, the Los Angeles Rams, by beating the Vikings and giving the Rams a game in the wild-card race.

Solely based on records, you would not think that the Chargers have a chance in this game. However, it’s the Chargers, anything can happen. Here is how we see it happening.

Jamaal Artis (13-7): 35-14, Minnesota Vikings

The Rams need the Chargers to beat the Vikings in order to tie up the standings where the Rams own the tiebreaker. That’s a big ask for the Rams.

The Vikings have won 3 of their last 4 games but they’ve given up a lot of points along the way. The Chargers ended their 3 game losing streak last week but are the weaker of the two teams.

Expect the Vikings to pound the ball with Dalvin Cook and expect the Vikings defense to give Chargers QB Philip Rivers a hard time.

Hil Lopez (12-12): 23-17, Los Angeles Chargers

The Chargers play the Vikings this Sunday in hopes of somewhat ending the season on a high note. The Chargers absolutely drubbed the Jaguars last week and running back Austin Ekeler became the first player this year to record a double-double in yards (100+ rushing, 100+ receiving) in a game.

The Vikings are 1 game ahead in the wild card and get back Adam Thielen from a nagging hamstring injury. Dalvin Cook has been healthy the majority of the season and looks to continue his dual-threat ability of rushing and receiving.

In the end, with Casey Hayward shadowing either Thielen or Diggs, I believe the Chargers will garner enough offense to defeat the Vikings 23-17.

Redan Lopez (10-12): 24-20, Minnesota Vikings

The Vikings are gunning for a wild card spot and potentially the NFC North title. Meanwhile, the Chargers have nothing much to play for except for pride at this point. This is a duel between probably two of the most talented teams in the league.

With wide receivers Adam Thielen and Stefon Diggs both healthy, I think the Chargers lose out on a close one yet again. QB Philip Rivers will have two chances to get the win, but the Vikings’ defense will force a turnover and end the game.

Jason Reed (13-13): 28-20, Los Angeles Chargers

I hate that I am writing this but I really think that the Los Angeles Chargers will continue to torture me as a fan and win this game, hurting their draft stock in the process.

The defense has been fine all season and if the offense that showed up last week shows up again this week then I really think that the Chargers can beat the Vikings, especially with the narrative of Kirk Cousins not winning big games.

Luckily for Cousins, this game was flexed out of Sunday Night Football, but the aura of it being a primetime game will get to Cousins.