Vikings-Charger Snapshot

With top-of-the-line running games from both teams and highly ranked run defenses, this could be a classic battle of trying to establish the run.

Sunday
Arizona Cardinals (3-4) at Tampa Bay Buccaneers (4-4)
Carolina Panthers (4-3) at Tennessee Titans (5-2)
Cincinnati Bengals (2-5) at Buffalo Bills (3-4)
Denver Broncos (3-4) at Detroit Lions (5-2)
Green Bay Packers (6-1) at Kansas City Chiefs (4-3)
Jacksonville Jaguars (5-2) at New Orleans Saints (3-4)
San Francisco 49ers (2-5) at Atlanta Falcons (1-6)
Washington Redskins (5-3) at New York Jets (1-6)
Seattle Seahawks (4-3) at Cleveland Browns (4-3)
Houston Texans (3-5) at Oakland Raiders (2-5)
New England Patriots (8-0) at Indianapolis Colts (7-0)
Dallas Cowboys (6-1) at Philadelphia Eagles (3-4)
Monday
Baltimore Ravens (4-3) at Pittsburgh Steelers (5-2)

San Diego Chargers (4-3) at Minnesota Vikings (2-5)

KICKOFF: Sunday, 1:00 ET
GAMEDATE: 11/4/07
SURFACE: FieldTurf
TV: CBS, Greg Gumbel, Dan Dierdorf

SERIES

10th meeting. Chargers lead series, 5-4. The Chargers prevailed the last time these teams played, winning 42-28 in San Diego. But the Chargers haven’t won in Minnesota since 1993; they lost there in 1999.

KEYS TO THE GAME

WR Chris Chambers is having exactly the impact the Chargers hoped for. Not only did he catch a touchdown in his first game for San Diego, he opened the field for TE Antonio Gates to catch two touchdowns in the first half last Sunday.

Minnesota allows just 74.4 yards per game on the ground, so RB LaDainian Tomlinson will have to work for every inch. But with several big-play weapons now at his disposal, Chargers QB Philip Rivers will take aim at the Vikings’ NFL-worst pass defense (288.3 yards per game).

The Vikings’ weekly quarterback carousel is likely to stop on Tarvaris Jackson this week after he missed last Sunday’s game. Brooks Bollinger will replace Jackson if he can’t start or finish.

RB Adrian Peterson has taken the feature role from Chester Taylor, but Minnesota needs to involve the rookie more in the passing game to combat the eight-man fronts the Vikings are constantly facing. San Diego allows just 3.6 yards per carry, so this could be a titanic clash.

KEY INJURIES

Chargers: C Nick Hardwick (foot) is out 1-2 more weeks, replaced by Cory Withrow; DT Jamal Williams (knees) appears ready to return; OLB Shaun Phillips (groin), CB Quentin Jammer (hamstring) and WR Craig Davis (ankle sprain) could be game-time decisions.

Vikings: Jackson (fractured index finger) is limited in practice but expected to start, and primary backup Kelly Holcomb (neck) is out at least a game; WR Bobby Wade (knee) is uncertain and WR Troy Williamson (personal) won’t play.


FAST FACTS

Tomlinson needs four rushing touchdowns to tie Walter Payton (110) for third-most all-time.

The Vikings are the only NFL team to score on every red-zone possession this season. Unfortunately they’ve driven inside the 20 a league-low nine times (four TDs, five FGs).