SEATTLE — Sam Darnold related with a well-covered Justin Jefferson with 3:51 left for his third TD cross of the sport, and the Minnesota Vikings outlasted Geno Smith and the Seattle Seahawks 27-24 on Sunday to maintain tempo with Detroit for the highest spot within the NFC.
After the Seahawks took the lead on Smith’s third TD cross, Darnold led a 30-second drive that was aided by a 15-yard facemask penalty. He stepped up in a collapsing pocket and launched a deep ball that Jefferson hauled in simply wanting the objective line with two defenders closing in.
Jefferson completed with 10 catches for 148 yards and two touchdowns because the Vikings (13-2) received their eighth straight. If they will beat Inexperienced Bay and Detroit to shut out the season, they’ll earn the highest seed within the convention and a first-round playoff bye.
Darnold threw for a number of touchdowns for the eleventh time this season and greater than 200 yards for the tenth. He completed 22 of 35 for 246 yards, serving to Kevin O’Connell turn into the primary Vikings coach with a number of 13-win seasons.
Not unhealthy for a veteran who was signed to a one-year deal as a placeholder after the Vikings drafted J.J. McCarthy, who suffered a season-ending knee harm within the preseason.
Smith threw for 314 yards and his 4-yard TD cross to AJ Barner gave the Seahawks a 24-20 lead with 4:41 left, however he couldn’t rally Seattle (8-7) after Jefferson’s TD catch. Jason Myers missed a 60-yard subject objective attempt after the two-minute warning, and Theo Jackson picked off Smith with 49 seconds left to seal it.
The Seahawks have misplaced two straight after a four-game successful streak and fell one recreation behind the Los Angeles Rams within the NFC West.
Smith additionally had scoring passes of 25 yards to DK Metcalf and 18 yards to Jaxon Smith-Njigba. He was additionally intercepted twice. Smith-Njigba had eight receptions for 95 yards.
Minnesota improved to 8-1 in one-score video games this season.
The Vikings ran a 12-play opening drive, consuming 6:54 on the way in which to a 7-0 lead on Darnold’s 5-yard cross to Jordan Addison, who was open in the midst of the tip zone for his third catch of the collection.
Smith discovered Metcalf in man-to-man protection with Stefon Gilmore early within the second quarter in the correct nook of the tip zone. It was Metcalf’s first TD reception since Week 7.
Darnold responded two drives later to make it 14-7 on a 14-yard cross to Jefferson over Tre Brown, who was left in single protection on the All-Professional’s nook route.
Joshua Metellus pressured Smith on the primary play of Seattle’s ensuing drive and Dallas Turner stepped in entrance of a cross to Noah Fant for an interception that arrange Minnesota on the Seattle 31. The Vikings settled for Will Reichard’s 52-yard subject objective after Boye Mafe sacked Darnold.
Smith drove the Seahawks 88 yards in 1:05 on 5 performs to chop the result in 17-14 with 20 seconds left within the half. He discovered Smith-Njigba 3 times on the drive. The primary, a 13-yard reception, put the second-year participant over 1,000 yards receiving for the primary time. The second, for 25 yards to the Vikings 18, drew a biceps flex from Smith-Njigba for the cheering crowd. And the third went for the rating.
Receiving milestones
Metcalf shook off a protracted scoreless streak to catch his forty seventh profession TD with the Seahawks. That helped him cross Corridor of Fame receiver Steve Largent and transfer into sixth on the workforce’s profession landing record.
Smith-Njigba turned the tenth Seahawks receiver to document a 1,000-yard season.
Accidents
Vikings: S Harrison Smith (foot) was inactive, lacking a recreation for the primary time since 2022.
Seahawks: Positioned LB Trevis Gipson (ankle) on injured reserve. … RB Kenneth Walker III left the sport with an ankle harm.
Up subsequent
Vikings: Host Inexperienced Bay subsequent Sunday.
Seahawks: Versus the Bears at Soldier Subject on Thursday.
