Seahawks shut down Vikings, move back into tie atop NFC West

Bob Condotta, The Seattle Times on Nov 30, 2025

Published in Football

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SEATTLE — The final score — a 26-0 win that was the Seattle Seahawks’ first shutout in more than a decade — doesn’t accurately indicate how long it seemed to take them to gain control of Sunday’s game against the Minnesota Vikings.

The Vikings used a variety of blitzes to make life uncomfortable for Sam Darnold and the Seahawks offense, which didn’t get into the end zone until 9:11 remained in the game.

That left it to the defense, which ultimately had a record-setting day while making life even more miserable for rookie quarterback Max Brosmer, making his first career start in place of injured J.J. McCarthy.

The Seahawks forced a season-high five turnovers — one turning into an improbable 85-yard interception return for a touchdown by Ernest Jones IV — and got the first shutout since a 26-0 win over the Chicago Bears on Sept. 27, 2015.

The win meant the Seahawks ended the day in control of something more important — their destiny in the NFC West race.

Thanks to the Rams’ surprising 31-28 loss at Carolina, Seattle and L.A. are tied atop the West at 9-3.

The Rams are still officially in first because they beat the Seahawks in L.A. two weeks ago.

But Sunday’s results mean the Seahawks no longer need any help to win the West. If they win out, including a victory over the Rams at Lumen Field on Dec. 18, then the banner will be theirs.

For much of Sunday, the Seahawks looked like only one-half of a championship team.

The Seahawks had only 84 yards at halftime and were held to 219 for the game and 3.5 yards per play for the game, a season low (the previous was 4.6 in the season-opening 17-13 loss to the 49ers.)

Darnold was held to a season-low 128 yards passing before being replaced with just over two minutes left by Drew Lock, and finished with a passer rating of 67.5 that was his second-lowest, with only the four-interception game against the Rams ranking lower.

And receiver Jaxon Smith-Njigba, who was on pace to break the NFL’s season receiving record, was held to a season-low two catches for 23 yards.

Still, the game never seemed in doubt as it quickly became apparent that the Vikings were never better off with Brosmer — on this day, anyway — than they have been all season with McCarthy and Carson Wentz, who had combined to guide the Vikings to a 4-7 record before Sunday.

The Seahawks allowed only 149 yards and 3.1 per play and had four interceptions and forcing a fumble.

The Seahawks led only 13-0 at halftime and the offense never seemed able to gain much consistency.

They finally turned the game into a route when Jones’ second interception of the game off a deflection from Josh Jobe set up a 17-yard TD run by Zach Charbonnet to put the Seahawks ahead 26-0 with 9:11 remaining.

The Seahawks led 13-0 at the end of one of the strangest first halves of this or any season.

The offense was held to just 84 yards on 33 plays, 2.5 per snap.

They didn’t have a rush of longer than 9 yards and Darnold was just 7 of 15 for 77 yards as the Seahawks had only one of five drives go longer than 27 yards.

The Seahawks had to settle for a 33-yard Myers field goal following their best drive of the first half, and he hit a 56-yarder with eight seconds left in the first half on a possession set up by a 19-yard Rashid Shaheed punt return.

Jones’ interception and the Seahawks’ defensive dominance — holding the Vikings to 48 yards on 24 plays — allowed them to feel in control at the end of the first half.

Jones’ pick came after the Vikings took over at the Seattle 13 when Darnold was hit hard by linebacker Dallas Turner and fumbled as defensive lineman Jalen Redmond fell on it.

Minnesota receiver Jordan Addison was held just shy of the first down on a third-and-6 pass by Josh Jobe, compelling the Vikings to go for it, trailing just 3-0.

But Brosmer was under immediate pressure from Lawrence — who inexplicably was left unblocked and had a clear path — as he rolled to the right.

As Lawrence began to drag him down, Brosmer decided to try to throw the ball away and save a few yards rather than take the sack.

His underhand toss went straight to Jones, who had clear path to the end zone.

The first quarter was either a defensive struggle of a battle of two struggling offenses, take your pick.

The Seahawks had just 38 yards on 15 plays and only 13 rushing on six attempts while Darnold was 3-of-8 passing for 38 yards but had taken a sack for a loss of 13.

The Vikings had 25 yards on 12 plays.

Neither team had moved past midfield.

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