5 Takeaways after the Minnesota Vikings Were Shut Out against the Seattle Seahawks
After three consecutive losses, including two against division rivals in ugly games against the Chicago Bears and Green Bay Packers, the Minnesota Vikings headed back out on the road to take on the Seattle Seahawks on Sunday.
At 4-7 heading into Week 13, the Vikings were certainly in a win or go home situation considering the depth of the NFC this year, and instead, they fell flat on their faces. Minnesota was shut out by Seattle, 26-0, and Sam Darnold did indeed get his revenge against the team that let him walk in free agency.
Here are five takeaways following Minnesota’s latest brutal defeat.
1. The 2025 Season Is Over for the Vikings
About a month ago, I wrote about November being a make-or-break month for the Minnesota Vikings. The team headed into the month at 3-4 with matchups against all three division rivals, the Baltimore Ravens, and the Seattle Seahawks and a chance to make up some major ground in the playoff hunt.
Instead, they went 1-4 over those five games, only managing to beat the Detroit Lions who now arguably may be the worst of the five teams they faced during November. Not only did the Vikings lose games throughout November to blow their shot at the playoffs, they were dominated. Their opponents outscored them 119-69 throughout the month. Now losers of six of their past seven games, Minnesota is lifeless with no real path forward in 2025. It’s time to start looking ahead to 2026.
2. Kevin O’Connell/Kwesi Adofo-Mensah on the Hot Seat
It seemed unfathomable as recently as a month and a half ago, but Kevin O’Connell and Kwesi Adofo-Mensah should officially be on a hot seat heading into 2026. Adofo-Mensah’s draft failures have been well-documented, and now, the 2025 free agency class hasn’t exactly been a shining light on his resume as it was in past seasons. Opting not to bring back Daniel Jones and Nahshon Wright have only hurt that resume further.
Meanwhile, O’Connell needs to figure out his offensive scheme and quickly. The head coach has been stubborn in his approach of being a pass-heavy offense, but with young quarterbacks, it clearly is not working.
Max Brosmer was the latest example of that on Sunday as he had 34 drop backs compared to the Vikings’ total of just 16 carries. Granted, Minnesota was big in the second half and forced to pass, but the Vikings ran nine pass plays compared to just four runs during the first quarter that ended in a 0-0 tie. If Minnesota is set on a young quarterback being their future rather than bringing in another veteran, it may spell the end of O’Connell’s tenure with the team if he does not change his approach.
3. Dallas Turner Beginning to Emerge
Lost in the chaos that has been a horrific stretch of results, Dallas Turner has begun to put together some very strong football. The first-round pick recorded sacks in both games against the Chicago Bears and Green Bay Packers, and then, he put together two more against the Seattle Seahawks, bringing his season total to 5.5.
It’s been one of the few bright spots on the Vikings’ roster over the past few weeks, and he officially looks like a capable starter in the NFL once Jonathan Greenard and/or Andrew Van Ginkel depart from Minnesota.
4. Get Ready for Desmond Ridder to Start
Max Brosmer looked utterly unprepared to play NFL football on Sunday, and there is no chance the Vikings put him out there again unless they have no other option. J.J. McCarthy could get the nod on Sunday against the Washington Commanders, but if he remains out due to his concussion (or the Vikings decide they don’t want to see more from him in 2025, either), Desmond Ridder could see the field in Minnesota.
The quarterback was signed to the practice squad this past week after McCarthy went into concussion protocol, and it’s not Ridder’s first rodeo in Minnesota too. Ridder was also signed by the Vikings after McCarthy sprained his ankle.
Ridder is a veteran having appeared in 25 games, including 18 starts with an 8-10 record in those starts. If he were to start at some point this year, there is potential for a fun week or two with the offense in there as he is a somewhat similar player to Josh Dobbs, who sparked the most exciting stretch of the 2023 Vikings season before everything crashed and burned for good down the stretch.
5. Penalty Problems Need to Be Fixed
If there is one thing that is completely inexcusable about the results of this season for the Vikings, it’s the penalties. Sunday’s loss resulted in 10 more penalties for the Vikings that went for 80 yards. It was the ninth time this season the Vikings have had 7+ penalties in a game, and their second time in double digits during this four-game losing streak.
It reflects on some undisciplined play and coaching that has led the Vikings to a 4-8 record with five games left. They’re tied for the eighth-most penalties in the league. That needs to improve and is unacceptable for a team that has a number of veterans up and down its roster.
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