The Minnesota Vikings are still hoping to win the NFC North, but they can’t afford missteps if they are to achieve that goal. They will have the Los Angeles Chargers at home this coming Sunday with both teams coming off impressive wins. The Vikings and the Chargers are +2000 and +200000 to win Super Bowl, respectively.
After a letdown performance in a 37-30 road loss to the Seattle Seahawks in which they were carved up on defense by Russell Wilson and company, the Lions rebounded by decimating the Detroit Lions at home, 20-7. It was a nice recovery for the Vikings’ defense, though, at the same time unsurprising, considering that the Lions started an undrafted rookie quarterback in David Blough. Nevertheless, the Vikings will take it anyway they can. The Vikings may be at least one man down on defense against the Chargers, though, as cornerback Xavier Rhodes sustained an ankle injury in the Lions game. On offense, the Vikings are still hoping that wide rceiver Adam Thielen can return to action as soon as Week 15. Thielen has missed five games over the last six outings of Minnesota. His absence has paved the way for tight end Kyle Rudolph to shine at least. Rudolph only had 11 receiving yards on two catches against Detroit, but has 153 receiving yards and five touchdowns on 16 receptions in the four games prior to the meeting with the Lions last Sunday.
The Vikings are 3-2 against the spread (ATS) in their last five road games.
Betting on the Los Angeles Chargers (5-8)
From time to time, Philip Rivers can still shine. Such was the case in Week 14, when the veteran quarterback celebrated his 38th birthday by completing 16 of 22 passes for 314 passing yards and three touchdowns without an interception in the Chargers’ dominant 45-10 road win over the Jacksonville Jaguars. Running back Austin Ekeler also went off with an absurd performance that left his fantasy owners feeling high. Ekeler led the team in both rushing yards (101) and receiving yards (112 and a touchdown), while Mike Williams and Hunter Henry each had a touchdown grab also. The Chargers didn’t turn the ball over against Jacksonville, which was one of the most important takeaway for Los Angeles from that game. The Chargers are one of the most turnover-prone teams in the NFL this season with a -0.8 turnover margin per game, fifth worst in the NFL. Hopefully for the Chargers, who are putting up 22.2 points per game, that is a start of a more cohesive offensive performance.
The under is 8-2 in the Chargers’ last 10 home games.
