5 Chargers-Vikings matchup that will determine the Week 3 outcome
By Sean Basile
The LA Chargers are set for what should be the biggest game in recent franchise history as they head to Minneapolis to take on the 0-2 Vikings.
The loser of this game will drop to 0-3 and their playoff odds will drop even more dramatically than they already were at 0-2.....and they weren't even that great at 0-2 in the first place. History does not treat 0-2 teams well, as CBS's Jeff Wagner outlines:
"Since the NFL expansion in 1979, only six teams have made the playoffs after starting 0-3. The last team to do it was the Houston Texans in 2018."
It is all on the line for our Bolts in Week 3, so here are five of the most intriguing matchups to watch as our boys march into judgment day.
5 Chargers-Vikings matchups that will determine the Week 3 outcome:
(1) Mike Williams, Joshua Palmer, and Keenan Allen vs. a young Vikings secondary
This is going to be the first matchup for the Chargers this year where they do not face (1) an experienced secondary with quality players like Miami, or (2) a mixed secondary with quality players like Tennessee.
We've got Mike Will, Keenan Allen, and Josh Palmer, who have been playing together for a while now, going against a young group of Vikings defensive backs that haven't been tested yet by a quarterback and OC who push the ball down the field like Justin Herbert and Kellen Moore appear to be doing so far.
The Vikings allowed 265.6 passing yards per game last season, which was second-worst in the league, and they are still in the process of redefining how they defend the pass now that Brian Flores is their defensive coordinator.
This is not the most athletic receiving core on the planet, but I tend to believe their craftiness in how they run routes will be able to finally break them wide open going against such a young group of DBs the Vikings have.
This could be the game that gets Mike Williams going, and we could very well see another breakout performance from Keenan Allen.