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Why Chargers Wire-to-Wire Week 8 Win Impressed NFL Pundits

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The Chargers responded in primetime.

It was a full team performance on Thursday Night Football, as the Bolts outgained the Vikings 419 to 164 in yards and notched five sacks on the night in a convincing a 37-10 win.

And it was a game where the Bolts got back on track in a big way.

Count Yahoo Sports' Frank Schwab as one of the people who were very impressed with the way the Bolts won the game, as they got contributions from just about everyone.

Whether it was the standout defensive performance, Justin Herbert's three touchdown game or Kimani Vidal's 100-yard rushing output, Schwab could see the team getting rolling in real time.

Schwab wrote:

On the other side, the Chargers might start to get some momentum.

Their offensive line was as healthy as it has been in weeks, and it showed against Minnesota. Vidal had more than 100 rushing yards, and Herbert was rarely sacked. The defense pressured Wentz all night, though Wentz holding onto the ball too long was a factor in that.

The Chargers running back was perhaps one of the biggest standouts in a night full of them.

Get an inside look at the postgame celebration from the Bolts 37-10 win over the Minnesota Vikings on Thursday Night Football. Presented by SoFi!

Vidal put together his second 100-yard rushing game over the last three weeks helped the Bolts control the game in the second half.

The second year running back finished the night with 117 yards and his first NFL rushing touchdown.

And for that, he was the Bleacher Report NFL staff's choice for winner of the game, as he's shown strides in all facets to give the Chargers a boost down a number of running backs.

They wrote:

Vidal wasn't even on the Chargers' active roster to start the 2025 campaign. He's now provided the team with over 100 rushing yards in two of the last three contests…

His rushing makes him a short-term asset, while his blocking ensures long-term value to the roster. He continually stepped up, protecting quarterback Justin Herbert and blocking downfield when necessary.

In many ways, the Chargers wire-to-wire win was a blueprint of what the team is looking to do.

Both the offense and the defense asserted their physicality upfront, a formula that Chargers Head Coach Jim Harbaugh and his staff like to see.

That was Bleacher Report's big final takeaway of the night for the Bolts, as the physical brand of football they displayed could get them back on track in the long term.

They wrote:

The version of the Chargers that showed up during Thursday Night Football was far more physical and aggressive. Joe Alt's return to the lineup played a significant part as the squad's anchor at left tackle. Meanwhile, Los Angeles' defense allowed only 135 yards deep into the fourth quarter before garbage time.

Jim Harbaugh's squad looked great through the first three weeks of play before losing three of its next four contests. But L.A. is getting healthy in certain areas and has a pathway toward success in November.

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