Chargers vs. Vikings Week 3: By the Numbers

The Vikings and Chargers are both putting up points this year, but it hasn’t translated into any wins thus far.

The Chargers and Vikings are set to clash this weekend in a battle between kindred spirits.

Both are 0-2. Both have lost each game this season by one score. Both are still two of the top offenses in the NFL.

So what’s the issue here? For the Chargers, it’s their bottom-ranked defense.

For the Vikings, they haven’t been able to stop shooting themselves in the foot with turnovers. They have given the ball away six times this season with five of those being fumbles. Quarterback Kirk Cousins has been responsible for three of them while Alexander Mattison and Justin Jefferson each have one on their record. I don’t know about you, but it’s going to be tough to win any game when the top offensive player at three different positions are the ones giving the ball back to the opponent.

The real question is: How is this one going to end? Someone is going to have to make a final field goal, score a touchdown when needed, or keep the ball safe from harm. Can either of these teams break their bad habits for one game? Stay tuned to find out!

With that said, let’s go ahead and jump into the numbers!

*Team statistics all via ESPN Stats. Individual stats via Pro Football Reference.

Chargers Offense

Total yards per game: 387.5 (4th)
Points per game: 29.0 (6th)
Passing yards per game: 240.5 (11th)
Rushing yards per game: 147.0 (5th)

Top Performers

Passing: QB Justin Herbert – 534 passing yards, three touchdowns
Rushing yards: RB Josh Kelley – 130
Rushing touchdowns: Three tied w/ one
Receiving yards: WR Keenan Allen – 187
Receptions: WR Keenan Allen – 14
Receiving touchdowns: WR Keenan Allen – Two

Chargers Defense

Total yards allowed per game: 438.5 (32nd)
Points allowed per game: 31.5 (30th)
Passing yards allowed per game: 333.0 (32nd)
Rushing yards allowed per game: 105.5 (15th)

Top Performers

Tackles: S Alohi Gilman, S Derwin James – 17
Tackles for loss: Three tied w/ two
Sacks: Joey Bosa – Two
Passes Defended: CB J.C Jackson – Three
Interceptions: J.C. Jackson – One
Forced fumbles: None
Fumble recoveries: DT Nick Williams – One

Vikings Offense

Total yards per game: 371.5 (8th)
Points per game: 22.5 (18th)
Passing yards per game: 337.0 (2nd)
Rushing yards per game: 34.5 (32nd)

Top Performers

Passing: QB Kirk Cousins – 708 passing yards, six touchdowns
Rushing yards: RB Alexander Mattison – 62
Rushing touchdowns: None
Receiving yards: WR Justin Jefferson – 309
Receptions: WR Justin Jefferson – 20
Receiving Touchdowns: WR Jordan Addison, TE T.J. Hockenson – Two

Vikings Defense

Total yards allowed per game: 335.0 (17th)
Points allowed per game: 27.0 (26th)
Passing yards allowed per game: 170.0 (8th)
Rushing yards allowed per game: 166.0 (29th)

Top Performers

Tackles: S Cam Bynum – 25
Tackles for loss: EDGE Danielle Hunter – Five
Sacks: EDGE Danielle Hunter – Four
Passes Defended: CB Akayleb Evans – Three
Interceptions: S Theo Jackson – One
Forced fumbles: LB Troy Dye – One
Fumble recoveries: None