Minnesota Vikings vs. San Diego Chargers Preview: 6 Things to Watch

If this game had been the opener for these two teams last season, it would have set up as one of the premiere Week 1 games in the NFL.

But this is 2011. And the Minnesota Vikings aren’t as hot of a commodity as they were in 2010. The San Diego Chargers do retain their hot commodity status and should compete with the best the AFC has to offer in 2011.

Before the Chargers do that though, they’ll have to deal with Minnesota. 

Here are six things to watch for in Sunday’s season opener.

Donovan McNabb

This is the long-awaited debut of McNabb in purple.

While one start certainly won’t make or break what the outlook for McNabb should be in 2011, it will be the first time McNabb will be seen in a full game (barring injury) since his benching as a Washington Redskin in 2010. 

McNabb had a solid preseason (24-of-37 passes completed (64.86 percent) for 285 yards, one touchdown and one interception). He showed glimpses of the player that starred as Philadelphia Eagle for 11 years but also showed signs of the old player in Washington last season. 

Which McNabb shows up Sunday? Tune in to find out.

Ryan Mathews vs. the Minnesota Run Defense

Big things were expected of Mathews as the 12th-overall pick in the 2010 NFL Draft. The Chargers traded up to acquire him with the belief he could make a difference from day one.

It didn’t happen that way as Mathews stumbled his way to 678-yards rushing and seven touchdowns in 12 games last season.

Minnesota has been in the top 10 for rush defense each of the past five seasons. And while some of Minnesota’s run-stopping personnel from previous years isn’t there, the unit is still composed of players that are strong against the run.

It will serve as a relatively good barometer for where Mathews could be in 2011.

Minnesota's Offensive Line

The offensive line expedited the end of Brett Favre’s career and ended Tarvaris Jackson’s career as a Minnesota Viking in 2010 by poor pass protection.

It went through several makeovers as four of the five starters from Opening Day went down with injuries at some point during the season.

With left guard Steve Hutchinson and center John Sullivan healthy, that should bring some semblance of stability to the interior part of the line.

But the rest of the line is open to extreme criticism.

It’s uncertain if right guard Anthony Herrera can return to the player he was in 2009 after a torn ACL ended his 2010 season. Right tackle Phil Loadholdt showed promise in his 2009 campaign as a rookie but took a huge step back in 2010.

And left tackle Charlie Johnson, picked up to replace released left tackle Bryant McKinnie, could be in for a rough year or could surprise. At 6’4”, 305 pounds he’s a little small vertically and horizontally for a left tackle. But he started 43 games over the past three seasons for an Indianapolis Colts team that did a pretty good job protecting its quarterback.

If Minnesota is to have any hopes of contending in 2011 it needs the offensive line to give McNabb time to pass. This will be the first chance to see the true talent level of this group.

San Diego Run Defense vs. Adrian Peterson

San Diego was the No. 4 team against the run in 2010. Its defensive unit allowed 1,500 yards on the year (93.8 yards per game and 3.7 yards per rush attempt).

The defense projects four new faces from the 2010 squad that held some of the best backs in the league under 100 yards when they faced the Chargers: Tennessee Titans’ back Chris Johnson (59 yards on 15 carries), Jacksonville Jaguars’ back Maurice Jones-Drew (31 yards on 12 carries) and Kansas City Chief back Jamaal Charles (40 yards on 10 carries in one game, 92 yards on 11 carries in the other) all rushed for at least 1,000 yards in 2010 and were held to under 100 yards against the San Diego defense.

On Sunday San Diego faces Minnesota’s all-pro running back Adrian Peterson, who’s rushed for 1,000 yards or more every year of his four-year career.

San Diego will figure out what it’s run defense is made of real quick in 2011.

Minnesota's Pass Rush

The pass rush that made Minnesota one of the best defenses in football in 2009 (Minnesota led the league with 48 sacks) died in 2010 (31 sacks, tied for 20th best).

In 2011 new defensive coordinator Fred Pagac wants to come with more pressure than Leslie Frazier did during his time as the Vikings defensive coordinator (2009-2010). But it remains to be seen if Frazier, now the head coach, will allow Pagac to run free with the defense.

Minnesota also needs Jared Allen to be a more consistent pass-rushing threat from his right defensive end position. He had 11 sacks in 2010, but 10 came in the last nine games of the season.

Minnesota’s secondary isn’t overly talented so it’ll have to rely on a strong pass rush to compensate for the defensive backfield.

San Diego Safety Bob Sanders' Health

The acquisition of Sanders could be one of the best in all of the NFL when all is said and done. That is, if Sanders can stay healthy.

No one doubts Sanders talent as a safety. He was the 2007 Defensive Player of the Year when he played in 15 games posted 96 tackles, two interceptions and 3.5 sacks.

In his seven-year career Sanders has never played in all 16 games and has only played in 14 or more games twice in his career.

To say Sanders is brittle is an understatement. But when healthy, Sanders is one of the hardest hitting players in the league—especially considering his condensed 5’8”, 205-pound frame.

With a healthy Sanders and Eric Weddle occupying the two safety positions, San Diego could own the best safety duo in the league—if Sanders stays healthy and still has some left in the tank.

Knowing Sanders' past, his health could already be in question after the first defensive play Sunday. Be on the lookout.