The Minnesota Vikings are set to take on the Los Angeles Chargers at noon on Sunday afternoon in a battle of 0-2 teams.
The matchup opened with the Chargers as 1.5-point favorites per Bet MGM but that has dropped to Chargers -1.
Buy Vikings TicketsThe game also shows the dichotomy of two higher-powered offenses that are different, as the Chargers have not turned it over at all while the Vikings have turned it over seven times.
Going into the game, we have looked at it from multiple angles including the best players and storylines to watch. To finish our previews for the game on Sunday, our staff teamed up with the staff at Chargers Wire to give our preview and score predictions.
Managing Editor Tyler Forness
Record: 1-1
This game has the chance to get crazy. Both teams are 0-2 and have a history of crazy things happening to them that cause them to lose games. The offenses are high-octane with great weapons and quarterbacks who are both risk-averse in nature. The key to this game will be turnovers. The Vikings have turned it over seven times with the Chargers having not turned it over once. The Vikings see positive regression in this area and win an exciting shootout.
Vikings 34, Chargers 30
Columnist Judd Zulgad
Record: 1-1
The Vikings and Chargers are both winless and desperate, so there should be plenty of urgency. We’re giving the nod to the Vikings in part because they are at home and because there is no way they can continue to turn over the ball (seven times) as much as they have in the first two games. Considering this is a Cousins vs. Justin Herbert matchup, expect plenty of points to be scored.
Vikings 34, Chargers 27
Columnist Kevin Fielder
Record: 0-2
The Vikings offense should have no problem against the Chargers defense, which has allowed plenty of explosive plays through two games. However, the Vikings secondary will be battle tested to a new degree against Justin Herbert, who’s one of the league’s best. While the secondary has had their moments, mistakes have led to big plays for both Tampa Bay and Philadelphia. It’s possible the long week allowed them to figure those problems out, but taking the better quarterback (Herbert) feels like a safe bet in this high-scoring affair.
Chargers 34, Vikings 30
Columnist Saivion Mixon
Record: 1-1
This has all the makings of an old-fashioned shootout. Both teams came into the season with high hopes, both teams have not lived up to those hopes. Even better, both teams believe the other is a perfect opportunity at their first victory. As long as Minnesota can hang on to the football, there should be a lot of offensive firepower at play on Sunday. Expect Minnesota to have the ball last and pull this one out in the end.
Vikings 35, Chargers 31
Chargers Wire Managing Editor Gavino Borquez
Opposing Managing Editors Record: 1-1
I expect this to be a high-scoring affair that will likely come down to the last drive. I can see it now. It’ll be 27-27 with less than two minutes to play. The Vikings have the ball and they easily scamper up the field to set up Greg Joseph for a 41-yard game-winning field goal. The ball splits the uprights and “Chargering” continues to be alive and well.
Vikings 30, Chargers 27
Chargers Wire Columnist Alex Katson
It seems fitting that a game between two deeply chaotic franchises would end with a scorigami – a final score never seen before in NFL history. Between LA’s inability to stop the pass and Minnesota’s inability to stop the run, both offenses should have free reign on Sunday. Unforced errors will be the deciding factor in the game – whether that be turnovers, missed kicks, or inopportune penalties. Ultimately, the evidence through two games says to trust the Chargers to make less of those, albeit barely.
Chargers 32, Vikings 26
