Oct 24, 2025
3 min read
Herbert Sebree tossed a second touchdown to lead the Lightning to a 37-10 victory over Thursday night.
Ngu-Ale Lewis, uDaniel Popper, uAlex Valdes
Justin Herbert threw three touchdown passes and the Los Angeles Chargers made life for Carson Wentz in a 37-10 victory over the Minnesota Vikings on Thursday night.
The Chargers punted Wentz five times and intercepted him once.Wentz replaced J.J.McCarthy, who injured his elbow in Week 2.
Ladd McConkey, Oronde Gadsden II and Tre Harris each had a pass for the Chargers.
Back on track
It's back on track for the Chargers in many ways.Left tackle Joe Alt returned for his first game since Week 4.Balanced the Chargers' offensive line in pass protection and the run game.Justin Herbert was still hit eight times, but the Chargers were able to move the ball effectively against the Vikings defense.They totaled over 400 yards of offense, including 100 yards rushing by Vidal.Herbert threw for three touchdowns.He was also effective as a scrambler, rushing for 62 yards.
The Chargers are very good, finishing 9 of 12 in the red zone and 3 of 3. The Chargers still started Bobby Hart, right tackle and tight end Mehi Becton (knee) missed most of the game after leaving the first half.
On the '24 Chargers defense
Defensively, the Chargers were suffocating.The Vikings were 2-for-9 on third down and had less than 140 yards of offense before garbage time in the fourth quarter.They put pressure on Wentz.They gave up just 18 rushing yards before garbage time.This looks just like the Chargers' defense last season.
Like the offense, the reinforcements made a big difference for coordinator Jesse Minter's unit.Edge rusher Khalil Mack returned in Week 7, but was limited to just 12 snaps in the loss to the Colonials.On Thursday night, his role expanded and Mack gave the Chargers a lift with his strength and physicality.Mack had sacks and stuff for walking.- Popper
Another l.a. the star is injured
The Chargers put together this defensive performance after losing safety Derwin James Jr., who left the game in the first quarter with an ankle injury.He was in a running boot on the touchline in the second half.This little goodbye is very necessary to try to be healthy.- Popper
The Viking quest just got worse
They say they never say it won't get worse.It is difficult to imagine with the achievements that the Vikings carried.Both the offense and defense were stupid.The defense was beautiful.Not only Rubritt's play in Jusbert, but also the draw in the pocket, the offensive line, turned the Vikings front mat in the running game.At one point in the third quarter, the Vikings had 24 plays, and Crammicks got a whopping 20 first downs.
Almost every Chargers offense produced explosive gains.Vidal bounced out of the armbar and advanced to second.He finished with 237 yards in 237 halves.Herbert himself used his legs as a weapon all night, putting up 62 yards on seven rushes.
Minnesota began this season planning its defense as the backbone of its team.Interior defensive additions Jonathan Allen and Javon Hargrave have not produced at the level they should.The quarterbacks' performances over the past two weeks underscored the skepticism many had about the Vikings' secondary.All night, Chargers pass rushers Keenan Allen, Oronde Gadsden II and McConkey were in the middle.The positive was non-existent.How the Vikings fare next week against the Lions in Detroit is a whole different conversation.- Alec Lewis, Vikings beat writer
The quarterbacking was weak
As easy as it was to start the defense, the Vikings' offense remained overwhelming.Minnesota doesn't have good quarterback play.McCarthy, who is set to return next week against the Lions, has struggled in the first two games.He was replaced by Wentz and the problems were still the same.It was not accurate.He was holding the ball.He took too many sacks.College
His bodyguard did not understand.The correct tackle did not play.He returned from an MCL sprain last weekend and the game was delayed several times because his knee locked up.The rest of the season, Christian Darridow started a theme throughout the season.
Perhaps the most notable aspect of the offensive stupor was the fact that the Chargers were on fire entering the game.Notably, the Chargers' run defense ranked 30th in success rate;the Vikings ran the ball just nine times for 18 possessions.As bad as it was, the seeds of offensive inconsistency showed in training camp.Coach Kevin O'Connell reiterated his faith in the unit, but the day-to-day problems were obvious to everyone in attendance.had.- Lewis
