Two teams desperate to keep pace in their respective playoff pictures kick of the Week 8 NFL slate on Thursday night.
The Minnesota Vikings (3-3) travel to Los Angeles seeking to rebound from a loss to Philadelphia, while the 4-3 Chargers are already 0-2 against the NFC as they have fallen a game back of Denver in the AFC West.
ODDS AND TRENDS
The Chargers are a consensus 3.5-point favorite at home, and have been backed by 89% of the spread-line money at BetRivers. Los Angeles’ -186 moneyline to win the game outright has also been popular, drawing 74% of the money.
The Chargers have failed to cover the spread in four consecutive games, while the Vikings have lost the first half in seven of their past eight.
Minnesota’s past four games have gone Over the total points line, and the Over on 45.0 points on Thursday night has been backed by 60% of the money and 73% of the total bets at the book.
PROP PICKS
–Vikings WR Justin Jefferson 60+ Receiving Yards (-287 at DraftKings): This has been the most popular player prop at the book, which is also offering -188 on 70+ yards, -131 on 80+, +112 on 90+ and +157 on 100+. He is building chemistry with Carson Wentz, who will make his fifth consecutive start in place of injury J.J. McCarthy. Jefferson has 75+ yards in five consecutive games and has averaged 100.75 in Wentz’s starts.
–Chargers WR Quentin Johnston Anytime TD (+163 at BetRivers): Down a trio of injured running backs, more and more of the offensive load has fallen on the passing game. Johnston has five touchdowns on the season and has scored in all but two games thus far.
KEY STAT
According to Inside Edge, the Chargers lead the NFL with 140 passes attempted from the shotgun since Week 4. During that same span, the Vikings rank second to last in allowing an average of 8.5 yards per dropback against the shotgun.
FROM WENTZ THEY CAME
While J.J. McCarthy is close to a return, it won’t come this week against his collegiate head coach, Jim Harbaugh.
“J.J., the medical staff, myself, we’re all kind of encouraged with where he’s at and the progress he’s making, but he’s just not there,” Vikings coach Kevin O’Connell said. “If this was a Sunday game, maybe it would be a little bit of a different story.”
Wentz’s time replacing McCarthy, who has a sprained ankle, has been a mixed bag. He has kept the Vikings right at the .500 record he inherited, winning two of his four starts while throwing for 1,072 yards, five touchdowns and four interceptions.
Last week, Wentz completed a season-low 61.9% of his passes and had no touchdowns and two picks in a 28-22 loss to the Philadelphia Eagles. However, he did throw for 313 yards.
Asked about McCarthy’s pending return as soon as next week, Wentz denied thinking about it.
“Mindset is to go win this game, at the end of the day,” Wentz said. “I’m focused on the here and now. I don’t have a lot of time or energy to think about beyond this one.”
TALENTED TE IN SPOTLIGHT
After the Vikings were diced by Jalen Hurts for 326 yards and three touchdowns on Sunday, they will face another prolific passer on Thursday. Chargers quarterback Justin Herbert is coming off a career-best 420-yard passing performance with three touchdowns and two interceptions in 38-24 road loss to the Indianapolis Colts on Sunday.
A large part of those stats can be attributed to Oronde Gadsden II’s breakout performance. The rookie tight end had his first career touchdown catch on Sunday while amassing 164 yards on seven catches, more than he had in his first four NFL games combined.
“Very talented,” Harbaugh said of Gadsden. “… Just a lot of drive and talent.”
Despite being hit on an NFL-leading 62 dropbacks, Herbert now leads the league in passing yards (1,913) and is tied for sixth in passing TDs (13).
His impressive showing, though, couldn’t stop Los Angeles from taking its third loss in the past four games. After a 3-0 start that consisted of a sweep of their AFC West foes, the Chargers are now tied for second place in the division with the Kansas City Chiefs.
INJURY REPORT
The potential good news for Los Angeles is that Herbert may be getting his left tackle back this week. Joe Alt, who moved from right tackle to left when Rashawn Slater went down with a season-ending injury in training camp, was a limited participant in practice on Tuesday. Harbaugh labeled him questionable to play after Alt missed the past three games with an ankle injury.
“He’s doing everything and anything he can to (play),” Harbaugh said.
Alt’s return would be a big help against a Vikings defense that ranks seventh in pass defense (184.0 yards per game) and allowed more than 200 passing yards for the first time last week.
For Minnesota, fullback C.J. Ham (hand) and offensive tackle Brian O’Neill (knee) were the only two players who didn’t practice on Tuesday. McCarthy, running back Zavier Scott (wrist) and linebacker Andrew Van Ginkel (neck) were limited, as was running back Aaron Jones Sr. (hamstring) as his 21-day practice window for a return was opened. Jones is expected to be activated in time for the game.
Along with Alt, Chargers offensive tackle Austin Deculus (ankle), guard/tackle Trey Pipkins III (knee), linebacker Troy Dye (thumb), offensive lineman Jamaree Salyer (knee) and defensive back Elijah Molden (thumb) were limited on Tuesday. Running back Hassan Haskins (hamstring) and defensive lineman Jamaree Caldwell (illness) did not practice.
PREDICTION
The Chargers are expected to be in the market for a running back ahead of the trade deadline, and the lack of a consistent presence in the backfield has only exacerbated the pass protection issues. The Vikings enter with a strong pass defense that can help control field position and allow Wentz to operate efficiently. –Vikings 23, Chargers 20
