Vikings Aim to Ground the Chargers by Replicating Run-Stopping Success Against the Eagles
After losing to the Philadelphia Eagles 28-22 on Sunday, the Minnesota Vikings head to the West Coast to face the Los Angeles Chargers on Thursday Night Football.
Even after a heartbreaking loss to the Eagles on Sunday, the team had some positives to take away from that contest. Chief among them is their ability to stop Saquon Barkley and Philadelphia’s run attack.
However, the Vikings can take the electricity out of the Chargers by replicating what they did Sunday against the Eagles and stopping the run.
In Sunday’s contest, Brian Flores’ defense limited last season’s NFL Offensive Player of the Year to just 44 yards on 18 carries and no touchdowns.
Barkley isn’t having anywhere near the production he had last season. He has yet to rush for 100 yards. Still, he is a back who can truly test a team’s run defense.
The fact that players like Jonathan Greenard, Jalen Redmond, and Eric Wilson are making impact plays in the run game and consistently get to Barkley at or before the line of scrimmage drove the run defense’s success.
Coming into the season, PFF gave the Eagles the best overall grade on the offensive line. The Vikings imposed their will on a fairly consistent basis, making it hard not to have hope that this same defensive front will give a run-first head coach like Harbaugh headaches all game long.
You don’t need to ask J.J. McCarthy, who played for Harbaugh in Michigan, about his run-first mentality. If you examine his coaching career in college and the pros, it’s easy to see that the Chargers’ head coach values his offensive line and a downhill running back.
During his first NFL head coaching stint with the San Francisco 49ers, Harbaugh’s team had the second-fewest yards in the passing game. It focused heavily on Frank Gore, providing Colin Kaepernick with option routes to utilize his speed and make plays happen.
After four NFL seasons and a Coach of the Year win, Harbaugh took that same run-first mentality to Michigan. He spent eight seasons coaching the Wolverines, the final three of which were under McCarthy’s leadership.
The Wolverines consistently employed a run-first mentality, which helped impose their will on any opponent on any given week, much to their head coach’s liking.
After winning the National Championship in 2023, the Chargers hired Harbaugh. He consistently demonstrates that he intends to play this physical style of football, where the run game sets up the pass to dictate game flow and grind out a win.
While he’s currently missing his workhorse rookie running back, Omarion Hampton, out with an ankle injury, don’t expect Harbaugh to stop trying to impose his will with the Chargers’ run game. He uses the run game to open the passing game for Herbert and get stars like Ladd McConkey and Keenan Allen going.
Success for Minnesota starts with forcing Harbaugh to go to Herbert early. They must trust that Isaiah Rodgers, Harrison Smith, and the defense will secure crucial takeaways. However, the Vikings have a minus-six turnover differential over the last three games.
To win in LA, Minnesota’s run defense must make massive stops and create opportunities for the backs to come up big with much-needed turnovers. The football world knows what Jim Harbaugh‘s offense relies heavily on. It will be up to the same defense that stuffed Saquon Barkley to take the electricity out of SoFi Stadium.
Blockbuster Proposed Trade Sends Cowboys a $160 Million 6-Time Pro Bowl Star
The Dallas Cowboys continue to be linked to star pass rushers as potential replacement options for Micah Parsons. Dallas has been floated as a possible landing spot for Las Vegas Raiders star Maxx Crosby.
The challenge is the Raiders may not be eager to trade the team’s best player amid the franchise’s dismal start to the season. There are other potential trades the Cowboys could explore in the coming days. USA Today’s Angel Torres outlined several potential NFL trade pitches for Dallas to land a star pass rusher.
One name could be very interesting for Cowboys fans. Find out why Cleveland Browns superstar Myles Garrett could be a fit for the Cowboys ahead of the NFL trade deadline.
Cowboys Rumors: Could Dallas Strike a Blockbuster Trade for Browns Star Myles Garrett?
Torres floated Garrett as a possible “bonus” trade target for the Cowboys. What would a potential trade look like for the Cowboys and Browns?
The trade proposal has Dallas landing Garrett in exchange for a package of three future draft picks. Cleveland acquires Dallas’ first-round pick (2026), second rounder (2026) and a future seventh-round selection (2027).
“There is only one player that could make the sting of losing edge Micah Parsons go away and that guy is Texas native Myles Garrett,” Torres detailed in an October 21, 2025, story titled, “5 big-name defenders Cowboys could try to trade for include All-Pro DE, DTs, LB, Safety.” “Cleveland has refused to move the superstar defensive end even after he publicly lobbied to be traded during the offseason.
“.. Another losing season and a head coach on the hot seat could prompt the Browns to revisit a deal. The obvious problem here is the amount of dead money that would accelerate onto Cleveland’s already-projected-over-limit cap space in 2026: An additional $40 million for giving away their best player,” Torres added.
“Garrett is arguably the premier defensive end in the league and adding him to this defense would undoubtedly put pressure on opposing offense coordinators to have a plan on stopping the 2023 defensive MVP and four time All-Pro edge player.”
The Cowboys Could Be Reluctant to Take on Myles Garrett’s $160 Million Contract
Aside from the Browns likely being reluctant to cut ties with Garrett, there is also the financial complications. Keep in mind, the Cowboys opted to trade Parsons rather than sign the pass rusher to a lucrative contract extension.
Garrett just signed a four-year, $160 million extension that puts the star under contract through the 2030 season. If paying Parsons made owner Jerry Jones squeamish, it is unlikely that the Cowboys would be thrilled about inheriting a 30-year-old defender with a $160 million deal.
There Are Conflicting Rumors About the Cowboys’ Interest in Trading for Raiders DE Maxx Crosby
Former ESPN analyst Trey Wingo reported that the Cowboys had inquired about a potential trade for Crosby. Unfortunately for Cowboys fans, it does not appear that the interest is mutual.
“The Raiders met with star DE Maxx Crosby today to let him know they aren’t shopping him and won’t trade him, sources tell me and @SlaterNFL,” NFL Network’s Tom Pelissero detailed in an October 21, message on X.
“While other teams are interested, the Raiders aren’t interested in moving their best player, and Crosby wants to stay in Las Vegas.”
