Ernest Jones, defense dominate rookie QB. Seahawks’ 26-0 win has issues

This quickly wasn’t — and still isn’t — about beating the Vikings.

An undrafted rookie quarterback handing you the game did that for you.

Ultimately, all this for these Seahawks is about finally beating the Rams and 49ers when it counts to finally win the NFC West.

Coming out of Seattle’s 26-0 victory over a Minnesota team that’s a shell of its 2024 selves, the Seahawks’ first shutout win in 10 years, the question remains.

Are Sam Darnold and the Seahawks’ offense strong enough to beat the foes they must, to get to and through January’s playoffs?

Seattle didn’t score an offensive touchdown until garbage time, 9:11 left in the game, on Zach Charbonnet’s 17-yard run behind left tackle Charles Cross.

The Vikings sacked Darnold a season-high four times — in the first half. Minnesota defensive coordinator Brian Flores blitzed early then faked blitzes and confused Seattle’s offensive linemen into blown assignments. Darnold lost his 15th turnover in less than 12 full games on the fourth sack, fumbling the ball to the Vikings at the Seattle 13-yard line.

But then Max Brosmer, a former University of New Hampshire quarterback making his first NFL start, flung the football underhanded while DeMarcus Lawrence was sacking him on fourth and 1. Middle linebacker Ernest Jones caught that gift and ran 85 yards to the other end zone for his first career defensive touchdown.

The first of Jones’ two interceptions Sunday was Seattle’s only touchdown in the first three quarters. With coach Mike Macdonald’s defense dominating, again, that was plenty to beat the Vikings Sunday at sunny Lumen Field.

The defense made Brosmer look like he was: A third-string, rookie free-agent quarterback in his first NFL start. The Seahawks intercepted him four times. They held All-Pro wide receiver Justin Jefferson without a catch until late in the third quarter; on that first reception, Seattle rookie Nick Emmanwori rodeo-threw Jefferson to the turf well after he stopped Jefferson’s forward progress to end the play for a 15-yard penalty.

Minnesota gained just 162 total yards.

Jones’ second interception came off the hands of Jefferson. Safety Coby Bryant also intercepted Brosmer, who played because Minnesota starter J.J. McCarthy had a concussion and veteran backup Carson Wentz is out for the season with a shoulder injury

It’s Darnold and offense, specifically turnovers and pass protection against better teams, that remain the questions around the 9-3 Seahawks.

They have a game at Atlanta (4-8) next weekend a home game against Indianapolis (8-4) to get that improved before Los Angeles comes to Lumen Field for the division lead Dec. 18. The Rams came back to Seattle in the standings by losing at Carolina Sunday to drop to 9-3. The 49ers are 9-4.

Seattle finished the regular season at Carolina and San Francisco.

Darnold twice lost the ball while getting sacked. He completed 14 of 26 passes for a season-low 128 yards. His lost fumble was his 15th turnover in 12 games, 10 interceptions and five fumbles. That’s the second-most turnovers in the NFL, one behind Miami’s Tua Tagovailoa.

Jaxon Smith-Njigba, the NFL’s leading receiver, didn’t have his first catch until 5:40 left in the third quarter. He finished with a season-low two catches on a season-low four targets for, yes, a season-low 23 yards.

The Vikings kept a safety high over top of cornerback coverage on Smith-Njigba. Nothing new there. What was new for Darnold was Minnesota’s pass rush confusing and beating Seattle’s pass protection. The Vikings dropped linemen, blitzed linebackers, then faked blitzing.

Darnold had been sacked an NFL-low 11 times in 11 games entering Sunday. Then Minnesota sacked him three times in the first 1 1/2 quarters. On a third and goal at the 11 in the second quarter, Darnold tried waiting for Smith-Njigba to come open at the goal line on an in route out of left-bunch formation. As he waited, his pass protection again failed off his right edge. Andrew Van Ginkel’s sack resulted in the Seahawks settling for Jason Myers’ 33-yard field goal for a 3-0 lead.

So then offensive coordinator Klint Kubiak ran the ball. Kenneth Walker finished with 56 yards on 13 carries. Charbonnet ran 14 times for 52. Seattle’s only offensive touchdown came after the Vikings stuffed Charbonnet for no gain on a third-and-1 run inside. From the sideline Macdonald first sent out his field-goal unit for a fifth Jason Myers kick. The home fans booed.

Macdonald called time out, went for it instead, and Darnold completed a 2-yard pass out of shotgun to tight end AJ Barner.

Darnold completed only two of his first seven passes, with three of them he threw away to escape Vikings rushing free in on him.

DeMarcus Lawrence’s huge day

Breaking in on Brosmer to force his game-turning interception was just part of Lawrence’s massive Sunday.

The 12th-year veteran defensive end also had the hustle play of the day. Following Brosmer’s one long completion of the game, 29 yards to tight end T.J. Hockenson in the third quarter, Vikings running back Aaron Jones caught a short pass. As he ran to the Seattle 40-yard line, Lawrence sprinted back up the field from pass rushing toward his own goal line. He stripped the ball from behind from the unaware Jones.

Teammate Ty Okada recovered the fumble to end Minnesota’s longest sustained drive of the game, 28 net yards. Seattle’s lead stayed 16-0.

The players on the Seahawks’ sideline erupted in roars and ran to Lawrence to congratulate the effort play Macdonald is likely to feature to the team in meetings Monday.

Lawrence also had a sack of Brosmer, to the ground, without the whirley-bird interception. He continues to be the force that keeps offense’s from dedicating solely on Pro Bowl defensive lineman Leonard Williams when combatting Seattle’s defense.

Injuries

Anthony Bradford left the game in the third quarter with an injured elbow. Christian Haynes replaced him at right guard.

Bradford again struggled in the first half. Multiple times he appeared unsure, blocking no one, while Darnold got hit or sacked.

Flores had Vikings defensive linemen feigning charges then dropping off the line while linebackers blitzed free through the line. That’s how Minnesota’s Eric Wilson ran free up the middle to sack Darnold on a third and 11 in the first quarter. Starting cornerback Josh Jobe left in the fourth quarter. He was getting evaluated for a possible concussion. That’s why Riq Woolen was in the game to collect the fourth interception Brosmer threw. Woolen lost the ball on the return for Seattle’s second giveaway Sunday.

Middle linebacker Ernest Jones was down injured late in the fourth quarter. He jogged the sideline. After talking to the team doctor Jones asked for his helmet back. He got it, but by then the Vikings had fourth down. Linebacker Drake Thomas sacked Brosmer to end the defensive series.

Jones didn’t play the final defensive drive in the final minute.