The Vikings turned the ball over four times, Russell Wilson was nearly perfect, and Minnesota was thrashed in Seattle Sunday 41-20.
12.5-point underdogs, the Vikings played with Seattle for three quarters, trailing 24-13 going into the fourth and forcing the Seahawks to punt on the second play of the final period.
But Seattle proceeded to intercept Vikings’ quarterbacks three times in less than three minutes, leading to 17 unanswered points that would seal the win.
After interception number two was returned for a touchdown, Christian Ponder, who was named the starter Sunday morning despite a dislocated non-throwing shoulder suffered 10 days ago, was pulled in favor of backup Matt Cassel.
Cassel then threw another interception, setting up Seattle in the Vikings’ red zone, where former Purple quarterback and current Seahawk backup Travarias Jackson would come on in relief of starter Russell Wilson to net Seattle a field goal.
Wilson wasn’t hurt, the game was just out of hand, and the second-year University of Wisconsin product took a seat after completing 13-of-18 passes for 230 yards and two touchdowns. Those numbers were good for a 151.4 quarterback rating out of a possible 158.3.
On the other side, Ponder’s two interceptions and one lost fumble told the story of yet another disappointing performance, and his halftime QB rating of 121 is nothing but a distant memory as the Vikings depart CenturyLink Field.
In the passing game Minnesota was without Greg Jennings, who was a late deactivation with an Achilles injury he had battled all week. Jerome Simpson, who was charged with a DWI just a few days ago, did not start, but came in the second snap of the game while playing sparingly throughout.
The battle of two of the game’s top running backs didn’t amount to much, as Adrian Peterson carried the ball 21 times for 65 yards, while Seattle’s Marshawn Lynch got 17 carries for 54 yards, but did find the endzone twice.
The loss drops Minnesota to a tough-to-look-at 2-8, while Seattle, widely considered the top team in the NFC, improve to 10-1 and remain undefeated at home.
The Vikings face the Packers at Lambeau Field next Sunday.
