The Minnesota Vikings are set to take on the Los Angeles Chargers at noon on Sunday afternoon in a battle of 0-2 teams.
The matchup opened with the Chargers as 1.5-point favorites per Bet MGM but that has dropped to Chargers -1.
Buy Vikings TicketsThe game also shows the dichotomy of two higher-powered offenses that are different, as the Chargers have not turned it over at all while the Vikings have turned it over seven times.
Going into the game, we have looked at it from multiple angles including the best players and storylines to watch. To continue our preview, we talked to the managing editor of Chargers Wire Gavino Borquez to get the lowdown on the Chargers.
1. How has the new scheme helped Justin Herbert?
Kellen Moore was brought in to maximize the talents of Herbert and through two weeks, we haven’t really seen that materialize. It’s still early to make a fair judgment just because we haven’t seen him uncork the deep ball on every other pass. But I will say that having an efficient run game, as we saw in Week 1 when the Chargers gashed the Dolphins on the ground, will take some pressure off Herbert and keep defenses honest. It shouldn’t be long until we see him take those shots down the field.
2. If Austin Ekeler doesn’t play, what does the running game look like?
Ekeler is likely not going to play as he continues to nurse an ankle injury that he sustained late in the season opener against the Dolphins. Without Ekeler, the Chargers would then turn to Joshua Kelley, who ran for 16 carries for 91 yards and a touchdown in that game, as the lead back. Undrafted rookie Elijah Dotson out-snapped former fourth-round pick Isaiah Spiller last weekend against the Titans. Spiller hasn’t gotten much playing time on offense, but maybe this will be the week that he does.
3. Will we see rookie wide receiver Quentin Johnston on Sunday?
The start of Johnston’s pro career hasn’t gone exactly how fans were anticipating, given the draft capital invested in him. But they have to remember that Johnston was a raw prospect coming out of TCU and he came into a deep wide receiver room, so it’s clear that they’re easing him into the action. When he is on the field in his limited snaps, Johnston is getting open, though. It might not be this weekend, but eventually, Moore will draw up plays for Johnston to do what he does best by being a threat after the catch with his size and explosiveness.
4. Why is the Chargers defense allowing so many explosive plays?
The Chargers have surrendered more competitions of 30 or more yards than any team since Brandon Staley was hired as head coach. 55 of those in 36 games. In Year 1 of his tenure, it was improper personnel that was left over from former defensive coordinator Gus Bradley. In his second season as HC, the group was riddled by injuries, including a season-ending one to J.C. Jackson. Now it’s been a combination of Jackson still trying to find his footing, busted coverages and flat-out mistakes by defensive backs in their techniques and assignments. And some of the blame falls on Staley for not getting the message across and putting these players in positions to succeed.
5. How will Brandon Staley scheme to stop Justin Jefferson?
We will likely see a rotation of Jackson, Michael Davis and Asante Samuel Jr. on Jefferson. Given the pass-defense blunders from the first two weeks, it’s hard to see them get into a rhythm and effectively stop Jefferson.
6. In his limited playing time, how has Eric Kendricks looked? Will he play in his return to Minnesota?
Kendricks has only appeared in one game as he’s currently battling a hamstring injury. Since he has still not practiced, it’s likely that we won’t see him play his former team.
