Minnesota Vikings (0-3) – Los Angeles Chargers (1-2): 24-28
Two ambitious teams with a 0-2 record promised a big battle in Minnesota this Sunday. Big battle which was won hard by the Chargers, carried by a fiery Justin Herbert (40/47 passing, 405 YDS, 3 TD) and a historic Keenan Allen. Los Angeles finally launches its season, the Vikings are at the bottom of the hole.
Damn turnovers!
Weighed down by turnovers in their first two games, the Vikings quickly returned to their bad habits: first drive of the game for Minnesota, fumble by tight end TJ Hockenson. The Chargers took the opportunity to take control with a big 12-play, 79-yard drive. Without its injured running back Austin Ekeler, Los Angeles goes exclusively through the air under the impetus of the Justin Herbert – Keenan Allen connection. And it was finally Donald Parham Jr. (2 TDs) who concluded with the first touchdown of the match (0-7).
We had to wait until the second quarter to see the Vikings react. This coincides with the awakening of Justin Jefferson (7 REC, 149 YDS, 1 TD), non-existent at the start of the match while Minnesota favored the ground game. The star receiver makes two huge receptions to put his team on the path to a touchdown. Touchdown which is finally scored by Josh Oliver which puts the two teams equal (7-7). The Vikings will even take advantage of a Chargers fumble and… several contentious refereeing decisions (notably a fumble by Alexander Mattison canceled for forward progress) to take the advantage through a field goal (10-7).
The end of the first half was nevertheless dominated by the Chargers, with Justin Herbert unfolding: Keenan Allen, Gerald Everett, Mike Williams and Joshua Palmer were all served, before Parham Jr. once again found the end zone on a fourth down. 10-14 for Los Angeles at the break.
Los Angeles continues, Minnesota responds
Returning from the locker room, the Vikings attack remains at a standstill with Kirk Cousins under pressure. Quite the opposite of the Chargers. Even if Los Angeles first misses a field goal, the Herbert – Allen – Williams triplet hurts Minnesota very much. And when Keenan Allen transforms into quarterback to send Mike Williams (7 REC, 121 YDS, 1 TD) into orbit, it hits the mark: 49-yard touchdown! (10-21).
All the momentum is then in favor of the Chargers. The Vikings are out of rhythm. In urgent need of a boost, Minnesota decides to play a fourth down with six yards to go on the opposing 36 yard line. 36 yards is also the reception that KJ Osborn will make to go for the touchdown. 17-21, what if this was the turning point of the match?
It looks very similar given the sequence of events. Justin Herbert is put under pressure, Mike Williams hurts his knee, and the Chargers quickly give the ball back to the Vikings. This is the moment chosen by Justin Jefferson to devastate Los Angeles by scoring his first touchdown of the season, for 52 yards! Minnesota gets back in front 24-21 with eleven minutes left in the match.
The Vikings are no longer “clutch”
Forced to react, the Chargers will show that they have resources. In hostile territory, Justin Herbert relies more than ever on Keenan Allen, who probably had the greatest game of his career: 18 receptions (franchise record), 215 yards (personal record)! But the one who will prove decisive is Joshua Palmer (4 REC, 66 YDS, 1 TD). On a bomb from Herbert, the receiver sees the ball miraculously end up in his hands after a missed interception from his direct opponent. Los Angeles goes back in front (24-28), Minnesota will not recover.
In the last three minutes, we see a pattern of a poorly managed end to the match on both sides. The Vikings first failed on a fourth attempt, then it was the Chargers who failed on a fourth down, moreover in their own camp. But in the end, unlike last year when Minnesota won so many close games, this one ended with an interception by Kirk Cousins in the final seconds. Game over for the Vikings!
