Minnesota Vikings vs. Los Angeles Chargers Matchup Preview (11/14/21): Betting Odds, Depth Charts, Live Stream (Watch Online)

Minnesota Vikings vs. Los Angeles Chargers Matchup Preview (11/14/21)

The Minnesota Vikings’ travel out west for the week 10 game against the Chargers in Los Angeles at the beautiful SoFi Stadium.   Minnesota now 3-5, lost last weekend to Baltimore in overtime, 34-31 after squandering a 14-point lead in the third quarter.  Snapping a two-game losing streak, Los Angeles went on the road and beat Philadelphia in a hard-fought game, 27-24.  Minnesota is scoring 30.5 points per game on the road this season.  Los Angeles is scoring 29 points per game at home in 2021.  

Minnesota Vikings vs. Los Angeles Chargers Betting Odds

The Chargers are listed as a 2.5-point home favorite.  The over/under is 52.5 points for two quarterbacks capable of helping their team put up big numbers.  The Vikings are 4-4 against the spread this season; 1-3 on the road.  Minnesota has scored 20 plus points in two of their last five games; they scored at least 24 points in each of their first three games in 2021.  In the Chargers last three games, two of which they’ve lost, the team is averaging 19 points per game.  The Vikings have not dropped a game all season by more than seven points.  The Chargers have scored at least 30 points, twice in 2021.

My prediction: Chargers 35-28, Chargers cover and over 52.5 points.

TV Schedule

Date: November 14th, 2021
Time: 4:05 PM ET
Location: SoFi Stadium, Inglewood, CA
TV Coverage: FOX

Minnesota Vikings vs. Los Angeles Chargers Live Stream

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Minnesota Vikings Analysis

Quarterback Kirk Cousins threw for 187 yards and accounted for three touchdowns (two passing and one rushing) in the overtime loss to Baltimore.  On the season, the former Michigan State Spartan has thrown for 2,140 yards, 16 touchdowns, two interceptions with a 68.2 completion percentage.  Cousins and the offense continue to struggle on third down, converting for a first down 35.7% of the time, ranking them 25^th in the league.  The Vikings #8 has been protected well this season, the Vikings lead the NFL with 10 sacks allowed, but because of quick checkdowns there is lack of opportunities for his receivers to make a big play downfield.  An amazing note per Pro Football Focus, rookie Christian Darrisaw has allowed four total pressures on 135 pass-blocking snaps, that’s the lowest pressure rate allowed among all rookie tackles.  

Wide Receivers Justin Jefferson and Adam Thielen form a dangerous duo for opponents to defend.  At Baltimore, Jefferson had three receptions including a 50-yard bomb from Cousins in the first half for touchdown.  Minnesota’s deep threat and top receiver is leading the team with 46 receptions for 632 yards, averaging 13.7 yards a catch while adding four touchdowns.  In 24 games, Justin Jefferson is the second fastest player to reach 2,000 receiving yards in the Super Bowl era.  In the game against the Ravens, Adam Thielen was limited to two catches (he was targeted seven times) for 6 yards and a touchdown that forced overtime.  On the season, he has 45 receptions for 477 yards and a team-leading seven touchdown catches.  

Minnesota is allowing 383.6 yards of total offense to their opponents this season; ranking them in the bottom half of the NFL.  They’re allowing 23.9 points per game in eight contest this year.  

The Vikings are third in the league in sacks with 27.  Danielle Hunter who was leading the team in sacks with six is out for the season with a torn pectoral muscle.  Everson Griffen, Eric Kendricks and Armon Watts have combined for 10 sacks in 2021.  Getting pressure on Chargers quarterback Justin Herbert will be key for the Vikings if they are to win the game.  

Minnesota Vikings Depth Chart

QB: Kirk Cousins
RB1: Dalvin Cook
RB2: Alexander Mattison
WR1: Justin Jefferson
WR2: Adam Thielen
WR3: K.J. Osborn
TE1: Tyler Conklin
TE2: Chris Herndon

Los Angeles Chargers Analysis

Last weekend in the victory over Philadelphia, Justin Herbert was 32-38 for 356 yards and three touchdowns (two passing and one rushing).  His completion percentage was 84.2 with a 123.2 passer rating.  On the season the second-year quarterback has thrown for 2,350 yards, 18 touchdowns with a 66.1 completion percentage.  An amazing statistic from Pro Football Focus, Herbert has not thrown an interception on a pass of at least 20 yards downfield since week 8 of last season.  The Oregon product has the most games with at least one touchdown pass and one rushing touchdown in team history by a Chargers quarterback in their first two seasons.  Additionally, per NFL.com, the Chargers #10 has five games in his career of throwing for at least 300 yards, two plus touchdowns and at least one rushing touchdown.  No other play has more than three such games in their first two seasons since 1950.  Justin Herbert is +1600 to win the 2021 NFL MVP.

The offensive line has allowed 14 sacks this season, the Vikings will put up a good challenge to the unit in keeping Justin Herbert off the ground.  2021 first round pick, tackle Rashawn Slater has allowed one pressure or less in five of his eight career games per Pro Football Focus.

Austin Ekeler has rushed for 123 yards in his last two games after rushing for only six yards in the week 6 loss to the Ravens.  He is leading the team in rushing with 479 yards on 101 carries: averaging 59.9 yards per game.  Ekeler is also an excellent receiver out of the backfield catching 36 passes for 325 yards.  Overall, he has eight touchdowns on the season (five rushing and three receiving).  

Keenan Allen is one of the top receivers in the NFL.  This season he has 57 receptions (targeted 82 times) for 600 yards and two touchdowns; averaging 75 yards receiving per game.  The Chargers #13 had 12 catches for 104 yards in the three-point victory over the Eagles.  Allen has at least nine receptions in a game 27 times in his career.  Mike Williams is the Chargers other outstanding receiver.  In the victory over Philadelphia in week 9, he averaged 29 yards a catch.  On the season he has 37 receptions for 575 yards and a team leading seven touchdown receptions.  

The Chargers’ run defense has had trouble this season allowing 161.6 yards per game, ranking them 32^nd in the league.  Los Angeles’s pass defense is third in the league allowing 197 passing yards per game.  This number could go up this week with the possibility of both starting corners out for a second consecutive week; Asante Samuel Jr. (concussion) and Michael Davis (concussion).  Pass rushers, Joey Bosa (4.5 sacks) and Jerry Tillery (2.5 sacks) will have to get pressure on Cousins helping to offset the injuries in the secondary.  

Los Angeles Chargers Depth Chart

QB: Justin Herbert
RB1: Austin Eckler
RB2: Justin Jackson
WR1: Keenan Allen
WR2: Jalen Guyton
WR3: Mike Williams
TE1: Jared Cook

Minnesota Vikings vs. Los Angeles Chargers Daily Fantasy Picks

I’m going to continue signing praises of the Vikings Tyler Conklin   While he’s not in the upper echelon of tight ends in the league, Conklin is a quality pass catcher. He’s overshadowed by teammates Justin Jefferson and Adam Thielen, but he can make the catch in the tough spots on the field.  This past Sunday, he was the Vikings second leading receiver in the loss against the Ravens, catching five passes for 45 yards.  Conklin has been targeted 44 times and has caught 32 of those for 342 yards and a touchdown this season.

If your team is strong at running back and receiver, Chargers tight end Jared Cook could be a player to help fill out your starting lineup.  He’s been targeted 16 times the last three games, catching 10 of those passes.  Cook is averaging 11.4 yards per reception and has two touchdown grabs this season.