These two teams have faced off 12 times in the past. The then-San Diego Chargers won the first game, but the Vikings won the last matchup in 2015, 31-14. They have split the record with six wins apiece as the teams have alternated wins since 1977. The bad news for Vikings fans in that in the 42 years these teams have faced off, the pattern has never been broken and it is the Chargers’ turn to win.
The Vikings are coming into this matchup with a 9-4 record which leaves them fighting for a playoff spot. The Green Bay Packers are just one game ahead of Vikings in the division, so the season is far from over for either of them. They will face each other next week and each end with another divisional matchup after that. Minnesota has only lost two divisional games so far and thanks to some bad calls from the refs, the Packers haven’t lost any. The Vikings will need all the wins they can get and the one in L.A. Sunday should be an easy one.
Minnesota’s quarterback Kirk Cousins has surpassed expectations for the season and made the Vikings’ offense into one to be feared and the defense has stood up to some strong offenses. The Chargers’ offense, when hot, could pose a threat. The Chargers have a fairly solid defense but Cousins’ offense has too many weapons to control and its unlikely that the Chargers will be able to hold them. Between Stefon Diggs, Adam Thielen and Dalvin Cook, the Vikings are a powerhouse.
The Vikings seem to have quite the lineup of injuries with Bisi Johnson and Adam Thielen questionable for the game along with Alexander Mattison, Jayron Kearse, Xavier Rhodes and Mike Hughes. Thielen is easily the biggest name on this list but he has powered through injury for most of the season already.
The Chargers have two things going for them as they head into this matchup. The first is last week, when Philip Rivers had one of the best games he’s had all season, throwing for three touchdowns. He had not done that since Week 1 against the Indianapolis Colts. Last week’s matchup pitted the Chargers and Jacksonville Jaguars against each other. The two teams had identical records heading in their Week 14 matchup; however, the Chargers dominated with a 45-10 win in Jacksonville. The Chargers broke their three-game losing streak.
The second thing the Chargers have going for them for this week is the two-game winning streak they had before their losing streak. In back-to-back weeks (Week 8 and Week 9), the Chargers pulled out victories over both the Bears (17-16) and the Packers (26-11). In fact, the only NFC North team L.A. lost to was the Lions back in a close Week 2 matchup. The success the Chargers have had against the rest of the Vikings’ division-mates should leave Minnesota wary at best.
While Rivers had a solid performance last week, his overall performance this season has been a far cry from the level of football Rivers is known to play. In fact, he has far more resembled another quarterback from his draft class in Eli Manning, especially with the number of interceptions he’s thrown this season (15). The Chargers seem to have gotten over the worst of their injury bug with Mike Williams and Uchenna Nwosu questionable for the game. Williams has practiced some and is expected to suit up despite a lingering knee issue.
Game Info
Date: Dec. 15, 2019
Start Time: 4:05 p.m. EST
Location: Carson, Calif.
Stadium: Dignity Health Sports Park
TV Info: CBS
Prediction
It is fairly clear who the winner of this matchup should be. Of the two teams, only one is in playoff contention. Despite one of L.A.’s strongest offensive performances against the Jaguars, Minnesota should take the win. Rivers’s inconsistencies will be easy for the Vikings defense to exploit.
Final Score: Vikings 34, Chargers 17
