STADIUM: U.S. Bank Stadium
REFEREE: Shawn Smith
DATE: Sunday, September 24, 2023
GAME TIME: 1:00 PM ET
FOX: Kevin Kugler, Mark Sanchez, Laura Okmin
SiriusXM (also available on the SXM App) LAC: 99 or 389 MIN: 113 or 232
ALL-TIME SERIES HISTORY
REG. SEASON: MIN leads series, 8-6 (won past 3)
POSTSEASON: —
THE LAST TIME …
REG. SEASON: 11/14/21: MIN 27 at LAC 20
POSTSEASON: —
HEAD COACHES NOTES:
Brandon Staley vs. Opponent (incl. postseason): 1-0 Reg. Season: 19-17 (.528) Postseason: 0-1 (.000)
Kevin O’Connell vs. Opponent (incl. postseason): 0-0 Reg. Season: 13-6 (.684) Postseason: 0-1 (.000)
LOS ANGELES CHARGERS NOTES:
- QB JUSTIN HERBERT passed for 305 yards & 2 TDs vs. 0 INTs with 104.2 rating last week, his 23rd-career game with 300+ pass yards, surpassing HOFer Dan Marino for 3rd-most such games ever by QB in 1st 4 seasons. Has 8 TDs (7 pass, 1 rush) vs. 0 INTs with 107 rating over his past 4 in reg. season.
- RB AUSTIN EKELER had TD catch in last meeting. Has 4 rush TDs in his past 3 on road, incl. playoffs. Has 393 catches in 90 career games & can become 4th-fastest RB ever to reach 400 catches.
- WR KEENAN ALLEN had 8 catches for team-high 111 yards & 2 TDs last week, his 9th-career game with 2+ rec. TDs. Has 5+ catches in 10 straight games, tied 2nd-longest active streak in NFL. Aims for his 4th in row on road with 100+ rec. yards. Has 29 catches & 330 rec. yards (110 per game) in 3 career games vs. Min., with 8+ catches & 95+ rec. yards in each game.
- WR MIKE WILLIAMS had 8 catches for 83 yards in Week 2. Has 75+ rec. yards in 7 of his past 8 on road.
- TE GERALD EVERETT had 47 rec. yards last week. Had 5 catches for 54 yards in his last game vs. Min. (9/26/21 w/ Sea.).
- LB JOEY BOSA led team with 2 sacks in Week 2, his 11th-career game with 2+ sacks. Had sack & FF in last meeting. Aims for his 4th in row on road with TFL.
- LB KHALIL MACK had 5 tackles & PD last week.
- LB KENNETH MURRAY had 10 tackles, 2 TFL & 1st sack of season last week. Had TFL in last meeting.
- LB TULI TUIPULOTU (rookie) had 1st-career sack in Week 2. Aims for 3rd in row with TFL.
- S DERWIN JAMES led team with 11 tackles last week, his 3rd-straight game with 6+ tackles. Has PD in 3 of his past 4. Had 8+ tackles in both career games vs. Min. incl. 12 tackles & PD in last meeting.
MINNESOTA VIKINGS NOTES:
- QB KIRK COUSINS completed 31 of 44 atts. (70.5 pct.) for 364 yards & 4 TDs vs. 0 INTs for 125.6 rating, his 48th-career 300- yard game & 8th-career game with 4+ TD passes. Can become 5th QB ever with 325+ pass yards & 2+ TD passes in each of his team’s 1st 3 games of season. Is 9-2 with 25 TDs (23 pass, 2 rush) vs. 5 INTs for 102.5 rating in his past 11 home starts. Passed for 294 yards & 2 TDs vs. 0 INTs for 109.5 rating in last meeting.
- WR JUSTIN JEFFERSON had 11 catches for 159 yards in Week 2. Has 10 career games with 150+ rec. yards, tied with HOFer Lance Alworth (10) for most by player in his 1st 4 seasons in NFL history. Has 5,134 rec. yards in 52 career games, tied with Alworth (52) for fewest games to reach 5,000 rec. yards in NFL history. Is 5th player since 1970 with 150+ rec. yards in each of his team’s 1st 2 games of season & 1st since 2011 (Steve Smith). Can become 1st player since 2013 (Josh Gordon) with 150+ rec. yards in 3 straight games. Has 100+ rec. yards in 3 straight games twice in his career (Weeks 4-6 & Weeks 14-16 in 2022). Had 9 catches for 143 yards in last meeting.
- WR JORDAN ADDISON can become 5th rookie ever with 50+ rec. yards & rec. TD in each of his 1st 3 career games.
- TE T.J. HOCKENSON had 7 catches for 66 yards & 2 rec. TDs in Week 2, his 3rd-career game with 2 rec. TDs. Has 7+ catches in 4 of his past 5. Can become 3rd TE ever with 7+ receptions in each of his team’s 1st 3 games of a season.
- LB DANIELLE HUNTER had 3 sacks in Week 2, his 4th-career game with 3+ sacks. Aims for his 3rd in row with sack & 2+ TFL. Had sack, 2 FF & FR in his only career game vs. LAC (12/15/19).
- DL HARRISON PHILLIPS had career-high 13 tackles last week.
- S CAMRYN BYNUM career-high 15 tackles last week.
