Minnesota Vikings vs. Seattle Seahawks | 2024 Week 16 Game Highlights

Off the fake, dump it down. Jordan Addison's been red hot over the last month-plus, and he picks up nine to start the day. Justin Jefferson and Jordan Addison. Here's another element to this offense, a very solid run for Aaron Jones as he takes a first down into Seattle territory. Twist up front, gets picked up. Hawkinson, leaping grab, both feet are down for the catch, and a first down. And this is what TJ Hawkinson has been doing. TJ Hamm was in motion, the fullback. Darnold, on the comeback route for Jordan Addison, adjusts around Devin Witherspoon. It's a first down to the 17 of Seattle. Darnold, over the middle, got a man, got a touchdown to Jordan Addison. His fifth touchdown in the last five games in the Vikings' strike first. Zach Charbonnet, who's been red hot as of late, he's the back. Here comes the pressure. They drop seven back. Geno Smith, taking a shot downfield, incompletes. Trying to find Jackson Smith and Jigba. He's in the driver's seat for the number one seed in the NFC, and Minnesota needs to win to keep pace. Jones, keeping the offense churning, a first down to the 35-yard line. Loudest it's been at Lumen in a couple of weeks. Darnold, on the move, and it's dropped by Addison with a big hit by Josh Jobe. And a huge break for LA and Seattle as they try to contend for the division crown. Geno Smith, off the back foot, and an extension for the grab by Pharoah Brown, just his seventh catch of the season. Second and short. Smith, protected again, and a fluttering ball is grabbed in traffic by Jake Bobo, just his 12th catch of the season. Smith, locks it, looking for Metcalf, end zone shot! He's got it for the touchdown! Darnold, faked it to Jones, throws it to the flat for Jones, and on second down. Darnold, in cut, catch made, and Jefferson has it out to the 31-yard line in Seattle territory, and gives that patented little finger wave. Fake it to Jones, dump it the other way for C.J. Hamm, and the veteran fullback with a good gain. Second chance for Darnold, throw an end zone for Jefferson, and they cash in with a touchdown! Play-action fake, nothing downfield, forces a pass, not a good one, and Dallas Turner, the rookie, has the first interception of his NFL career! Play-action, Darnold chased, and brought down! Boye Mafe, the former Minnesota Golden Gopher star, comes up with a sack against the Vikings all the way back at the 41-yard line. They'll go underneath, and Jefferson will get chopped down. Good snap, good hold, and Riker continues what has been an excellent rookie season. But, Mark, you said it. And the lone mistake when he had to scramble, remember that. Geno Smith, over the middle, in traffic, and D.K. Metcalf holds on at the 31. You better get your hands on him early in these routes to slow him down. Fifth Seattle penalty, makes it first and 15. What a throw by Geno Smith, and guess who? D.K. Metcalf, right back toward the 39-yard line. Eat up some of that space. Smith looks left and throws, and another completion, and Jackson Smith and Jigba is out of bounds inside Minnesota territory. Now he goes empty set, four-man twist, Smith down the middle for Jackson Smith and Jigba, and somehow he came down with that ball against Byron Murphy Jr. Ball's in the red zone, 24 seconds and a timeout. Extra body coming, Geno Smith floats, end zone, touchdown. Jackson Smith and Jigba's in the end zone. Second and seven. Another check down, it is Walker in the flat, and he's able to slip initially past Cameron Bynum and then dive for a first down. He's had a pick six this year against Aaron Rodgers. He's going to back into coverage. Here comes Smith and Jigba, and Murphy is there, brings him down in Minnesota territory. Geno Smith, lofts it up there for Metcalf, and it is incomplete. It was nearly a pick for Shaq Griffin. Got four inches and about 30 pounds on Shaq Griffin. Myers, that is a perfect kick, and this game is tied. Darnold throws sideline at a tight window toss for Justin Jefferson against Reek Woolen, and it's good for a first down. Essentially, you've got to always have that in your back pocket with your receiver. Flag is thrown, so is that ball. It's caught by Hawkinson. Two penalty markers come flying in as he takes it down to the 33, but we'll check the penalty marker here. Four-man rush. Darnold has that one batted at the line of scrimmage, and Jaron Reed has been impactful