Sam Darnold got his revenge against his former team Sunday at Lumen Field, but it was Seattle's suffocating defense that delivered the knockout blow in a 26-0 shutout of the Minnesota Vikings that vaulted the Seahawks back into a first-place tie in the NFC West.

Seattle (9-3) now sits even with the Los Angeles Rams (9-3) atop the division after one of the most lopsided performances of the season. The Vikings (4-8), meanwhile, are finished—relegated to playing for draft position in December with a defense that simply overwhelmed a rookie quarterback thrust into the starting role.

Vikings' Blitz Game Plan Backfires on Darnold

The Vikings entered Sunday's game believing their defensive coordinator Brian Flores' aggressive scheme—the same unit Darnold had faced in practice as a Minnesota starter—would provide answers. Instead, Flores and his defense posed questions Darnold couldn't answer.

Minnesota blitzed relentlessly and it showed on the stat sheet. When pressured, Darnold completed just 5 of 9 passes for 29 yards with zero touchdowns and two sacks. Overall, the USC product managed only 128 passing yards, took four sacks, was hit seven times, and fumbled twice with one recovered by Minnesota. Three of his passes were batted down at the line.

The Vikings' aggressive approach ultimately backfired catastrophically in the second quarter. On fourth down near the goal line, linebacker Ernest Jones IV picked off a wayward pass from Vikings rookie Max Brosmer and raced it back 85 yards for a touchdown with 2:59 remaining in the first half. That single play essentially decided the game, giving Seattle a commanding 10-0 lead.

Brosmer Overwhelmed in First NFL Start

Brosmer went undrafted for a reason. Making his first NFL start, the Minnesota product looked hopelessly outmatched against Seattle's aggressive, talented defense.

The rookie finished 19-of-30 for 126 yards with no touchdowns and four interceptions for a dismal 32.8 passer rating. He received little help: receivers dropped three passes, the offensive line collapsed (four sacks, 14 pressures), and he lost critical weapons mid-game when center Ryan Kelly (hip) and running back Aaron Jones Sr. (shoulder) exited with injuries.

The Seahawks held Minnesota to just 83 total yards—a stranglehold not seen since their last shutout in 2015.

Defensive Dominance Takes Center Stage

With Darnold struggling, Seattle's defense carried the load. Pro Bowl kicker Jason Myers added four field goals (56, 54, 40, and 33 yards) to account for the remaining points.

Edge rusher DeMarcus Lawrence terrorized the Vikings offense, forcing an Aaron Jones fumble on a potential scoring drive and generating pressure on Brosmer's pick-six. Jones led the Seahawks with 12 combined tackles and two interceptions.

The numbers paint a stunning picture: over their past five games, the Seahawks have held opponents to just 16.2 points per game. While Seattle's offense sputtered, the defense looks championship-caliber.

Elite Receivers Neutralized

Seattle's secondary came to play. Justin Jefferson, second in the league with 1,533 receiving yards entering Sunday, and Jaxon Smith-Njigba, leading the NFL with 1,313 yards, combined for just four catches for 27 yards on 10 targets.

Seattle's response was to lean on the ground game. Kenneth Walker and Zach Charbonnet combined for 108 rushing yards and a touchdown. Minnesota's rushing attack managed just 53 yards total.

What's Next

The Seahawks (winners of six of their past seven) travel to Atlanta to face the slumping Falcons (4-8), who have dropped six of seven.

Minnesota must now make a critical quarterback decision. Vikings coach Kevin O'Connell faces a choice: return to J.J. McCarthy if cleared from concussion protocol, start journeyman John Wolford, or stick with the overwhelmed Brosmer as they host the Washington Commanders next week.