Seahawks 26-0 Vikings: Ernest Jones IV Leads Dominant Defensive Shutout as Seattle Bolsters NFC Playoff Push (Dec. 1, 2025)

The Seattle Seahawks tightened their grip on the NFC playoff race with a suffocating 26-0 win over the Minnesota Vikings at Lumen Field, a result that resonated across the conference on December 1, 2025. The shutout, powered by a swarming Seattle defense, moved the Seahawks to 9-3 and pulled them even atop the NFC West, while the Vikings slid to 4-8 and deeper into a spiraling season.

Seattle’s defense was the story from the opening snap. Cornerback Ernest Jones IV delivered the game’s signature moment with an 85-yard interception return for a touchdown, one of two picks he recorded on the day. The Seahawks forced five turnovers in total, with additional interceptions from Coby Bryant and Riq Woolen plus a fumble forced by pass rusher DeMarcus Lawrence, completely choking off any hope of a Minnesota comeback.

The Vikings entered the matchup already on a three-game skid, and their offensive problems only deepened. Rookie quarterback Max Brosmer, pressed into his first NFL start with J.J. McCarthy sidelined in concussion protocol, never found rhythm against Seattle’s pressure looks. Brosmer threw four interceptions and managed just 126 passing yards as Minnesota finished with a meager 162 yards of total offense, repeatedly stalling near midfield or coughing the ball up in its own territory.

Offensively, Seattle didn’t need fireworks, just competence. Quarterback Sam Darnold posted a modest stat line with 128 passing yards while absorbing four sacks behind an offensive line that struggled with Minnesota’s front. Still, running back Zach Charbonnet punctuated a workmanlike ground attack with a 17-yard touchdown run, and veteran kicker Jason Myers drilled four field goals, including a booming 56-yarder that underscored Seattle’s command of field position all afternoon.

The Vikings defense, despite the lopsided score, kept things respectable for much of the contest, collapsing the pocket on Darnold and limiting the high-flying connection with star wideout Jaxon Smith-Njigba. The league’s receiving-yardage leader was held to just 23 yards on two catches, a rare quiet day that likely dents his pursuit of historic records but didn’t alter the outcome.

For Honyve readers tracking the NFC race, this latest Seahawks–Vikings chapter signals two franchises moving in opposite directions. Seattle leaves Week 13 looking like a genuine division threat thanks to a defense with takeover potential, while Minnesota faces urgent questions at quarterback, on offense, and about how to halt a season that’s rapidly slipping away.