Seahawks-Vikings Quick Hits: Shades of 2019 season finale, but this time Seattle pulls it off

As time was winding down in the fourth quarter of the Seahawks’ Week 5 game with the Minnesota Vikings, I kept thinking to myself how much the game reminded me of another primetime showdown in Seattle: Week 17 of last season against the San Francisco 49ers. Luckily for Seattle, the result was different this time around.

Seahawks stun Vikings 27-26 | Franchise-record 5-0 start | Instant Reaction

There’s more to cover with this game as part of this column, but first, let’s compare this game to last year’s incredible regular season finale.

Shades of Week 17, 2019

In Week 17 of last year, the Seahawks were down 26-21 in the fourth quarter with a chance to win the game late, which would have given Seattle the NFC West title. And on Sunday, the Seahawks were also down 26-21, but this time had to drive 96 yards to score a touchdown to win it and stay undefeated.

Last year, the Seahawks scored no points in the first half against the 49ers. In Sunday’s game, Minnesota held the Seahawks scoreless in the first half.

Last year, the Seahawks were this close to scoring on fourth down, as Jacob Hollister was stopped less than a yard short two plays after his head coach thought the defense had interfered with the tight end on a potential touchdown. This year, wide receiver DK Metcalf had the game-winning touchdown on second down, but it was knocked out of his hands.

Unlike last year, however, Seattle scored the touchdown on fourth down, with Russell Wilson finding Metcalf for what proved to be the deciding score in a 27-26 come-from-behind win.

.@dkm14 had the game WINNER 🙌🙌#MINvsSEA Highlights: https://t.co/pPjgDawjby pic.twitter.com/GlPFDRJAlq

— Seattle Seahawks (@Seahawks) October 12, 2020

Wilson wasn’t at his best this game. Neither was the offense in general. But Wilson drove the Seahawks 96 yards down the field with less than two minutes left and just one timeout. That drive certainly represents what MVPs do. But you need help along the way, especially from guys like …

This was the DK Metcalf game

DK Metcalf has been great to start the season, going over 90 yards in all five games and scoring five touchdowns. So, his performance has been very steady and really, he’s been playing at an All-Pro level.

Metcalf had great performances as a rookie in 2019, but his breakout performance was against the Eagles in his first playoff game. In that game, Metcalf set an NFL playoff rookie record with 160 receiving yards and scored on a long touchdown. Later, he caught a jump ball to seal Seattle’s victory. It was clear to a national audience that may not have seen him play or knew how special he was: DK Metcalf was here to stay.

Well, in Week 5, Metcalf couldn’t have come up bigger for the Seahawks in their comeback win.

First, Metcalf scored a touchdown in the third quarter to give the Seahawks their first lead of the game.

That's a touchdown for @dkm14 and we've got the lead ‼️

Watch #MINvsSEA: https://t.co/pPjgDawjby pic.twitter.com/WErLHm10ey

— Seattle Seahawks (@Seahawks) October 12, 2020

Later, after three incomplete passes in a row with less than two minutes left, Wilson found Metcalf deep on the left sideline for 39 yards and a first down, keeping Seattle’s hope alive.

.@dkm14 came up HUGE on 4th down 💪

Watch #MINvsSEA: https://t.co/pPjgDawjby pic.twitter.com/eDmpvYkWgm

— Seattle Seahawks (@Seahawks) October 12, 2020

A few plays later, Wilson found Metcalf for 15 yards to set up first-and-goal from the 6-yard line.

Metcalf had the game-winning score on second-and-goal, but he just couldn’t hold on to the ball as a Vikings defensive back poked it free at the last possible moment. On fourth down, however, Metcalf caught the touchdown, giving Seattle the lead with just 15 seconds remaining.

If Russell Wilson is the head chef of the Seahawks’ offense, DK Metcalf has turned himself into one heck of a sous chef.

Run D … yikes

The Seahawks entered Week 5 as the third-best team in the NFL against the run. They’re probably not that high after this performance.

Dalvin Cook ate up Seattle’s defense in the first half and, before leaving with a groin injury, had 17 carries for 65 yards and a touchdown. He also had five catches for 24 yards.

After Cook went out, the Seahawks found more energy, and appeared to be making progress on defense. But Cook’s backup, Alexander Mattison, rushed the ball 20 times for 112 yards and also had 24 receiving yards on three receptions.

Overall, the Seahawks gave up a season-high 201 rushing yards on 41 carries. This played right into the Vikings’ hands as they bled clock all throughout the game, which made things worse for Seattle when the offense couldn’t get anything going. For reference, the Vikings as many first downs in the first half (18) as the Seahawks ran plays.

Seattle has enough issues on defense without a leaky run defense, but the Seahawks should get safety Jamal Adams back in Week 7 and may also get linebacker Jordyn Brooks. Additionally, new defensive tackle Damon “Snacks” Harrison, one of the best run-stuffers in the NFL, figures to be activated by Seattle’s next game after signing to the team’s practice squad.

Turnover battle proves huge

Head coach Pete Carroll always preaches about winning the turnover battle. This time, the Seahawks won it 2-1, and that was especially big as Seattle’s offense was struggling big time for the first 2 1/2 quarters.

After forcing a punt that ultimately resulted in the Seahawks’ first touchdown, Damontre Moore forced a fumble by quarterback Kirk Cousins that linebacker K.J. Wright recovered. Two plays later, the Seahawks found the end zone again.

As if that weren’t enough, a week after dropping three interceptions, Wright made a one-handed snag on the first play of the Vikings’ next drive.

KJ Wright with the one-handed PICK 😱

📺: #MINvsSEA on NBC
📱: NFL app // Yahoo Sports app: https://t.co/fJGRlSb2nV pic.twitter.com/ChRZXl0PSz

— NFL (@NFL) October 12, 2020

That pick set up this fantastic Chris Carson touchdown run on the first play of the drive.

Chris Carson will NOT go down.

The #Seahawks have scored three TDs in the last 1:46!

📺: #MINvsSEA on NBC
📱: NFL app // Yahoo Sports app: https://t.co/fJGRlSb2nV pic.twitter.com/F5JkBnrtTn

— NFL (@NFL) October 12, 2020

The Seahawks scored their first touchdown with 9:55 left in the third quarter. Carson’s touchdown came at 8:02, meaning that in the span of 113 seconds of in-game time, the Seahawks scored 21 points and recorded two takeaways. Those two turnovers, resulting in 14 points, were critical both for a defense that has struggled in 2020 as well as to help jump-start the offense, which had been stalled up to that point.

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