Chargers rout Vikings through the air and on the ground

INGLEWOOD — The Chargers’ protection of quarterback Justin Herbert was far more than adequate Thursday night, allowing him to pick apart the Minnesota Vikings’ defense with ease. His receivers found what seemed to be acres of open SoFi Stadium turf. Their running game clicked, too.

The Vikings never seemed to know what was coming next during the Chargers’ comprehensive 37-10 victory, unable to contend with Herbert and the offense or solve a suffocating defense that sacked Minnesota quarterback Carson Wentz five times and limited him to only 144 yards passing.

By the end of the night, the only question was why the Chargers don’t do this more often.

Herbert completed 18 of 25 passes for 227 yards with three touchdowns and one interception. Three different receivers – Oronde Gadsden, Ladd McConkey and Tre’ Harris – caught touchdown passes. Herbert was sacked only twice and had a 122.8 passer rating.

Harris’ touchdown was his first in the NFL.

Herbert also was a willing runner with 62 yards on seven carries, breaking into the open when the protection broke down in front of him and his targets were covered. Kimani Vidal rushed for 117 yards and one touchdown on 23 carries, and Cameron Dicker kicked three field goals.

“I thought our playmakers did an incredible job,” Coach Jim Harbaugh said after his 60th career victory as an NFL coach, including his fifth in eight games this season. “I love that drive that our team has. So, really, really happy, really, really pleased with the way the team responded and, you know, the way they played.”

The Chargers hardly looked like the same team that lost to the Indianapolis Colts, 38-24, on the same field on Sunday. They scored touchdowns on their first two possessions Thursday night and blanked the Vikings on their first two, building a 14-0 lead only minutes into the second quarter.

Maybe it was the uniforms.

The Chargers ditched the all-gold uniforms that were universally panned by fans of good taste from near and far before, during and after Sunday’s game. Instead, the Chargers wore a much more attractive set of all-navy jerseys and pants that harkened back to the San Diego Super Chargers Era.

Then again, maybe it was the opponent.

The Vikings (3-4) simply aren’t at the same elite level as the Colts (6-1).

“It felt great,” Harbaugh said. “The team really responded. We went back to work after Sunday and set their minds to it that they weren’t going to be denied. I thought it really showed up in the two lines, the offensive line and the defensive line. Really coming off the ball on defense and a great job by our offensive line covering guys up and sustaining and giving Justin enough time.”

Bouncing back from Sunday’s loss to the Colts was on everyone’s mind.

“We were excited, man,” Chargers outside linebacker Tuli Tuipulotu said. “After a loss like that last (Sunday), man, we were happy to have a Thursday game. We didn’t have to wait too long to play another game, and we took advantage of it. We had fun. That was the best thing to happen.”

Left tackle Joe Alt returned to the starting lineup for the first time since spraining his ankle in the first quarter of the Chargers’ loss to the New York Giants on Sept. 28. But right guard Mekhi Becton then exited in the first quarter Thursday because of a knee injury, replaced by Foster Sarell.

Herbert appeared unfazed by the Vikings’ limited defensive pressure, leading the Chargers to three touchdown drives and a 21-3 lead by halftime. Herbert sandwiched touchdown passes of 8 yards to Gadsden and 27 yards to McConkey around Vidal’s 3-yard scoring run.

When the protection broke down, Herbert scrambled for big gains, rushing for 51 yards on five carries in the first half. He also completed 14 of 18 passes for 191 yards and two touchdown passes as the Chargers dominated in most aspects of the game, including total net yards, 266-93.

At one point in the third quarter, the Chargers had 20 first downs to only four for the Vikings, whose lone touchdown came on Wentz’s 4-yard pass to Jordan Addison in the third quarter. JK Scott didn’t punt once and the Chargers outgained the Vikings 419-164 for the night.

“It’s huge,” McConkey said of having Alt back on the field to protect Herbert’s blind side after a three-game absence. “It just shows the type of bond that they have, their friendship. I know Justin trusts Joe over there, and Joe trusts Justin. So, it’s just great to have him back.”

Naturally, the news couldn’t be all good Thursday for the Chargers. Derwin James Jr. injured his ankle in the early minutes of the game and he was later ruled out for the rest of the night. Fellow safety Tony Jefferson then followed James to the sideline with a hamstring injury.

Harbaugh said he didn’t have any updates on the injured players.

The good news for the Chargers is that they have a weekend mini-break to rest and recover before returning to the practice field next week to prepare for a road game against the Tennessee Titans on Nov. 2. Given their many bumps, bruises, sprains and strains, it couldn’t come at a better time.

“You’d love to take a break, for goodness sake, but trying to be good, trying to get better, you just can’t,” Harbaugh said. “The guys will get the weekend off, and we gave them an extra day, too. I hope it’s a healthy, safe weekend. Yeah, they’ve earned it. I think it’ll be good and beneficial for us.”