Hey there, football fans! If you’re anything like me, there’s nothing quite like diving into the nitty-gritty of an NFL matchup that has everything—explosive plays, nail-biting finishes, and standout performances from both sides. The Seattle Seahawks versus the Minnesota Vikings is one of those rivalries that always delivers drama, and their most recent showdown on December 22, 2024, was no exception. With the Vikings edging out a 27-24 victory at Lumen Field, this game highlighted why these two teams are perennial contenders in the NFC. Today, we’re breaking down the Seahawks vs Minnesota Vikings Match Player Stats in a way that’s easy to follow, whether you’re a die-hard stats nerd or just someone looking to impress your buddies at the next tailgate.
What made this game so special? Well, it was a battle of veteran savvy meets young guns. Geno Smith slung the ball like it was his personal mission for the Seahawks, while Sam Darnold reminded everyone why the Vikings are NFC North darlings. We’ll look at key stats across passing, rushing, receiving, and defense, all wrapped up in handy tables for quick scanning. No jargon overload here—just straightforward insights to help you understand what went down. Let’s kick things off with the big picture before we zoom in on the heroes (and a few goats).
Game Overview: A Purple Reign in Seattle?
Picture this: It’s a crisp December afternoon in Seattle, the 12th Man is roaring, but the Vikings’ purple wave crashes through for their 13th win of the season. The Seahawks, fighting for playoff positioning, came roaring back multiple times, but a late dagger from Darnold to Justin Jefferson sealed their fate. Final score: Vikings 27, Seahawks 24.
This wasn’t just any game—it was a playoff preview vibe, with both teams boasting top-tier passing attacks. The Vikings controlled the clock early with a 12-play opening drive, but Seattle’s quick-strike ability kept it close. Turnovers? Seattle had two costly picks, while Minnesota played clean. Rushing? Balanced, but not dominant. The story? Air yards and clutch moments.
For SEO folks (and curious readers), if you’re searching for Seahawks vs Minnesota Vikings Match Player Stats, you’ve hit the jackpot. These numbers aren’t just digits—they tell the tale of resilience, mistakes, and magic. And trust me, as someone who’s watched more football than I’d like to admit, games like this are why we love the sport.
Passing Stats: Quarterbacks Trading Bombs
Ah, the quarterback duel—always the heart of any NFL thriller. Geno Smith and Sam Darnold both turned in MVP-caliber outings, but Darnold’s poise in the fourth quarter tipped the scales. Smith finished with a monster 314 yards, showing off his arm strength against one of the league’s stingiest secondaries. Darnold? Efficient and error-free, with three scores to his name.
Let’s break it down in a simple table. These Seahawks vs Vikings passing stats highlight completions, yards, touchdowns, interceptions, and passer ratings. Easy to read, right?
| Player | Team | Completions/Attempts | Yards | TDs | INTs | Passer Rating |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Geno Smith | Seahawks | 28/40 | 314 | 3 | 2 | 98.5 |
| Sam Darnold | Vikings | 22/35 | 246 | 3 | 0 | 112.3 |
Smith’s volume was key—he targeted his receivers relentlessly, especially in that 88-yard touchdown drive before halftime that cut the deficit to 17-14. But those two picks? Ouch. One went straight to Dallas Turner, setting up a short field for Minnesota. Darnold, on the other hand, was surgical: 7-of-8 for 50 yards on the opening drive alone. His 39-yard strike to Jefferson with 3:51 left? Pure poetry, putting the Vikings up for good.
Fun fact: Smith’s third TD, a 4-yarder to AJ Barner, gave Seattle a brief 24-20 lead. But in a game where every throw mattered, Darnold’s zero turnovers proved decisive. If you’re betting on Vikings vs Seahawks QB stats, Darnold’s the comeback king here.
Rushing Stats: Ground Games That Kept Defenses Honest
Rushing often gets overshadowed in pass-happy eras, but don’t sleep on it in this matchup. Both teams leaned on their backs to control tempo, with Aaron Jones shining for Minnesota and Seattle’s committee approach grinding out key yards. Jones, the ex-Packer now thriving in purple, crossed 1,300 scrimmage yards for the season with this performance—talk about a seamless fit.
Check out these Seahawks vs Vikings rushing stats. I’ve kept it to top performers for clarity:
| Player | Team | Carries | Yards | Yards/Carry | TDs |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Aaron Jones | Vikings | 18 | 82 | 4.6 | 0 |
| Jordan Mason | Seahawks | 12 | 58 | 4.8 | 1 |
| Ty Chandler | Vikings | 6 | 32 | 5.3 | 0 |
| Kenneth Walker III | Seahawks | 10 | 45 | 4.5 | 0 |
Jones’ 82 yards weren’t flashy, but they ate clock—especially on that opening drive. Seattle’s Mason punched in the game’s only rushing score, a gritty 2-yard scamper that tied things at 7-7 early. Walker looked sharp but got bottled up late, as the Vikings’ front (led by Jonathan Greenard) stuffed the run on third downs.
Why does this matter? In a close game, possession is king. Minnesota’s 110 total rushing yards edged Seattle’s 103, helping them stay ahead in time of possession (32:15 to 27:45). For fantasy owners tracking Vikings rushing stats vs Seahawks, Jones is a weekly must-start.
