Chargers steady their season with convincing win over Vikings: ‘Everybody was just fed up’

INGLEWOOD, Calif. — Amid the chaos of a short week, the Los Angeles Chargers found balance. They found themselves. They found their identity. They steadied a season that was teetering on the edge.

That is what Thursday night’s runaway 37-10 victory over the Minnesota Vikings represented. The Chargers entered this game having lost three of four. This performance felt like an emphatic end to a troublesome stretch — not just because the Chargers won, but how they won. They played with energy and effort and physicality and violence. They controlled the line of scrimmage on both sides of the ball.

The Chargers looked in the mirror after a blowout loss to the Indianapolis Colts four days ago. They did not like what they saw. They vowed to change. They put that promise into action. And the reflection that appeared Thursday night was far closer to coach Jim Harbaugh’s vision for his football team.

“I think everybody was just fed up,” receiver Ladd McConkey said.

Joe Alt returned from his high ankle sprain and started at left tackle for the first time since Week 1. Khalil Mack, after playing only 12 snaps in his first game back off injured reserve against the Colts, graduated to a more prominent role in this win over the Vikings.

Those two players significantly influenced how the Chargers played in the trenches.

“He’s an impact player,” linebacker Daiyan Henley said of Mack, “and obviously you felt him out there today.”

“He’s someone that pushes everybody around him,” left guard Zion Johnson said of Alt.

A Chargers defense that had struggled to stop the run in recent weeks held Vikings running backs Aaron Jones and Jordan Mason to 18 yards rushing on nine carries. They sacked Carson Wentz five times. They held the Vikings to 164 net yards and 3-for-11 on third down.

“We know where we can go,” Henley said. “We know what type of team we have. We have to make sure we put that out there.”

The Chargers had given up 27 explosive plays from Weeks 5 to 7. They did not give up a play of more than 17 yards against the Vikings.

They were running to the ball. They were hitting with pop and purpose.

“The team really responded,” Harbaugh said.

Offensively, the Chargers largely handled the blitz looks from Vikings defensive coordinator Brian Flores. Justin Herbert completed 14 of 17 passes for 189 yards and three touchdowns against the blitz, according to TruMedia. He also scrambled for 34 yards on four carries against the Vikings blitzes.

“We were prepared for a lot of the blitzes that they were going to bring,” Herbert said.

Herbert’s legs were a separator in the game. He finished with 62 yards on seven carries. He amassed 3.98 expected points added on scrambles in the game, according to TruMedia — his most EPA produced on scrambles this season and the second most in a game since Harbaugh took over as coach.

“He’s like another running back back there,” McConkey said of Herbert. “People underestimate his running ability, so you got to respect it.”

The Chargers led 21-3 heading into halftime after Herbert and McConkey connected on a 21-yard touchdown with less a minute remaining in the second quarter. McConkey beat Vikings cornerback Jeff Okudah on the outside with a shifty release.

In the second half, the Chargers’ offensive line and running back Kimani Vidal took over the game. Vidal rushed for 93 yards on 12 carries in the final two quarters. The Chargers still are not 100 percent along their offensive line. Right guard Mekhi Becton left the game in the first quarter with a knee injury. He was replaced by Foster Sarell. Bobby Hart started at right tackle.

Nonetheless, the Chargers imposed their will on the ground down the stretch.

“Very pleased with the physicality of the team tonight,” Harbaugh said.

The Chargers continue to play Whac-A-Mole with injuries. Alt is back. Mack is back. But star safety Derwin James Jr. left the game after the first drive with an ankle injury. He returned to the sideline for the second half in a walking boot.

Veteran safety Tony Jefferson suffered a hamstring injury in the game. That forced rookie RJ Mickens into action. He intercepted Wentz in the fourth quarter.

Mickens was just one of many young players to step up in this win. Rookie tight end Oronde Gadsden had five catches for 77 yards and a touchdown. Gadsden now has over 300 yards receiving in his last three games. Second-year defensive lineman Justin Eboigbe had two sacks. Vidal, the second-year back, is starting to stack solid performances with Omarion Hampton (ankle) and Najee Harris (Achilles) both out. Rookie Tre’ Harris had his first career touchdown catch in the fourth quarter.

“They’re getting their opportunity, and they’re capitalizing, making the most of it,” Harbaugh said. “I love that drive that our team has.”

It was not perfect, by any means. The Chargers caught a huge break on their second offensive play of the game. Vikings defensive back Josh Metellus came free on a blitz out of the slot. He hit Herbert as he threw. Cornerback Isaiah Rodgers picked off the pass and returned it for a touchdown. It was overturned on replay, however, with Rodgers slightly losing possession as the ball hit the ground.

Herbert completed his next six passes, including the touchdown to Gadsden.

“That near-interception, that shakes a lot of guys,” Harbaugh said. “Not Justin Herbert. Not the great ones.”

Justin Herbert completed 18 of 25 passes for 225 yards and three touchdowns. (Harry How / Getty Images)

In the third quarter, Herbert threw late across the middle of the field. The ball was batted and picked off by Metellus. The Chargers should have held the Vikings to a field goal six plays later, but they were called for too many men on the field. The Vikings opted to go for it on fourth-and-goal from the 8-yard line after the penalty. Cornerback Benjamin St-Juste was called for illegal contact. On the ensuing first down, the Vikings scored their only touchdown of the game.

A sloppy stretch in all three phases.

Herbert responded by engineering a 12-play touchdown drive.

“We knew if we don’t beat ourselves we’re going to be hard to beat,” McConkey said.

The Chargers do not play another football game for 10 days. Players will have four days off before returning to practice Tuesday. They have some time now to get rested and get healthier.

The injuries have mounted to starter after starter. Those could have sunk a lesser team.

The Chargers are still here, fighting — “battle-tested,” as Harbaugh put it.

They looked inward, and they reignited a fire.

“Now it’s about continuing this momentum, because we can’t ride the wave,” Henley said. “This is a high for us, but now it’s back to even-keeled, because we have to do this consistently.”