Sam Darnold and Justin Jefferson lead surging Vikings past Seahawks 27-24

SEATTLE, WA – Sam Darnold has instilled a sense of confidence in both his coach and teammates during this pivotal season. As the Minnesota Vikings faced another late-game deficit, there was no question in their minds that Darnold would come through for them.

With 3:51 remaining in the game, Darnold delivered his third touchdown pass of the day, connecting with a well-covered Justin Jefferson to put the Vikings ahead. Minnesota held on to defeat the Seattle Seahawks 27-24, maintaining their pursuit of Detroit for the top spot in the NFC.

The Seahawks had just taken the lead after Geno Smith’s third touchdown pass. But Darnold quickly responded, guiding the Vikings on a 30-second drive, aided by a 15-yard facemask penalty. With pressure mounting in the pocket, Darnold stepped up and launched a deep ball that Jefferson managed to haul in just shy of the goal line, despite being tightly guarded by two defenders.

Jefferson ended the game with 10 receptions for 148 yards and two touchdowns, continuing his remarkable season. The Vikings (13-2) secured their eighth consecutive win and remain in position to claim the NFC’s top seed. With victories over Green Bay and Detroit to finish the season, they would secure a first-round playoff bye.

Darnold threw for over 200 yards and multiple touchdowns for the 11th time this season, finishing 22 of 35 for 246 yards. This performance helped head coach Kevin O’Connell achieve the milestone of becoming the first Vikings coach with two 13-win seasons.

In a tense moment during the final drive, O’Connell’s headset malfunctioned, but Darnold took charge, calling his own play and scrambling for a short gain. The veteran quarterback finished with a passer rating over 100 for the 12th time this season, showcasing his poise and leadership. This remarkable performance comes after Darnold was signed to a one-year contract as a temporary solution following J.J. McCarthy’s season-ending injury in the preseason. On that final play, his chemistry with Jefferson was evident, as the receiver made a mid-route adjustment that Darnold recognized and capitalized on.

Smith, who threw for 314 yards, had previously given Seattle the lead with a 4-yard touchdown pass to AJ Barner, making it 24-20 with 4:41 remaining. However, he couldn’t guide the Seahawks (8-7) back after Jefferson’s clutch touchdown. A 60-yard field goal attempt by Jason Myers sailed wide after the two-minute warning, and with 49 seconds left, Theo Jackson intercepted Smith to seal the game.

The Seahawks, who had won four straight before this defeat, are now in danger of losing ground in the NFC West, trailing the Los Angeles Rams by one game.

Smith had two other scoring passes, connecting with DK Metcalf for 25 yards and Jaxon Smith-Njigba for 18. Smith-Njigba finished with eight catches for 95 yards. Despite the loss, Seattle had a strong passing performance, but it wasn’t enough to overcome the Vikings.

Minnesota improved to 8-1 in one-score games this season.

The Vikings started strong with a 12-play, 6:54 drive to open the game, ending in a 7-0 lead on Darnold’s 5-yard pass to Jordan Addison, who was wide open in the middle of the end zone for his third catch of the drive.

Smith quickly answered, finding Metcalf in the right corner of the end zone early in the second quarter to tie the game at 7. It was Metcalf’s first touchdown reception since Week 7.

Darnold responded with a 14-yard pass to Jefferson, putting the Vikings back ahead 14-7 on the following drive. Later, a key interception by Dallas Turner set up a field goal, extending the lead to 17-7.

Smith answered again, driving Seattle 88 yards in just 1:05 to score just before halftime. The drive featured three big receptions by Smith-Njigba, who reached over 1,000 yards receiving with a 13-yard catch on the first play of the series.

Up Next
Vikings: Host Green Bay next Sunday.
Seahawks: At Chicago on Thursday.