Receiving Stats: Wideouts Lighting Up the Scoreboard
If passing and rushing set the table, receiving is the feast. Justin Jefferson? The man’s a cheat code—10 catches for 144 yards and two TDs, including that game-winner. On the Seattle side, Jaxon Smith-Njigba hit a milestone: his 13-yard grab pushed him over 1,000 receiving yards for the season, all in his second year.
Here’s a digestible table of the top receivers. These Seahawks vs Vikings receiving stats show targets, catches, yards, and scores:
| Player | Team | Targets | Receptions | Yards | TDs |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Justin Jefferson | Vikings | 14 | 10 | 144 | 2 |
| Jaxon Smith-Njigba | Seahawks | 12 | 9 | 112 | 1 |
| Jordan Addison | Vikings | 8 | 6 | 68 | 1 |
| DK Metcalf | Seahawks | 10 | 7 | 98 | 1 |
| T.J. Hockenson | Vikings | 5 | 4 | 42 | 0 |
Jefferson’s corner route for his second TD? Covered like a blanket, but he made the play anyway. Smith-Njigba’s three catches on that halftime drive were huge—he’s becoming Seattle’s go-to slot guy. Metcalf, ever the deep threat, drew doubles but still hauled in a score. Addison’s early TD opened the scoring, a 5-yard dart from Darnold.
This category screams star power. Jefferson’s now fifth in Vikings history for receptions, and Smith-Njigba’s breakout is music to Seahawks fans’ ears. Searching for Seahawks receiving stats against Vikings? These numbers explain why aerial battles defined the game.
Defensive Stats: Sacks, Picks, and Game-Changing Stops
Defense wins championships, but in this shootout, it was about opportunistic plays. Minnesota’s unit nabbed two interceptions and two sacks, flipping momentum. Seattle pressured well early but faltered late, allowing that final drive.
Time for the grit: Top defensive contributors in tackles, sacks, and interceptions. Simple table for Seahawks vs Vikings defensive stats:
| Player | Team | Tackles (Solo/Assist) | Sacks | INTs | FF (Forced Fumbles) |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Dallas Turner | Vikings | 7 (5/2) | 1 | 1 | 0 |
| Andrew Van Ginkel | Vikings | 6 (4/2) | 2 | 0 | 0 |
| Boye Mafe | Seahawks | 5 (3/2) | 1 | 0 | 1 |
| Theo Jackson | Vikings | 4 (3/1) | 0 | 1 | 0 |
| Devon Witherspoon | Seahawks | 8 (6/2) | 0 | 0 | 0 |
Van Ginkel’s two sacks were massive—one turned a first-and-10 into second-and-17 late. Turner’s pick off Smith set up a field goal, while Jackson’s end-zone INT on Metcalf sealed it (maybe a route mix-up?). Witherspoon led Seattle in tackles, but they couldn’t corral Jefferson on that final bomb.
These plays? They swung the game. Minnesota’s D held Seattle to 2-of-4 on fourth downs, while Seattle’s forced a turnover on downs early. For those eyeing Vikings defensive stats vs Seahawks, it’s clear: Pressure and picks pay dividends.
Standout Performances: MVP Moments and Surprises
Every game has its MVPs, and this one was loaded. Sam Darnold (Vikings): 112.3 rating, no INTs, three TDs—his best start since joining Minnesota. He’s one shy of Favre’s single-season TD record for a Vikings QB in his debut year. Clutch? Understatement.
Justin Jefferson (Vikings): 144 yards, two scores. He torched Seattle’s secondary, moving past Anthony Carter on the all-time receptions list. If there’s a Vikings player stats highlight, it’s him.
For Seattle, Geno Smith battled admirably with 314 yards and three TDs, but those picks stung. Shoutout to Jaxon Smith-Njigba: 112 yards, hitting 1,000 for the season. Kid’s a star in the making.
Surprise? Theo Jackson’s pick-six potential (it was goal-line), his first of 2024. And AJ Barner’s TD catch? The tight end stepped up big.
Historical Context: How This Fits the Seahawks vs Minnesota Vikings Match Player Stats Rivalry
The Seahawks lead the all-time series 13-7 (including playoffs), with wins in eight of the last nine before this. Remember the 2015 Wild Card? Seattle’s 10-9 squeaker in freezing Minnesota. Or 2020’s last-second Metcalf grab? Epic.
But the Vikings snapped a two-game skid here, thanks to Darnold-Jefferson magic. Head-to-head Seahawks vs Vikings stats show Seattle’s 65% win rate, but Minnesota’s 27 points match their season average. This game’s total (51 points) was over the line, fitting the high-scoring trend.
What It Means Moving Forward
For the Vikings (13-2), this keeps them neck-and-neck with Detroit for the NFC’s top seed. Darnold’s confidence is sky-high; expect more deep shots. Seattle (8-7)? They’re still in the hunt but need to tighten the secondary—their one-score games record took a hit.
Playoff implications? Huge. Both teams could meet again, and these stats preview it: Protect the ball, stop the run, and let your stars eat.
Wrapping It Up: Why These Stats Matter to You
Whew, what a ride! From Darnold’s daggers to Smith’s resilience, the Seahawks vs Minnesota Vikings Match Player Stats paint a picture of football at its finest—flawed, fierce, and unforgettable. Whether you’re analyzing for fantasy tweaks, betting edges, or just bragging rights, these numbers are your playbook.