Chargers vs. Vikings Point Spread: NFL Week 3 Odds, Prediction
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Edgar Chaput
Both the Los Angeles Chargers and Minnesota Vikings earned playoff berths in 2022. As such, there were certain expectations heading into the new season. Suffice it to say that through two weeks those expectations have not been met. Last Sunday the Chargers lost 27-24 in overtime to the Titans while the Vikings were edged by the Eagles on Thursday, 34-28.
If the NFL odds are anything to go, as of Wednesday afternoon, this game is the definition of a toss-up. Presumably, the odds will shift in the days ahead, ,even if only slightly.
NFL Point Spread and Betting Analysis
Going back 16 years to 2007, which feels like a lifetime ago, only covers five total games between these franchises. Minnesota has won four of them, including the last three. For that matter, this isn’t the first time the Vikings face Justin Herbert. Their first encounter was during the 2021 season, a clash they won 27-20 in L.A.
Not a lot has gone right for the Chargers through two weeks. In both their initial bouts they were slight favourites yet failed to cover either spread. It’s a testament to how the team has a knack for being in close games but rarely comes out on top, or at least not as often as they should. The over has connected in both matches.
Minnesota can’t claim to have done all that much better, but 0-1-1 ATS is still superior to 0-2. The push came last Thursday night against the Philadelphia Eagles. Minnesota was pegged as a 6-point underdog and thanks to some fight in the fourth quarter, that’s exactly by how much they lost.
Los Angeles Chargers
Another week, another series of question marks surrounding this organization. No one doubts the talent featured on the roster. But unfortunately for them, they fail too often to come out on top in games within their grasp.
Week 2’s 27-24 defeat in Tennessee against the Titans was no exception. It seemed as if playing the Chargers’ defence was the medicine Titans QB Ryan Tannehill needed. He was an efficient 20-for-24, 246 yards and a TD. His yards per pass were superior to Justin Herbert’s (10.3 to 7.2) even though the latter threw for more total yards (305). Third-down efficiency was atrocious (2-for-14) and a week after bulldozing over the Dolphins for 200+ yards on the ground, L.A. mustered only 61 versus Tennessee. Herbert was brilliant in spurts, and so was WR Keenan Allen (111 yards, two scores), but the team came up short. The drive to kick a game-tying field goal as time expired was excellent but was followed up with a meek three-and-out in overtime.
RB Austin Ekeler is currently listed as questionable.
Minnesota Vikings
Speaking of teams that are playing close contests but can’t get the job done, enter the Minnesota Vikings. The 2022 edition broke an NFL record for the number of wins in one-score games. So far in 2023, the script has been flipped judging by the 0-2 start.
The Week 2 performance in Philadelphia left a lot to be desired. Both the offence and defence took nearly all game to get going. By the time either side of the ball woke up, the Eagles held a commanding 27-7 advantage in the third quarter. Rushing was non-existent for the Vikings (28 yards), meaning it was up to Kirk Cousins to save the day, a proposition which historically produces uneven results. His 364 yards and four TD tosses looked nice, and WR Justin Jefferson went wild to the tune of 159 yards, but it still wasn’t enough. But the story of the night was the four, yes, four fumbles the team lost. No team stands a chance of winning with such sloppy play.
LB Marcus Davenport is currently listed as questionable.
LAC
MIN