Greg Cote's Thursday night NFL pick

Greg Cote, Miami Herald on Oct 22, 2025

Published in Football

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NFL WEEK 8 THURSDAY PICK

VIKINGS (3-3) at CHARGERS (4-3)

Line: LAC by 3 1/2.

Cote’s pick: LAC, 24-20.

TV: 8:15 p.m. Thursday, Prime Video.

The NFL’s Week 8 kickoff in prime time gets two quality(ish) teams that are playoff hopeful but haven’t always looked it, with both coming off losses, albeit to good opponents in the Eagles and Colts. Vikes QB J.J. McCarthy seems close to returning from an ankle injury, but Carson Wentz taking snaps again is the safest bet here on a short week. Either way, Bolts’ Justin Herbert’s will be the best arm in the stadium, and that and the home-field edge has us leaning L.A. — though with a bit of trepidation. Chargers are on a 1-3 skid straight-up, and that win was a lucky escape as the Dolphins somehow Dolphin’d by managing to blow a lead with 46 seconds left. (For what it’s worth, LAC has won its last four non-Sunday games, for those enamored of arcane, oddball trends.) That extra half point tempts us to like Minny against the spread, but we’re going to trust Herbert at home and a desperate Jim Harbaugh to get it done on the cover.

(Note: Betting line courtesy ESPNBet as of mid-afternoon Wednesday.)