Dec 22, 2024; Seattle, Washington, USA; Minnesota Vikings quarterback Sam Darnold (14) celebrates following a victory against the Seattle Seahawks at Lumen Field. Mandatory Credit: Joe Nicholson-Imagn Images.
Each week, we offer a “snap reactions” piece detailing thoughts and analysis after the latest Minnesota Vikings game.
This will be off-the-cuff, a wee bit random, and hopefully insightful.
The Vikings won on the road on Sunday afternoon over the Seattle Seahawks 27-24 and are owners of a 13-2 record through 16 weeks.
1 — Fans no longer have to “wonder” about Sam Darnold. He will not encounter a regression; that would’ve happened by now. He’s money in clutch situations, delivering each time Minnesota asks him for a game-winning drive. Darnold isn’t perfect — most quarterbacks are not — but he is enough for the Vikings to win a Super Bowl. (Imagine reading that in August).
2 — The Vikings ended a horrid five-game losing skid at Seattle that lasted 18 years. Teams with Harrison Smith on the roster were 0-5 at the Seahawks stadium, so it’s a bit sad he couldn’t partake.
3 — Minnesota has a new litmus test — when it’s efficient in the redzone, wins pile into the box score. This week, Kevin O’Connell’s offense was 2 for 2 in the redzone (touchdowns).
4 — Andrew Van Ginkel wrecked another game — especially in the 4th Quarter — and we’ll reiterate that he’s the best value EDGE rusher in the NFL of all players not on rookie contracts.
5 — Aaron Jones contributed 93 yards from scrimmage. Minnesota is hard to beat if Jones is nibbling at the 100-yard mark.
6 — For three straight hours, Seahawks-Vikings felt like a postseason game. There was a different atmosphere than a normal regular season game. It was vital to simulate such a situation because the playoffs are happening for the Vikings, no matter what.
7 — If Minnesota wants homefield advantage throughout the postseason, it must defeat the Green Bay Packers next week. Should it lose, the Vikings will need the Detroit Lions to lose the next day against the San Francisco 49ers and Philadelphia Eagles to lose one of their final two games.
8 — Punter Ryan Wright and kicker Will Reichard played damn near perfectly, a crucial output because the game was so damn close.
9 — Had Minnesota lost this game, the focus afterward would’ve been dropped interceptions and a failure to pull in contested catches on offense. Drops hurt the purple team, but in the end, it didn’t matter because a victory was the result.
10 — Minnesota hasn’t lost a game since the referees missed the egregious facemask call on Sam Darnold. They’re on an eight-game heater.
11 — What a moment for Theo Jackson, securing a win with an interception while filling in for an injury Harrison Smith. He rose to the occasion.
12 — The Vikings are early 1.5-point favorites against the Packers. The home team generally gets three points at home, so oddsmakers think Green Bay still is a smidgen better team than Minnesota.
Dustin Baker is a political scientist who graduated from the University of Minnesota in 2007. Subscribe to his daily YouTube Channel, VikesNow. The show features guests, analysis, and opinion on all things related to the purple team, with 4-7 episodes per week. His MIN obsession dates back to 1996. Listed guilty pleasures: Peanut Butter Ice Cream, ‘The Sopranos,’ Basset Hounds, and The Doors (the band). He follows the NBA as closely as the NFL.
All statistics provided by Pro Football Reference / Stathead; all contractual information provided by OverTheCap.com.