Minnesota @ Los Angeles preview

Last Meeting ( Aug 28, 2016 ) Los Angeles 10, Minnesota 23

The Minnesota Vikings look to move closer to a playoff spot when they visit the Los Angeles Chargers on Sunday. Minnesota is one game ahead of the Los Angeles Rams in the battle for the NFC's second wild-card spot and stands one game behind the first-place Green Bay Packers in the NFC North.

The Chargers have been eliminated from playoff contention but that hasn't prevented Vikings coach Mike Zimmer from worrying about veteran quarterback Philip Rivers, who passed for 314 yards and three touchdowns in last Sunday's 45-10 rout of the host Jacksonville Jaguars. "He's always been very smart," Zimmer said of Rivers during a press conference. "He's always been a great competitor. You think that at some point the arm strength will go down a little bit, but he had a couple bombs in that game." Los Angeles established season highs for points, total offense (525 yards) and first downs (27) against Jacksonville and faces a challenge in a Vikings' defense that has allowed 14 or fewer points on five occasions. Minnesota star receiver Adam Thielen (hamstring) said Thursday he is hopeful of playing after missing four straight games and five of the past six.

TV: 4:05 p.m. ET, CBS. LINE: Vikings -2.5. O/U: 45

ABOUT THE VIKINGS (9-4): Star defensive end Danielle Hunter recorded three sacks in last Sunday's 20-7 victory over the Detroit Lions to raise his season total to 12.5 and career count to 52.5 to become the youngest player (25 years, 40 days) in NFL history to reach 50 career sacks, passing Robert Quinn (25 years, 167 days). "Danielle is a beast," Minnesota linebacker Eric Kendricks told reporters. "I'm proud of that guy. ... He works hard and knows his skill set. He is truly a team player and really cares about the next guy, so it's no surprise he's having the success he's having." The Vikings' running back/receiver combo of Dalvin Cook (1,108 rushing yards) and Stefon Diggs (997 receiving) are on the verge of becoming the first club duo to each gain 1,000 since Adrian Peterson (1,383 rushing) and Sidney Rice (1,312 receiving) in 2009.

ABOUT THE CHARGERS (5-8): Running back Austin Ekeler (career-high 101 rushing on eight carries, 112 receiving on four receptions) topped 100 yards rushing and 100 yards receiving on 12 touches against Jacksonville, the fewest in NFL history to break the mark of 15 shared by Ollie Matson (1954) of the Chicago Cardinals and Herschel Walker (1986) of the Dallas Cowboys. "I want my role to be very diverse," Ekeler told reporters. "I can form to your team or to any team, and this team, just fill needs within the team. So I just want to be consistent with what I'm doing and keep growing my game." Defensive end Joey Bosa had two sacks against the Jaguars to raise his season count to 10.5 for his third double-digit sack campaign in four NFL seasons.

EXTRA POINTS

1. The Vikings won the most recent meeting 31-14 on Sept. 27, 2015 despite Chargers WR Keenan Allen making 12 catches for 133 yards and two touchdowns.

2. Minnesota QB Kirk Cousins has thrown 21 touchdown passes against two interceptions in the past nine games.

3. Rivers has thrown 20 touchdown passes - the 14th straight season in which he has reached that mark.

PREDICTION: Vikings 30, Chargers 27