SEATTLE — Sam Darnold has emerged as a source of assurance for both his coach and teammates during this transformative season. With the Vikings facing another challenging situation late in the game, there was a shared belief that he would come through for them.
Darnold connected with a tightly covered Justin Jefferson, marking his third touchdown pass of the game with just 3:51 remaining. This pivotal moment helped Minnesota edge out the Seattle Seahawks, winning 27-24 and maintaining their pursuit of the top position in the NFC alongside Detroit.
After the Seahawks gained the lead through Geno Smith’s third touchdown pass, Darnold orchestrated a swift 30-second offensive drive, which included a crucial 15-yard facemask penalty. As pressure mounted in the pocket, he launched a deep throw that Jefferson managed to snag near the goal line despite the attention of two defenders.
“There wasn’t really one guy — and I know I’m not speaking just for myself — who didn’t think we’re going to go down and we’re going to get a touchdown,” said Vikings coach Kevin O’Connell. “The confidence that group has in their quarterback and the faith Darnold has in his teammates are crucial. It allows us to perform in critical moments, especially in challenging environments like this.”
Jefferson showcased his talent with ten receptions for 148 yards and two touchdowns, contributing to the Vikings’ impressive win streak, their eighth consecutive victory. If they can secure wins against Green Bay and Detroit to finish the season, they will clinch the top seed in the conference and enjoy a first-round playoff bye.
This season marks the 11th occasion Darnold has thrown multiple touchdown passes and the 10th time he has surpassed 200 passing yards. He completed 22 of 35 attempts for 246 yards, enabling O’Connell to become the first Vikings coach to achieve multiple 13-win seasons.
During the final drive, when O’Connell’s headset failed, Darnold took the reins, calling his own play and executing a short scramble for additional yards. He also recorded a quarterback rating over 100 for the 12th time this season. His impressive performance comes after he signed a one-year deal to fill the gap left by J.J. McCarthy, who sustained a season-ending injury during preseason.
Jefferson noted the growing synergy between himself and Darnold throughout the season, saying, “We spend a lot more time together than we did in college. We had fun and made great plays together, always leaning on each other to fight for wins.”
Darnold commented on their connection, stating, “I just needed to give him a shot, put it on his back hip, and let him do the rest.”
Smith threw for 314 yards, and his 4-yard touchdown pass to AJ Barner put the Seahawks up 24-20 with 4:41 left, but he couldn’t muster a comeback following Jefferson’s touchdown. After the two-minute warning, Jason Myers missed a 60-yard field goal attempt, and Theo Jackson intercepted Smith, ensuring Minnesota’s victory.
The Seahawks have now lost consecutive games following a four-game winning stretch, placing them one game behind the Los Angeles Rams in the NFC West standings.
Smith also recorded touchdown passes of 25 yards to DK Metcalf and 18 yards to Jaxon Smith-Njigba, but faced two interceptions throughout the game. Smith-Njigba achieved eight catches for 95 yards.
This season, the Vikings have excelled in one-score games, boasting an 8-1 record. Seahawks coach Mike Macdonald acknowledged their struggle, stating, “The reason their record reflects their talent is that they’re a good team. We had a shot to win, but there are areas in all three phases we could improve. Still, we executed a lot of good plays.”
The game commenced with a strong 12-play opening drive from Minnesota, taking 6:54 to culminate in a 7-0 lead courtesy of Darnold’s 5-yard touchdown pass to Jordan Addison, who was clearly open in the end zone.
In the second quarter, Smith connected with Metcalf, who overcame tight coverage from Stefon Gilmore to score, marking Metcalf’s first touchdown reception since Week 7. Darnold quickly responded, extending the Vikings’ lead to 14-7 with a 14-yard touchdown pass to Jefferson.
The Seahawks’ following drive saw pressure from Joshua Metellus on Smith, culminating in Dallas Turner picking off a pass intended for Noah Fant, which placed Minnesota in prime scoring territory. Though the Vikings only managed a 52-yard field goal due to a sack on Darnold, they maintained the upper hand.
Smith then executed a rapid drive, covering 88 yards in just 1:05, where he connected with Smith-Njigba three times, including a touchdown that allowed Smith-Njigba to surpass 1,000 receiving yards for the season.
Notable achievements included Metcalf’s 47th career touchdown for the Seahawks, moving him past Hall of Famer Steve Largent into sixth place on the team’s all-time touchdown list. Additionally, Smith-Njigba marked a significant achievement as the 10th Seahawks receiver to hit the 1,000-yard receiving milestone.
Injury updates included Vikings safety Harrison Smith (foot) being inactive, marking his first missed game since 2022, while the Seahawks placed linebacker Trevis Gipson (ankle) on injured reserve and saw running back Kenneth Walker III leave the game due to an ankle issue.
Looking ahead, the Vikings will host Green Bay next Sunday, while the Seahawks are set to face Chicago in Thursday’s matchup.
