Dec 22, 2024; Seattle, Washington, USA; Seattle Seahawks quarterback Geno Smith (7) and Minnesota Vikings quarterback Sam Darnold (14) hug after the game at Lumen Field. Mandatory Credit: Steven Bisig-Imagn Images.
As I watched the Vikings close out another come-from-behind win in noisy Seattle for the team’s eighth straight victory (longest current streak in the league), I thought of a line in the movie The Hangover when Phil (Bradley Cooper) says of Alan’s (Zach Galifianakis) blackjack hot streak: “He can’t lose.”
This Vikings team has to be the most surprising in the franchise’s 64-year history. From supposed retreads such as Sam Darnold and Aaron Jones to the multitude of free agent acquisitions who have led the defense and the rookie kicker who is so consistent, it’s just an incredible season for a team that keeps on winning and usually in one-score games such as Sunday in Seattle.
This sets up the dramatic last two games of the season leading to the playoffs, where the 13-2 Vikings could be the NFC’s number one seed with two wins or fall to number six with two losses against the rival Packers and Lions.
I’m amazed the Vikings-Packers game is still a noon start on Sunday and wasn’t flexed to prime time this coming Sunday or Monday. I think the league and NBC are hoping the Vikings and Lions game is for all the marbles, in which case they’ll move it to the Sunday night game in Week 18.
But I love Kevin O’Connell’s line when asked in his postgame media session about the quest for the division crown and number one seed. In keeping with his one game at a time mantra, he said “We can’t go 2-0 until we go 1-0.” So true and this Packers team is talented and came so close to a monumental comeback in Week 4 when the Vikings jumped out to a 28-0 lead and had to hold on for the 31-29 win at Lambeau. But the Vikings have the advantage of Green Bay playing on a short week (and having to travel) after facing New Orleans on Monday night.
Here are my other reactions to the Vikings win in noisy Seattle:
1. Sam Darnold and Justin Jefferson were so clutch: Darnold’s perfect 14-yard TD throw to Jefferson in the right corner of the end zone in the second quarter gave the Vikings a 14-7 lead. But O’Connell called the 39-yard game-winner from Darnold to Jefferson with 3:51 left (as Darnold stepped up and threw as he evaded a sack and Jefferson made a route adjustment to go deep) “absolutely the play of the game and–considering the moment and the circumstances–of the season.”
Jefferson had his most productive game this season with 10 catches for 144 yards and the two TDs. He is having another all-pro caliber season as he ranks second with 1,387 receiving yards. Darnold now has a career-high 32 TD passes, with 15 of them in the last six games, while throwing only one interception during that span.
He now has thrown three go-ahead TD passes in the fourth quarter in the last four games after having one in his previous 67 starts. That’s clutch play from Darnold who has been making big plays when needed during the current win streak. And he continues to show his toughness when he threw for the winning score on the play after he was hit hard and rolled up on and was hobbling back to the huddle.
2. Two huge penalties by Seattle were huge for the Vikings: an offsides call nullified a sack and led to Jefferson’s first touchdown, and a facemask call prevented 3rd and 18 when another potential sack was nullified, resulting in Jefferson’s 39-yard touchdown reception on the next play.
The Seahawks wound up with 11 penalties for 77 yards vs. the Vikings’ seven for 70 yards. I was impressed the Vikings had only one false start (by Brian O’Neill) in such a loud stadium. The Seahawks actually had more false starts with three.
3. O-line a concern: Darnold was sacked three times and hit seven times. The pass protection must be better against Green Bay’s top 10 defense with 40 sacks (eighth most) headed into their Monday night game against the Saints.
Seattle’s D held the Vikings to 81 yards rushing after allowing 140 to the Packers the week before. Aaron Jones ran for 67 yards to top 1,000 yards (he has 1,046) for the fourth time in his career. He had a good game with 93 rushing yards and 46 receiving yards in the September meeting at Green Bay and the Vikings need him to have another big day on Sunday with the help of the O-line to keep the offense balanced against Green Bay’s ninth-ranked defense.
