The Chargers beat the Vikings with a full team effort, including some notable performances by the youngsters on the roster.
After being a non-factor for most of his rookie season, defensive lineman Justin Eboigbe sacked Carson Wentz twice, doubling his sack total on the year in one game. Rookie seventh-round safety R.J. Mickens also picked off Wentz late to all but seal the game.
Second-year back Kimani Vidal also pulled the wagon plenty in his third start, once again rushing for over 100 yards with
a score.
A game like Thursday night’s shellacking deserves a lot of player spotlights, so let’s get into it. Here are five winners and three losers from the Chargers’ win over the Vikings in primetime.
Winners
QB Justin Herbert
Apart the almost-interception to begin the game — and the other actual interception later on — this was another stellar performance from Herbert over the Minnesota Vikings.
After nearly gifting the Vikings a touchdown on his first pass attempt, Herbert responded by throwing for just under 200 yards and two scores in the first half. He could have had an even bigger day, but the run game was churning along so well that the Chargers did not have to lean on Herbert at all in the final 30 minutes.
RB Kimani Vidal
For the second time in three games, Vidal has eclipsed the century mark. On Thursday night, he rushed for 117 yards on 23 carries with a touchdown. He ran hard and looked as if he was only getting better and better as the game went on. He had numerous runs of over 10 yards and he made Justin Herbert’s job a lot easier in the second half.
DL Justin Eboigbe
Eboigbe has taken over the mantle as the best interior pass rusher for the Chargers after leading the defense with two sacks of Carson Wentz. He now has four sacks on the year to go with four tackles for loss. He’s play has been huge with former starter Da’Shawn Hand still on IR since Week Five.
TE Oronde Gadsden II
Gadsden continued his first-year breakout by catching five passes for 77 yards and a second touchdown in as many games, all of which came in the first half. He unfortunately couldn’t stack on any more yards in the second half but the Chargers essentially ran the ball for the final 30 minutes so he’s certainly not to blame for falling off.
With the lowly Titans on the docket for Week Nine, I’d expect another standout game for Gadsden.
WR Ladd McConkey
McConkey caught another touchdown and led the Chargers in both receptions (six) and receiving yards (88). After going scoreless through the team’s first four games of the year, McConkey has caught a touchdown in three of the last four outings and has 255 receiving yards over the last three.
For those that thought McConkey’s time as WR1 was over, he’s right back where he left off as a rookie.
Losers
WR Quentin Johnston
I’m not sure what happened to Johnston’s use in the passing game but we just saw the team leader in touchdown receptions — and truly the team’s top wideout through the first month of the year — go without a single target while playing the entire game on Thursday night.
Johnston played 38 snaps on the night, just a little more than half the total opportunities possible. His step back in production is almost understandable with the way McConkey and Gadsden have been performing, and I think it’s safe to say the Chargers somehow have a pretty large group of pass catchers just one season after having serious questions regarding the weapons around Herbert.
C Bradley Bozeman
Bozeman allowed three pressures from the Vikings defense and ended the game with the team’s lowest pass block grade game (19.1). That’s REALLY bad.
Is it finally time to give Andre James a look or are the Chargers going to wait until something seriously bad happens?
OG/T Foster Sarell
Sarell allowed a team-high six pressures while filling in for starter Mekhi Becton at right guard. He played all but six snaps and struggled against the likes of Jonathan Allen and Javon Hargrave. Usually backup Jamaree Salyer was inactive despite being a participant in practice all week.
Here’s to hoping Becton can get healthy fast and stay that way sooner rather than later.
