The Seattle Seahawks faced a critical showdown against the Minnesota Vikings to conclude their final regular season game at home, and what a fireworks show it was. Whenever these teams play each other in this venue, fans are almost always going to get their money’s worth of entertainment to say the least. Regrettably, the conclusion was not one the 12th Man wanted. The Vikings were favored by three going into this game, and that was the margin of victory.
Seattle got the ball to start the third quarter and took advantage of their opening drive with another successful Jason Myers field goal. Myers helped tie the game at 17-17. Minnesota immediately reclaimed the lead with a field goal drive of their own, however they had to settle for a field goal thanks to Jarran Reed tipping Sam Darnold’s pass on third down incomplete.
From there, the Seahawks and Vikings exchanged two consecutive punt drives each. Seattle finally managed to get something truly special going in the second half with an impressive 11-play, 83-yard scoring drive. The Seahawks overcame 15 penalty yards, and ended it with Geno Smith finding rookie tight end AJ Barner in the back of the end zone for a rather athletic touchdown. Seattle was finally up 24-20.
AJ for the lead. 😤 pic.twitter.com/qTFaj7jgvD
— Seattle Seahawks (@Seahawks) December 22, 2024
Sadly, the Seahawks lost the lead as quickly as they earned it. Sam Darnold drove the Vikings 60 yards in only four plays – aided by an unfortunately timed facemask penalty on Byron Murphy II, who had Darnold sacked. Darnold connected with Justin Jefferson for a 39-yard strike to take a 27-24 lead with 3:51 left in the game.
On their responding drive, Seattle made it all the way to to Minnesota’s 37-yard line before Geno Smith was sacked. Two plays later, the Seahawks were facing a daunting 4th-and-15 to come out of the two-minute warning. Seattle elected to attempt a 60-yard field goal, which was well short of success. Minnesota took over at the 50-yard line, with Seattle only able to stop the clock twice.
The Seahawks did manage to get a stop and get the ball back with 61 seconds left, but the comeback attempt was short lived. A false start penalty on Abe Lucas knocked Seattle back to the 12-yard line, and one play later, it was over on a Geno Smith desperation pass that was picked off.
A lump of coal has been delivered to Seattle’s playoff hopes.
The Seahawks will have little time to rest, as they are back on the road for a Thursday Night Football showdown in the Windy City against the Chicago Bears. Seattle’s chances of making the postseason went from slim to grim, as their destiny is no longer in their control. If they win their next two games, but the Rams win next week to ensure both teams finish with identical records, Los Angeles will still win the NFC West and block Seattle from making the playoffs.
The Seahawks will need to find a way to win in Chicago, and hope the Arizona Cardinals (who were eliminated from postseason contention) feel like playing spoilers and upset the Rams. Otherwise, everyone on the team will be watching the playoffs where they did last year: at home on their couches.
