30 unanswered points leads Vikings to easy win over Chargers

In their final matchup of the 2019 regular season, the Minnesota Vikings handed a beatdown to the Los Angeles Chargers in front of a mostly purple and gold crowd.

With about 30 seconds remaining in the first half, it didn’t seem like a win was going to come very easy the Minnesota Vikings in their Week 15 matchup against the Los Angeles Chargers.

But then Vikings defensive lineman Ifeadi Odenigbo scooped up a Chargers fumble and returned it 56 yards the other way for a Minnesota touchdown. It was the beginning of a 30-0 scoring run that ultimately resulted in the Vikings leaving Los Angeles on Sunday with an easy 39-10 win.

Odenigbo was one of the many reserves who came up big for Minnesota in their victory over the Chargers. Vikings linebacker Eric Wilson deflected a punt, cornerback Mike Hughes came up with an interception, and running back Mike Boone filled in nicely for an injured Dalvin Cook. Boone wound up rushing for 56 yards and two touchdowns on 13 carries.

Speaking of Cook, he suffered a shoulder injury early in the third quarter on Sunday and he didn’t play in the remainder of the game. His status for Week 16 is still unknown, but the talented Minnesota running back was seen smiling and joking on the sidelines after his injury, so that could potentially be a good sign that he will be ready to suit up against the Green Bay Packers next Monday.

The Vikings offense didn’t blow the doors off of Los Angeles’ temporary stadium with their performance on Sunday, but they didn’t have to. Minnesota’s defense forced a whopping seven turnovers against the Chargers, the most takeaways the Vikings have finished in a matchup with since 1995.

With their victory on Sunday, Minnesota’s record improved to 10-4 and they are still a game behind the Packers for first place in the NFC North. The Vikings will, of course, be taking on Green Bay in their next matchup which will take place inside U.S. Bank Stadium next Monday night.