Vikings vs. Chargers Point Spread: NFL Predictions, Week 15 Odds
When the Minnesota Vikings visit the Los Angeles Chargers on Sunday afternoon, there are very different motivations on each side. The Vikings are playing for a division title, while the Chargers are playing out the string.
NFL Point Spread and Betting Analysis
The NFL has the option of flexing out a prime-time game later in the regular season if it becomes a less important matchup than originally scheduled, and that’s what happened with Vikings-Chargers. Bills-Steelers replaced it in prime time.
Minnesota is having a very good season and could be a Top 2 seed in the NFC by winning out and with a little help. However, the Chargers are perhaps the AFC’s biggest disappointments after tying for the conference lead with 12 regular-season victories a year ago and winning a playoff game. It could cost Coach Anthony Lynn his job. The Chargers are a non-factor in the Los Angeles sports scene right now so they could fire Lynn and hire a big-name coach to help create buzz and sell tickets heading into that new stadium next season they will share with the Rams.
No question there will be more Vikings fans in attendance on Sunday at that Dignity Health Sports Park soccer stadium outside Los Angeles that seats around 28,000 fans. Chargers fans are almost always outnumbered by the visiting team’s fans – especially if that visiting team is in a cold-weather location as those fans use a trip to L.A. to see their team as basis for a vacation.
This is the first-ever matchup between the Vikings and “Los Angeles” Chargers as the previous 12 games were when the Bolts were based in San Diego. The series is split 6-6, with the Vikings wining the most recent 31-14 in 2015.
The home team has won the past five in the series.
Minnesota Vikings
Minnesota stayed a game behind first-place Green Bay in the NFC North with a 20-7 home win over Detroit on Sunday. Danielle Hunter had three of the Vikings’ five sacks. Hunter became the youngest player in league history with 50 career sacks. He’s a shade over 25 and leads the league this year in total pressures. Detroit had just 231 yards of offence and didn’t score until there was just over two minutes remaining. Kirk Cousins threw for 242 yards and a score. Top cornerback Xavier Rhodes left with a right ankle sprain and No. 1 receiver Adam Thielen was out for the fifth time in the past six games with a hamstring injury. The Vikings are 11-5-1 ATS in their past 17 as favourites.
Los Angeles Chargers
The Chargers snapped a three-game losing streak with a 45-10 win in Jacksonville on Sunday. Philip Rivers threw for 314 yards and three scores. His 84-yard touchdown to tailback Austin Ekeler was the longest completion of Rivers’ likely Hall of Fame career. Rivers’ QB rating of 154.4 was the best of his career. Sunday was his 38th birthday. Ekeler became the second player in franchise history with at least 100 yards rushing and receiving in the same game. The Chargers posted season-highs in points and yards (525). They are 7-2-1 ATS in their past 10 as underdogs.
MIN
LAC