SEATTLE — It's tough on the road in the NFL.
It's rougher for the Vikings in Seattle.
And it's even more so when a QB makes his first NFL start.
The situational trio added up to a 26-0 loss by Minnesota on Sunday in Week 13.
The Vikings fell to 3-10 all-time when visiting the Seahawks and suffered their first shutout since Nov. 11, 2007.
Even though Max Brosmer became the first undrafted rookie to start an NFL game since 2023 when Tommy DeVito and Tyson Bagent each made starts, Minnesota didn't shy away from throwing the ball.
Brosmer went 19-for-30 with 126 yards. He was sacked four times and intercepted four times, finishing with a passer rating of 32.8.
The former Golden Gopher became the first undrafted rookie QB to start for the Vikings in the common draft era (since 1967).
Brosmer is the fourth QB to make his first career start against a defense led by Mike Macdonald as a defensive coordinator or head coach. C.J. Stroud, Bo Nix and Dorian Thompson-Robinson were the others and went 0-3.
View game action photos from the Vikings vs. Seahawks Week 13 game at Lumen Field.
Coincidentally, Brosmer attended the same high school as Macdonald (Centennial in Roswell, Georgia), but the later dialed up some well-timed blitzes to force incompletions and put heat on Brosmer.
The first interception brought the worst possible outcome.
Instead of tying the game at 3 with a field goal, Minnesota opted for a pass on fourth-and-1 at the Seattle 4, but Brosmer was grabbed by DeMarcus Lawrence in the backfield. In trying to make something happen, Brosmer heaved the football, and linebacker Ernest Jones IV secured it and streaked 85 yards for a touchdown and 10-0 lead with 2:59 remaining in the second quarter.
Jones snagged another pick in the second half off a tipped pass intended for Justin Jefferson.
Coby Bryant corralled an overthrow intended for Jalen Nailor at the Seattle 21 late in the third quarter, and Riq Woolen undercut a pass intended for Jordan Addison at the Seattle 5 in the fourth quarter.
Woolen returned the ball 30 yards before Nailor forced a fumble to give Minnesota another opportunity at the Seattle 37, but that drive backpedaled.
Minnesota fell to 4-8 on the season.
View pregame photos as the Vikings prepare for the Week 13 game against the Seahawks at Lumen Field.
Here are four more observations.
1. Turner records first multi-sack game
Second-year outside linebacker Dallas Turner started opposite Andrew Van Ginkel as the Vikings worked Jonathan Greenard back into the mix from a shoulder injury.
Turner started for the seventh time in his young career and recorded his first multi-sack game. He dropped Sam Darnold twice for losses in the first half and forced a fumble on the second that was recovered by Jalen Redmond at the Seattle 13-yard line.
Unfortunately, Minnesota's possession ended with the pick six.
Eric Wilson and Andrew Van Ginkel also recorded sacks of Darnold.
2. Defense swarms Darnold and limits Smith-Njigba
The Vikings swarmed Darnold, limiting the former Viking to a 14-of-26 day with only 128 yards. Minnesota sacked him four total times and only allowed one 21-yard pass as the longest of the day.
Darnold's passer rating of 67.5 was nearly 40 below what he had accrued entering Week 13.
Seattle receiver Jaxon Smith-Njigba came into the game leading the NFL in receiving yards, but he was limited to two catches for 23 yards.
It didn't matter since the Seahawks were able to maintain control of the flow of the game by running the football 32 times for 125 yards.
Kenneth Walker III rushed for 56 yards on 13 carries, and Zach Charbonnet added 52 on 14 attempts, which included a 17-yard touchdown in the fourth quarter, the only TD by Seattle's offense.
The pattern of Minnesota losing time of possession continued. Seattle won that category 34:21 to 25:39.
3. Run game stalls out
The Vikings were unable to get much going on the ground.
Aside from a 24-yard run by Jordan Mason with less than seven minutes remaining in the game, the Vikings totaled 42 yards on 15 carries for an average of 2.8.
Vikings Head Coach Kevin O'Connell said he was disappointed the Vikings were unable to be efficient in the run game early on to try to create better down-and-distance situations.
Mason led the Vikings with 47 yards on six rushes. Aaron Jones, Sr., netted 3 yards on six rushes.
4. Injury updates
The Vikings opened the game without left tackle Christian Darrisaw and left guard Donovan Jackson, going with Justin Skule and Blake Brandel at the respective positions.
The Vikings also lost center Ryan Kelly (hip) during the game, as well as Aaron Jones with a shoulder injury after a big hit by Lawrence.
Mason left the game briefly but was able to return.
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