Thursday Night Football Preview: Vikings vs. Chargers Week 8 Showdown

Football Nation
Oct 22
3 min read

The Week 8 edition of Thursday Night Football brings together two desperate playoff hopefuls as the Los Angeles Chargers (4-3) host the Minnesota Vikings (3-3) at SoFi Stadium. Both teams aim to rebound after frustrating losses in Week 7 – Minnesota fell 28-22 to the Eagles, while Los Angeles was overwhelmed 38-24 by Indianapolis.

Kickoff is set for 8:15 p.m. ET on Amazon Prime Video.

Betting Odds and Line Movement

According to the latest SportsLine and BetMGM consensus lines, the Chargers are 3.5-point favorites with an over/under of 44.5 points.Moneyline odds currently list Los Angeles at -185 and Minnesota at +155, signaling a slight edge to the home team.

Despite the spread, betting models indicate a competitive matchup. Analytical projections give Los Angeles a 59% win probability, but also predict the Vikings will cover the spread at a 53.8% likelihood.

Storylines to Watch

The Harbaugh vs. O’Connell Connection

Chargers head coach Jim Harbaugh and Vikings head coach Kevin O’Connell share a unique tie—two decades ago, both were based in San Diego at the same time, Harbaugh as the University of San Diego’s head coach and O’Connell as a quarterback at San Diego State. Thursday marks their first NFL head-to-head meeting.

QB Situation in Minnesota

Rookie J.J. McCarthy remains sidelined with an ankle injury, meaning Carson Wentz will make his fifth consecutive start for the Vikings. Wentz has kept Minnesota’s offense competitive, averaging nearly 300 passing yards per game over his last three outings. The offense has topped 21 points in all four of his starts, a trend betting experts believe could continue.

Why the Chargers Can Cover

Justin Herbert continues to anchor the Chargers’ offense despite a shaky supporting cast. Through seven games, Herbert has thrown for 1,913 yards and 13 touchdowns with a 67.5% completion rate. He also leads Los Angeles in rushing yards outside of the backfield, underscoring his dual-threat capability.

Herbert’s favorite target, Keenan Allen, remains reliable with 44 catches for 435 yards and four touchdowns. Rookie tight end Oronde Gadsden II adds another dynamic weapon after a breakout performance against Indianapolis with 164 yards and a touchdown.

To secure the cover, the Chargers must overcome their injury-riddled offensive line and protect Herbert against Minnesota’s high-pressure defense. The Vikings blitz at the second-highest rate in the NFL, a key matchup variable entering Thursday’s contest.

Why the Vikings Can Cover

Minnesota’s offense continues to thrive despite adversity. Carson Wentz has added a vertical dimension to the attack, with Justin Jefferson regaining top form, recording 100+ yards in two of his last three games. Running back Jordan Mason provides balance with 380 rushing yards and four touchdowns through six games.

Offensive line health remains a concern – the Vikings have used five different starting combinations this year – but their quick-pass system and play-action approach help mitigate that weakness. Defensively, Minnesota’s pressure schemes under Brian Flores could cause disruption for a banged-up Chargers front.

Expert and Model Predictions

SportsLine expert Emory Hunt, who enters TNF on a 19–6 streak against the spread in Chargers games, expects a tight contest leaning toward the underdog Vikings.Sports betting site Covers forecasts Minnesota’s team total Over 20.5 (-112) as the best value play, citing Los Angeles’ bottom-ranked defense in yards per play allowed across the last three games.

The same-game parlay gaining traction among bettors includes:

Vikings Moneyline (+145)
Both Teams to Score 15+ Points (-195)
Carson Wentz Over 222.5 Pass Yards (-114)
Justin Jefferson Over 75.5 Receiving Yards (-118)

Key Betting Trends

Chargers have hit the 3rd Quarter Over in 15 of their last 19 games (+10.15 units ROI).
Vikings are 5-1 to the Over this season, averaging 24.3 points per game.
Both teams rank top ten in pressure rate, making turnovers and pocket discipline crucial to determining the outcome.

Final Prediction

Minnesota’s passing game is finding rhythm, and the Chargers’ defense has struggled to contain explosive plays in recent weeks. While Los Angeles has home-field advantage and superior quarterback continuity, the Vikings’ balanced approach and emergence of Carson Wentz as a confident starter make them a live underdog.

Prediction: Vikings 27, Chargers 24Best Bet: Vikings +3.5 | Team Total Over 20.5