all day long. That one was looking a little tight, but Reichard. Smith, up top, incomplete for Smith and Jigba with Byron Murphy in coverage. And Smith hit the deck that time. He and a handful of other guys in new spots doing good work this year. Out route, nice sliding catch past the sticks by Jalen Naylor. Why this run game is so important for Minnesota. It helps to play action game as well. I've seen a lot of this from Darnold, that maneuvering in the pocket and a diving catch by Justin Jefferson in Seattle territory. Darnold, dot, short of the sticks, incomplete for Hawkinson. And it's fourth down. Emotion Walker for a pass. Quick throw on the inside and out of the slot. Jackson, Smith, and Jigba gets a key first down. Smith dumps it off. Here comes Charbonnet, and the first time Zach Charbonnet gets an opportunity to touch the football in this game. It's a 13-yard pickup. You see the way Charbonnet and Kenneth Walker can run downhill. That one shocked me. Well, now it's a fake. It is Julian Love trying to get the sticks. Let's see where they spot this football. And Julian Love is pointing for a first down. And it is a first down, a roll of the dice. And then it's man-to-man, five guys on five guys underneath because the quarterback can't scramble. Smith trying to climb the pocket and right on cue. Van Ginkle brings him down for his 10th sack of the year. Jefferson to the slot that time. And Darnold down the middle into a very tight window for Hawkinson. Woolen and Love were there to team up to prevent the completion. Also, Ryan Grubb has to call the play for second and 16 instead of first and 10 at midfield. Geno Smith dancing away and finds a man near the sticks. It looked like Lockett had just enough awareness to know where the marker was. Here comes pressure from Metellus. Smith off the back foot. Smith and Jigwa trying to get away. And he does for the first down. Blake Cashman had him. Pressure coming from Minnesota. Geno saw it, got rid of it. And it's a first down for Noah Fant, who powers his way down into the red zone. Second and two, back to the ground. Here's Walker. And it's first down and goal inside the 5-4 Seattle. Third and goal from the 5, Charbonnet is the back. The 11th play of this Seattle drive. It is Smith for the lead. Touchdown, AJ Barter. Seattle has the advantage for the first time today. Jefferson lined up in the backfield that time. Runs that choice route. And he stumbles ahead, stepping out of bounds to stop the clock at 415. Darnold got plenty of space, trying to outrun Witherspoon. And he will. He'll stop the clock. With over four minutes left, it's a first down for Minnesota. Off play action. Stepping up. Launching downfield. And it is caught. Twisting, turning, touchdown, Jefferson. Minnesota's back in front. This is an incredible throw. Quick play action. He gets up to the line of scrimmage. But look, there's two defenders here. There's no excuse for that guy to be open like that. Sam got absolutely smoked after he let this ball go. You see, two bodies near. From the 30, two timeouts and a two-minute warning. Dino Smith over the middle. It's a completion. And here comes Noah Fantz, who's had a few good catches today. Takes that out to the 48-yard line. Right now, it's key for pass protection as well. As Minnesota brings an extra body, it's in the hands of McIntosh. And he tiptoes along the sideline and gets the extra yardage for a first down. Here comes a blitz again. Dino Smith looking for somewhere to go. And Andrew Van Ginkle with his second sack of the day and the second for Minnesota. It would be a 61-yard field goal for Jason Myers, who's a good distance kicker. Got to try to make it easier, if nothing else. Smith dumps it off. It's Charbonnet. Key yards right there. And a good stop by Theo Jackson. A slight breeze at his back. The kick is up. It is on the way. It is! It's a fake to Jones. It's Darnold. And he's going to go down with a minute 41 left. Derek Hall will get credit for the sack. Got to go about 50 yards now to get into field goal range. And Dino Smith wants a chunk. Bad throw! Picked off! And Theo Jackson, with his first interception of the season, seals win number 13 for the Vikings. And they keep pace with Detroit at the top of the NFC. And yet another one-score win since Kevin O'Connell took over 31 of them. Since Mike Zimmer had his final season in Minneapolis and O'Connell took over, a tight win for Minnesota.