Vikings-Chargers

It was a fine day at Sofi Stadium. The Minnesota Vikings did what they needed to do in Los Angeles. They defeated the Los Angeles Chargers, 27-20. Hopefully, the Vikings got their season back on track. 

I was in Sofi Stadium to see for the game. It’s always fun to see the Vikings in person. It’s especially fun seeing them win. Being on the West Coast, I don’t get to see them all that often so I gotta see them when I can. 

From the stands, this looked like the Vikings most complete game of the season. 

-The Vikings offense moved the ball and controlled the clock. 

72 plays

381 yards

24 first downs

36:15 time of possession

-Three-and-outs were few (2)

Nearly all of the drives were productive. They either ended in points or moved the chains at least a couple times. 

Kirk Cousins was solid and consistent

Dalvin Cook was tough and productive

Justin Jefferson was outstanding

Tyler Conklin scored two touchdowns

The most satisfying offensive possession of the game was the final one. Three kneel-downs drained the final two minutes of the game. I can’t remember the last time the Vikings ended a game that way. 

Despite missing several starters, the Vikings defense did a fine job against an explosive offense. The Chargers needed a very generous officiating crew to get their first two scores. They had four possessions end in three plays or fewer. Perhaps the deciding sequence of the game was a late third quarter three-and-out that followed and preceded Vikings touchdowns. It turned a 17-13 Chargers lead into a 27-17 Vikings lead. 

The only time that the Vikings defense looked on their heels was the first possession of the second half. The Chargers sailed down the field with little resistance for a touchdown. That was a disturbing development but the Vikings defense righted themselves for the remaining 25 minutes of the game.

Containing second-year Chargers quarterback Justin Herbert can be a difficult task. Yesterday, the Vikings were up for it. 

-season-low 195 passing yards

-season-low 5.7 yards per attempt

The Chargers had to work for nearly every yard that they gained. Or every yard that the officials didn’t hand them. The Vikings defense is improving with every week. Hopefully, Anthony Barr, Patrick Peterson, and Harrison Smith return next week.

The negatives:

Dede Westbrook’s terrific 45-yard punt return was wasted. He set the offense up nicely at the Chargers 28-yard line. Three plays later, Cousins was sacked and fumbled. With that sort of starting position, the Vikings had to get a touchdown. A wasted opportunity. 

Too damn many penalties.

10 for 118 yards

They had nearly 100 yards in penalties in the first half. That can not happen.

Cousins was only sacked twice but he was consistently under pressure. I felt like the offensive line had been making strides in the right direction. This game wasn’t in the same direction. 

As for the game experience:

It was wonderful. A Vikings win is always wonderful. 

Sofi Stadium is nice. US Bank Stadium is better!

It was hot. It was about 90 degrees at the start of the game but felt a bit warmer. I hear Minneapolis was about 60 degrees cooler. That had to be tough for the Vikings players. 

There was a sea of purple. Our little section was probably more than 75% Vikings fans. It was an incredible site. Most of the Vikings games that I’ve attended have been 49ers/Raiders games. This was closer to a Vikings home game than one of those away games. Again, it was incredible. 

Most unusual jersey siting: Onterrio Smith. And I saw two of those. 

The Chargers are very fan-centric in their new stadium. They had several of the goofy games/contests that are often found at minor league baseball games. It was fun. The Chargers have to boost the number of their own fans at games. They can’t have opposing fans in the numbers that I saw yesterday. They have a young, exciting team. They have a terrific quarterback in Justin Herbert. The future is bright for the Chargers. The only drawback to their present situation is the strange housing arrangement with the Rams. 

The game was a blast. And it ended with kneel downs rather than heart trauma. Skol!