The Week 8 edition of Thursday Night Football features a couple of teams with playoff aspirations who desperately need to put their foot on the gas, with the Los Angeles Chargers playing host to the Minnesota Vikings.
Despite dropping three of their last four games, the Chargers are favored by three.
However, my Vikings vs. Chargers predictions and NFL picks expect a capable Vikings offense to take advantage of a seriously fading Chargers defense. Let’s break it down for Thursday, October 23.
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Vikings vs Chargers prediction
Vikings vs Chargers Best bet: Vikings team total Over 20.5 (-112)
The Los Angeles Chargers seem to get a pass when it comes to negative media coverage, but facts are facts, and their defense has been awful.
Over their last three games, they rank dead-last in the NFL in yards per play allowed, with the Commanders, Dolphins, and Colts all reaching at least 27 points.
The game against the Colts is especially concerning for the Chargers, as Indianapolis dropped 38 on them in just three quarters. They were dominated through the air and on the ground, and allowed touchdowns in four of five red-zone trips from the Colts.
Pass defense has become an increasing issue for Los Angeles as its last three games have seen an average of 7.6 yards per pass attempt, the NFL's sixth-worst mark in this span.
The Minnesota Vikings will exploit that poor pass defense. You can make fun of Carson Wentz all you want, but he has two separate 300+ yard passing games in his last three starts. Justin Jefferson has found a nice groove, topping 100 yards in two of his last three games.
Also specific to Wentz and this number of 20.5, Minnesota has reached at least 21 points in all four Wentz starts this season.
It’s been an unusual start to 2025 for the Vikings, with Wentz stepping in for J.J. McCarthy, along with back-to-back games in Europe, but this should be a great opportunity to find their footing and for the offense to dominate a struggling defense.
Vikings vs Chargers TNF same-game parlay
Reaching the 15-point mark won't be a sweat for either team. The Vikings' path to victory will come through the air against a struggling pass defense, and Wentz is averaging an impressive 299.6 passing yards per game over his last three. Meanwhile, the Vikings' pass rush, which ranks second in the NFL in pressure rate, should get enough stops to keep the Vikings ahead.
Vikings vs Chargers SGP
- Vikings moneyline
- Both teams to score 15+ points
- Carson Wentz Over 222.5 passing yards
Our big-ticket SGP: Justin Jefferson Airplane
Jefferson is once again looking like a top-tier receiver in the NFL with totals of 126, 123, and 79 over his last three games, and it's no coincidence that he has double-digit targets in all three. With the Vikings passing at the third-highest percentage in the league in this span, expect these patterns to continue.
Vikings vs Chargers SGP
- Vikings moneyline
- Both teams to score 15+ points
- Carson Wentz Over 222.5 passing yards
- Justin Jefferson Over 75.5 receiving yards
Vikings vs Chargers odds
- Spread: Minnesota +3 | Los Angeles -4
- Moneyline: Minnesota +155 | Los Angeles -185
- Over/Under: Over 44.5 | Under 44.5
Vikings vs Chargers betting trend to know
The Los Angeles Chargers have hit the 3Q Game Total Over in 15 of their last 19 games (+10.15 Units / 45% ROI). Find more NFL betting trends for Vikings vs. Chargers.
How to watch Vikings vs Chargers
| Location | SoFi Stadium, Inglewood, CA |
| Date | Thursday, October 23, 2025 |
| Kickoff | 8:15 p.m. ET |
| TV | Amazon Prime |
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