Minnesota (12-2) is set to face off against Seattle (8-6) this Sunday at 4:05 p.m. EST, with the game being broadcast on FOX. According to BetMGM, the Vikings are favored to win by three points. Historically, the Seahawks have a lead over the Vikings in their matchups, holding a 13-6 series record. Against the spread, the Vikings have been strong at 9-4-1, while the Seahawks stand at 6-7-1. The last time these two teams met, the Vikings emerged victorious with a score of 30-17 on September 26, 2021, at U.S. Bank Stadium.
In their most recent games, the Vikings dominated the Bears with a 30-12 win, whereas the Seahawks were defeated 30-13 by the Packers. Looking at their season stats, the Vikings rank 12th in overall offense, 8th in passing, 15th in rushing, and 8th in scoring. Defensively, they rank 13th overall, 29th against the pass, 2nd against the run, and 4th in scoring defense. On the other hand, the Seahawks come in at 16th overall for offense, with impressive rankings of 5th in passing but struggling at 28th in the run game and 14th in scoring. Their defense has overall stats of 19th, 13th against the pass, 22nd against the run, and also 14th in scoring.
As the Vikings gear up for Week 16, Jonathan Greenard has emerged as a player to watch. With 11 sacks, he is fifth in the NFL and has caused four forced fumbles, showcasing his ability to create disruption on the field. His performance thus far has established him as a key player for Minnesota’s defense, as he ranks third in the league with 66 quarterback pressures. His strip-sack against Caleb Williams last week allowed the Vikings to score a touchdown, highlighting his impact.
For the Seahawks, wide receiver Jaxon Smith-Njigba has stepped up this season, becoming the team’s primary receiving option. He has led the Seahawks in receiving yards for the last seven games and is just six yards shy of reaching the significant milestone of 1,000 yards for the season, ranking sixth in the league for receiving yards.
A crucial matchup to watch will be between the Vikings’ formidable run defense and the Seahawks’ improving running game. Recently, rookie Zach Charbonnet rushed for 134 yards against the Cardinals and scored a touchdown against the Packers in relief of the injured Kenneth Walker III. As Walker may return this week, whichever back takes the majority of plays will have a tough task against a Vikings run defense that is allowing just 89.1 yards per game.
In terms of injuries, the Vikings might see the return of cornerback Stephon Gilmore, who has missed the last two games due to a hamstring issue, while right tackle Brian O’Neill, who battled a knee injury during the last game, is expected to play. Backup players, cornerback Fabian Moreau and defensive lineman Jalen Redmond, were also injured last week and are being assessed.
On the Seahawks side, despite exiting the game against Green Bay with a knee injury, quarterback Geno Smith has fully participated in practice and is anticipated to start. Center Olu Oluwatimi also left the last game but has no injury designation ahead of Sunday. Running back Zach Charbonnet, dealing with an oblique injury, is expected to be available as well.
Historically, the Vikings and Seahawks first clashed on November 14, 1976, with Minnesota scoring a 27-21 victory. Notably, before the Vikings’ recent win against Seattle in 2021, the Seahawks had a seven-game winning streak against Minnesota. The Seahawks also triumphed in the only playoff encounter between the two teams in January 2016.
In terms of performance, the Vikings have been averaging an impressive 31.3 points over their last four games. Quarterback Sam Darnold has been setting personal records this season with 12 wins and 3,530 passing yards, alongside a 67.6% completion rate. On defense, Minnesota has achieved remarkable statistics, holding opponents scoreless in 21 of 56 quarters—more than any other team in the league this season. The Vikings have a perfect record of 12-0 when keeping opponents under 30 points.
From the Seahawks’ perspective, wide receiver DK Metcalf is on the verge of breaking franchise records, needing just one more touchdown to surpass Steve Largent for the most touchdowns in a player’s first six seasons and is leading the franchise in numerous receiving categories. Additionally, Geno Smith is one 300-yard game away from matching Russell Wilson’s record for the most 300-yard games in a season.
For fantasy football enthusiasts, this matchup has potential, specifically with Jaxon Smith-Njigba. He has been a dominant player in recent weeks and faces a Vikings defense that has struggled against the pass. If you’re looking for a receiver to capitalize on, Smith-Njigba could provide significant rewards this week.
