It’s primetime in Inglewood as the Chargers host the Vikings on Thursday night (Friday morning AEDT) in Week 8. Both teams are looking to create momentum as the season heads into its middle stretch, but with so many injury concerns and inconsistent stretches, this game could come down to the side that handles the short week better. The Chargers want to bounce back on home turf, while the Vikings are trying to show they can win away and remain in the playoff mix.
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NFL Week 7 Vikings at Chargers Betting Tips
Friday, 11.15am (AEDT)
Los Angeles Chargers
The Chargers arrive at SoFi Stadium with a 4–3 record, but the recent trend has them looking over their shoulder. In their Week 7 matchup they surrendered 38 points to the Indianapolis Colts and trailed 23–3 at halftime thanks to defensive breakdowns and slow starts. Their offense responded somewhat in the second half, but the early damage was done and raises questions about their ability to consistently dominate at home.
On the injury front, the Chargers are battling a number of key availability issues. Offensive tackle Joe Alt remains limited with an ankle issue, along with others like left tackle Austin Deculus and safety Elijah Molden. The short week makes recovery harder, and these frontline concerns could impact both their protection schemes and defensive consistency.
Minnesota Vikings
The Vikings come into the game at 3–3 and looking to avoid slipping into a deeper hole. In their most recent loss to the Philadelphia Eagles, they struggled driving efficiently in the red zone, committed costly turnovers, and allowed big plays that eventually decided the game. It’s a pattern that the coaching staff will want to eradicate quickly if the season is going to salvage itself.
Coach Kevin O’Connell and his staff also face questions at quarterback and roster health. While they’re inching toward better health, the long road ahead looms large. The Vikings are hoping to get back some momentum on the road, and historically they’ve covered spreads more comfortably away from home, but the margin for error is thin in this primetime contest.
Prediction
Given the Chargers’ home advantage and the fact that they’re slight favorites this week, they have the edge if they can settle early and avoid those dreaded slow starts. Their offense has enough firepower to build a lead, and if the injured linemen can manage, they’ll be able to protect the quarterback and sustain drives. If that happens, the game leans toward Los Angeles controlling tempo and forcing Minnesota into mistakes.
That said, the Vikings cannot be counted out. If they shore up their red-zone efficiency and minimize turnovers, they’re capable of making this a tight affair or even stealing one on the road. But I lean Chargers here, with Los Angeles winning by a comfortable margin, something like 27–17, assuming they patch up the line and avoid falling behind early. If they don’t, Minnesota could sneak away with it.
Chargers -3
$1.90 (2 Units)
Player Prop
Justin Herbert 275+ Pass Yards
The Chargers are likely to lean heavily on the pass to establish rhythm early and offset any run game issues from the line injuries. Herbert has been efficient this season and thrives when forced to take the lead early, which could happen if the Vikings get an initial score. Minnesota’s defense has struggled to contain mobile quarterbacks and has allowed over 270 passing yards per game to starters in similar matchups.
With the short week, Los Angeles may pass more than usual to control the clock and force the Vikings to play catch-up. Herbert also has weapons in Keenan Allen and A.J. Brown who can exploit coverage mismatches in the secondary, making it likely he hits 300 yards or more if the game follows the projected script.
Justin Herbert Over 275+ Yds
$2.45 (1 Unit)
