Darnold, who had been sacked a league-low 11 times coming into the game, was sacked four times, all in the first half, with one of those resulting in a fumble that the Vikings recovered deep in Seahawks territory. Fortunately for the Seahawks, the defense responded with Jones’ pick-six, so no harm was done, but it was still a challenging day for the Seahawks’ usually explosive passing game, with Darnold completing 14 of 26 attempts for 128 yards, no touchdowns and no interceptions.
And with the Seahawks limited in the passing game—and playing with a double-digit lead for the entire second half, Jaxon Smith-Njigba, the league’s leading receiver, was limited to a season-low two catches for 23 yards. But with the defense playing so well and a solid effort from the running game, the Seahawks didn’t need their usual offensive output to win this one comfortably.
3. Ernest Jones IV was back in a big way.
The Seahawks played without starting linebacker Ernest Jones IV last week, the result of a knee injury initially sustained in their Week 9 win over the Commanders. Jones was back for this week’s game, and he turned in one of the best statistical games of his career.