4. The Vikings won the critical turnover battle 2-0 with the two picks, one on a great athletic play by Dallas Turner and the game-clincher by Theo Jackson. He was stepping in for the injured Harrison Smith, who is expected back on Sunday, along with Ivan Pace, who will help in run D against Josh Jacobs and Gren Bay’s fifth-ranked rushing attack.
The Vikings’ run D was better against Seattle with only 59 yards allowed compared to well over 100 in each of the last three games for the Vikings D that ranks second against the run.
There also were big stops by the Vikings; defense on the last two drives. Andrew Van Ginkel’s 11th sack (his second of the game to tie Jonathan Greenard for the team lead, with both tied for sixth in the league) forced a missed 60-yard field goal by Jason Myers in the fourth quarter. Jackson’s pick sealed the game with 55 seconds left.
5. Josh Metellus was a big factor on defense. He pressured Smith on Turner’s pick and had several other excellent pass rushes, along with seven tackles. He’s a key guy who does a lot of good things in Brian Flores’ defense, but he needs to avoid being locked up one-on-one with wide receivers.
6. Will Reichard and Ryan Wright were excellent in the kicking game: in rainy weather on a wet field, Reichard made all five of his kicks (field goals of 52 and 48 and three extra points, including one from 48 yards after Jefferson’s taunting penalty on his first TD). Wright averaged 50 yards per punt with a long of 63 and four inside the 20.
7. The Vikings finally stopped their five-game losing streak in Seattle (all during the Russell Wilson/Pete Carroll era).
8. I thought it was a great gesture by the players, led by O’Neill, to present O’Connell with a game ball for being the first Vikings head coach to have two 13-win regular seasons.
Around the NFL in Week 16 & a look ahead to Week 17:
1. The 13-2 Lions rolled over the Bears with another great game from Jared Goff including a cool fake fumble/TD pass to Sam LaPorta. Detroit is at San Francisco next Monday night with the 49ers now 6-9 after falling 29-17 in Miami. The Lions have a tie-breaker edge on the Vikings based on conference record if the teams wind up tied with the Vikings winning the finale in Detroit so the Lions can lose in San Fran and still win the division by beating the Vikings if the Vikings beat the Packers.
2. The game of the week was Washington reaching 10 wins and stopping the Eagles 10 game winning streak with a 36-33 home win that was won on Jayden Daniels’ 9-yard TD pass to Jamison Crowder with 10 seconds left. This Eagles loss—their third of the season– opens the door for either the Vikings or Lions to claim the NFC’s top seed by winning the last two games to finish 15-2.
Baltimore beat Pittsburgh 34-17 to gain a tie for first place in the AFC North although the Steelers hold the tie-breaker if both teams win out. Pittsburgh hosts Kansas City, and Baltimore is at Houston this week, with both games on Christmas Day.
The Seahawks lost to the Vikings to fall out of a first-place tie in the NFC West, while the Rams beat the Jets.
And Michael Penix Jr.—who replaced Kirk Cousins as the Atlanta starter–didn’t have to do too much to win his debut game 34-7 over the hapless Giants, who gave up two Pick 6s. Tampa Bay’s loss in Dallas put the Falcons back in control of the NFC South as they head to Washington for a big game on Sunday night (the Commanders can clinch a playoff spot with a win).
I’ll be back on Friday with my Vikings-Packers preview in the huge Week 17 game before a boisterous U.S. Bank Stadium crowd. It will be a fun game to ring out 2024 before the January 5 regular season finale in Motown.
Jeff Diamond is a former Vikings GM, former Tennessee Titans President and was selected NFL Executive of the Year after the Vikings’ 15-1 season in 1998. He now works for the NFL agent group IFA based in Minneapolis and does other sports consulting and media work along with college/corporate speaking. Follow him and direct message him on Twitter– @jeffdiamondnfl