Flashback Friday: Vikings clobber Chargers in 2019
By Ali Siddiqui
In 2019, the Minnesota Vikings defeated a Chargers team in a dominating fashion. Can they repeat this feat in Week 10 of the 2021 NFL season?
The 3-5 Minnesota Vikings and 5-3 Los Angeles Chargers are set to face off on Sunday at SoFi Stadium. The Vikings lead the all-time series 7-6.
It has continued to be a rough season for Minnesota. They are coming off a 34-31 overtime loss to the Baltimore Ravens. All five of their losses have been by seven points or less, which has made the season even more disappointing. The Chargers are having a good year, so beating them will certainly not be easy.
Minnesota’s chances of making the playoffs do not look very good at the moment with more tough opponents ahead. Danielle Hunter being out for the season certainly does not help their chances.
Even if they get into the playoffs, will that be enough for head coach Mike Zimmer and general manager Rick Spielman to return next season? Maybe for Spielman, it could be, but it may not for Zimmer.
Minnesota Vikings throttled the Los Angeles Rams in the previous meeting between the two teams
The last time these two teams met in 2019, the Vikings came away with a big 39-10 victory.
Minnesota quarterback Kirk Cousins completed 19 out of 25 passes for 207 yards, one touchdown, and one interception. Mike Boone rushed for 56 yards and two touchdowns on 13 carries. Stefon Diggs caught four passes for 76 yards. On the defensive side of the ball, Ifeadi Odenigbo recorded a sack and returned a fumble 56 yards for a touchdown.
"“Danielle did a heck of a job forcing that fumble. I was fortunate to pick the ball up,” Obenigbo said of the Vikings’ second defensive touchdown in three games according to ESPN. “I was running down and getting tired but I was fortunate to score the touchdown. Coach Zim always harps on pursuit and effort. That was a collective effort from everyone."
For Los Angeles, Philip Rivers completed 28 out of 39 passes for 307 yards, one touchdown, and three interceptions. Keenan Allen caught nine passes for 99 yards and Mike Williams caught four passes for 71 yards and a touchdown. On defense, safety Derwin James recorded a game-high eight tackles.
With the win, Minnesota improved to 10-4 on the season. Los Angeles dropped to 5-9.