Minnesota Vikings: 3 Bold predictions vs. Chargers, Week 15
3. Vikings need Thielen back to get the win
The Vikings are going to need wide receiver Adam Thielen back on the field and healthy in order to pick up the road victory. Thielen has been dealing with a nagging hamstring injury that has sidelined him for a handful of games in the heart of the 2019 campaign, but the wide receiver is looking like he will be back on the field for the purple and gold sooner rather than later as the Vikings prepare to make a run at the playoffs in the final three games.
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The absence of Thielen has been felt in the passing game within Minnesota’s offensive unit over the past few weeks, with Thielen always being that reliable target all around the field that pairs well alongside fellow wide receiver Stefon Diggs and tight end targets Kyle Rudolph and Irv Smith Jr. in an offense led by quarterback Kirk Cousins.
If Thielen is able to get back onto the field for Minnesota this Sunday in Los Angeles, he will obviously provide a big, much-needed boost to the Vikings offense and they might need just that in order to get the win on the road.
Up to this point in the season, the Chargers have been impressive when it comes to defending the passing game on the defensive side of the ball. Los Angeles has allowed opponents to throw for 2,556 yards per game this season, which is the fourth-lowest total in the NFL through 14 weeks of play. Opposing offenses are managing to average just 196.6 yards per game through the air against the Chargers this year.
Not only would it be big to get Thielen back with just three games remaining in the regular season schedule, but the Vikings might need the wide receiver to get back onto the field in order to help them steal a win on the road in Week 15.