By Tim Peterson
(Inglewood) – The Chargers jumped out to a 21-3 lead at halftime and made it stand up in a 37-10 win over Minnesota Thursday night before 71,094 fans at SoFi Stadium.
Justin Herbert threw three touchdown passes and Kimani Vidal rushed for over 100 yards as the Chargers offense was clicking on all facets. The defense did its job as well holding the Vikings to just one touchdown.
The Chargers drove 83 yards on 14 plays on their opening possession. Oronde Gadsden hauled in an 8-yard touchdown pass from Justin Herbert for a 7-0 lead with 4:01 left in the first quarter.
Vidal scored on three-yard run early in the second quarter to finish an 8-play, 59-yard drive. The Chargers took a 14-0 lead.
The Vikings got on the board when Will Reichard kicked a 54-yard field goal with 8:55 left in the second quarter.
The Chargers moved the ball down to the Minnesota 31-yard line on the next possession courtesy of a 40-yard pass play from Herbert to Gadsden but Cameron Dicker missed a 49-yard field goal. The Chargers missed that opportunity but didn’t miss the next one.
After a Minnesota punt the Chargers put together a 9-play, 94-yard drive. Hebert hit Ladd McConkey on a 27-yard strike in the corner of the end zone with 45 seconds left in the second quarter to make it 21-3.
Reichard missed a 53-yd field goal as time ran out in the second quarter and the Chargers took the 18-point lead into halftime.
The Chargers extended their lead on the first possession of the third quarter. Dicker booted a 43-yard field goal after the march stalled at the Minnesota 25.
Minnesota tried to get back in the game when the defense made a play when Herbert was intercepted by Joshua Metellus at the Charger 26-yard line. The Vikings were initially stopped at the 14-yard line after the turnover and Reichard kicked a 32-yard field goal. But the Chargers were guilty of a penalty and Minnesota took the points off the board. This led to a 4-yard touchdown pass from Carson Wentz to Jordan Addison to cut the Chargers lead to 24-10 with 4:36 left in the third quarter.
However the Chargers immediately responded with a 12-play, 73-yard drive to go back up by three scores. Herbert threw his third touchdown pass of the night with a six-yard strike to Tre’ Harris with 12:42 left in the fourth quarter.
On the ensuing possession RJ Mickens intercepted Wentz and returned it to the LA 48-yard line. The pick led to a 34-yard boot by Dicker to put the Chargers up 34-10 and with 7:01 left.
After Minnesota turned the ball over on downs Dicker kicked another one through the uprights – this one from 45 yards out for the final score of the night with 1:56 left.
For the Chargers Herbert completed 18 of 25 for 227 yards and three touchdowns with an interception. He also rushed for 62 yards on 7 carries. McConkey was the leading receiver with 6 catches for 88 yards and a touchdown. Vidal had 117 yards and a touchdown on 23 carries.
The Chargers held the Vikings to just 34 yards rushing and also sacked Wentz five times. Wentz was 15 of 27 for 144 yards and a touchdown through the air. He also threw an interception. Justin Jefferson had 7 receptions for 74 yards.
The Chargers bounced back from the loss last Sunday to Indianapolis and improved to 5-3 with the victory. The Vikings dropped to 3-4.
MN 00 03 07 00 10
LA 07 14 03 13 37
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