The Los Angeles Chargers delivered their most complete performance of the 2025 season, dismantling the Minnesota Vikings 37-10 on Thursday night at SoFi Stadium. Quarterback Justin Herbert orchestrated a flawless offensive display while the defense suffocated Minnesota throughout the evening.

Herbert completed passes for 227 yards and three touchdowns while adding 62 rushing yards on the ground, demonstrating the dual-threat capability that makes him one of the league's most dangerous quarterbacks. His touchdown connections included an 8-yard strike to rookie tight end Oronde Gadsden II, a 27-yard scoring pass to second-year receiver Ladd McConkey, and a 6-yard touchdown to fellow rookie Tre Harris.

The Chargers ground game proved equally devastating. Running back Kimani Vidal rushed for 117 yards and added a 3-yard touchdown run, part of a dominant performance that saw Los Angeles amass 207 rushing yards compared to Minnesota's meager 34. The offensive explosion marked the first time this season the Chargers scored 30 or more points, and remarkably, they accomplished the feat without punting a single time.

It was a big win for us, a big opportunity for us to go correct some more mistakes, Herbert said after the game, reflecting on the team's bounce-back mentality following a 38-24 loss to Indianapolis the previous week.

For the Vikings, the night represented a continuation of their recent struggles. Backup quarterback Carson Wentz, filling in for injured starter J.J. McCarthy, completed just 15 of 27 passes for 144 yards, throwing one touchdown and one interception while being sacked five times by the relentless Chargers defense. His lone scoring pass came on a 4-yard connection with Jordan Addison that briefly cut the deficit to 24-10, but the Vikings never threatened after that.

The statistical dominance told the full story. Minnesota managed only 12 first downs compared to the Chargers' 29, converted just 3 of 11 third-down attempts, and controlled possession for a mere 21 minutes. Vikings head coach Kevin O'Connell didn't shy away from the performance, stating: This is not a bury-the-tape kind of time for our organization. This is a watch it, view it, own it.

Chargers coach Jim Harbaugh praised his team's response to adversity. The team really responded. They went back to work after Sunday, he noted, highlighting the professional mindset that led to Thursday's comprehensive victory.

The win improves the Chargers to 5-3 on the season and 3-2 at home, keeping them firmly in playoff contention in the competitive AFC. Meanwhile, the Vikings drop to 3-4 and 2-2 on the road, suffering their second consecutive loss in just five days and facing questions about their ability to compete without their starting quarterback.

As both teams look ahead to the remainder of the season, the Chargers appear to have found their offensive rhythm at precisely the right time, while Minnesota must regroup quickly to avoid falling further behind in the NFC playoff race.