Seahawks Lose a Tight One to Tough Vikings Team
Seattle's natural backdrop was on full display: 48 degrees, rain, and some wind—a setting once synonymous with home-field dominance and prime-time victories for the Seahawks. But this season, those days feel distant, and against the 12-2 Minnesota Vikings, Seattle found itself an underdog.
Despite the challenges, the Seahawks showed flashes of promise in this hard-fought loss. Let’s focus on the positives Seattle can carry into the final stretch of the season.
One glaring issue this year has been the offensive line, with Geno Smith entering the game as one of the most-sacked quarterbacks in the league. However, against Minnesota, Smith was taken down just twice despite throwing 43 passes and leading an offense that only attempted 15 rushes. Compared to their season average of three sacks allowed per game, this was progress. Smith completed 31 of 43 passes for 314 yards and three touchdowns, spreading the ball to 10 different receivers. He connected with DK Metcalf (25 yards), Jaxon Smith-Njigba (18 yards), and Brandon Barner (4 yards) for scores, delivering 17 passing first downs compared to the Vikings’ 12.
Defensively, Seattle improved against the run, allowing only 81 yards on 24 carries (a 3.4-yard average). This was a marked improvement from the previous week’s struggles against Green Bay. The defense also sacked Minnesota’s Sam Darnold three times for 29 yards and limited him to 246 passing yards on 22 completions. However, Darnold's three touchdowns, two of which went to Justin Jefferson—were decisive. Jefferson’s 39-yard touchdown in the fourth quarter, where Seattle’s Tariq Woolen was burned in man coverage, sealed the Vikings' victory.
Seattle had a chance late, taking a 24-20 lead with just over four minutes left after an 11-play, 68-yard drive engineered by Smith. But on the next possession, a costly face-mask penalty on Byron Murphy negated a sack that would have put the Vikings in a precarious 3rd-and-long situation. The very next play, Darnold connected with Jefferson for the game-winning score.
Ultimately, this loss boiled down to a few pivotal moments: Smith’s interception that led to three points for the Vikings, the defensive lapse on Jefferson’s late touchdown, and the face-mask penalty that kept Minnesota’s drive alive. Take away those miscues, and Seattle might have pulled off the upset.
Looking ahead, the Seahawks have reasons for optimism. Their run defense looks solid, and the offensive line showed signs of stabilizing. However, Seattle must clean up coverage lapses in the secondary and commit to running the ball more. Geno Smith is the league's third most-sacked quarterback (tied with Darnold at 45). Reducing his workload is critical. If Kenneth Walker remains sidelined, Kenny McIntosh could be a viable option to reinvigorate the ground game.
Seattle’s remaining schedule presents opportunities to build on these bright spots and finish the season strong. While this loss stings, the foundation for improvement is there—if the Seahawks can put it all together.
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