Two teams that were in the playoffs last season and have struggled over the past month meet tonight in Los Angeles when the Chargers host the Minnesota Vikings. Opening with three straight wins that included a victory over the defending AFC Champion Kansas City Chiefs, Jim Harbaugh’s team appeared among the elite in the National Football League.
Not so much since.
Over their past four games the Chargers only win was a last second field goal that got them by the suspect Miami Dolphins. Their losses came against the New York Giants, Washington Commanders and Indianapolis Colts. The losses to Washington and Indianapolis were on the Chargers home field.
A week ago, Los Angeles was favored over the high-flying Colts and lost by two touchdowns. Tonight, they are favored over the visiting Vikings and there are a lot of good reasons to think this is where the Chargers get back on track. That would be for more certain if we were sure they have hit rock bottom.
But, being favored is not usually a sign of rock bottom.
Their opponent tonight, may also be at rock bottom. Last week, at home against the defending Super Bowl Champion Philadelphia Eagles, the Vikings lost by virtue of inept play in the redzone and a pick six that staked the Eagles to an early double-digit lead enroute to a six-point road win.