Minnesota Vikings vs Los Angeles Chargers Prediction, Odds and TNF Picks for Thursday, 10/23/25

Thursday night games are always tough to predict. In general, there are more outlier results than most contests. Take, for example, the last three weeks, when the 49ers, Giants, and Bengals all won outright as considerable underdogs. This game provides an even tougher challenge to handicap, since the Chargers and Vikings are wholly unfamiliar opponents that only face each other once every four years. Adding to the puzzle is the fact that both outfits are entering Week 8 following losses at home.

From a coaching perspective, this is a very evenly matched battle. Jim Harbaugh’s prowess as a football coach is common knowledge at this point, a former quarterback who’s as good as any head-man at cultivating his franchise leader, and Harbaugh’s teams are usually known for their playing tough, hard-hitting style. Kevin O’Connell is right there with his elder, one of the NFL’s best young minds who produced multiple playoff rosters with multiple quarterbacks in just four years at the helm. 

The most significant difference between the Chargers and Vikings is health. LAC is undergoing a crisis, with important players like left tackle Joe Alt and linebacker Khalil Mack now missing multiple games. Their running back room has also been decimated. Najee Harris was out before the season began and their promising rookie, Omarion Hampton, is on the injured reserve. In Week 7 they only ran for 54 yards against the Colts, forcing Justin Herbert to throw 55 times in what ended up being a blowout loss. 

Minnesota has their share of injuries too (linebacker Andrew Van Ginkel, running back Aaron Jones, center Ryan Kelly) but they’re in a better overall position. The Vikings’ depth has proved formidable. Carson Wentz will make his fourth start of the season on Thursday and he’s mostly played well, and O’Connell’s roster still has game-changing star power on both sides of their roster. We can’t support the direction of the home team here.

Vikings vs Chargers prediction: Vikings +3 (-110) available at time of publishing. Playable at that number.

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