SEATTLE — Another week, another walk-off win by Minnesota's defense.
The Vikings left Seattle with a regular-season win for just the third time in franchise history and first since 2006, thanks in part to Theo Jackson's game-sealing interception.
"I'm just as surprised as y'all are," Jackson laughed after the 27-24 victory. "We ran a 2-high, and I seen [Geno Smith] throw it. I was kind of confused myself as to why he threw it, but I'm gonna catch the ones he throws to me.
"It was just super exciting afterwards," he added, somehow smiling even bigger. "I'm just, like, I'm still coming down off that adrenaline."
Camryn Bynum shared his perspective of Jackson's interception from the deep half on the other side of the field.
"As soon as the quarterback was looking that way, I'm like, 'Hold on, he's kind of holding it a little long. This isn't good for them," Bynum said. "As soon as he threw it to Theo's side, [we knew]. We mess around all the time, like whenever Theo touches the field, he'll make a play. And it happened."
Jackson, Bynum and their defensive teammates gathered in the end zone immediately after the pick, quickly arranging themselves before breaking into the dance routine from Disney Channel musical Camp Rock 2: The Final Jam.
Bynum and Joshua Metellus, who have led the way on joyous celebrations this season, did a joint interview and raved about the execution.
"All these cellies are from our childhood. We grew up on Camp Rock … we had the best era of Disney Channel ever," Bynum said. "They have the best movies, the best cast, everything. So we just wanted to show a little love to The Jonas Brothers and Demi Lovato.
"We want to have fun. Just bring that inner child out of us," he added.
Sunday wasn't all fun, per se, as the Seahawks certainly didn't make things easy on the Vikings.
Smith left last week's game against Green Bay with a knee injury but looked plenty healthy Sunday afternoon, often evading defensive pressure and managing to make throws on the run.
The Vikings did manage to hit him a few times in the first half, including midway through the second quarter when Metellus got to him, rushing a throw toward Noah Fant that Dallas Turner nabbed.
Turner secured his first NFL interception, making him and Ivan Pace, Jr., (2023) the only Vikings rookie linebackers to record a pick over the past 20 seasons.
"It was a play where I was dropping in the field, I was the hook dropper … and I saw Josh put pressure on Geno, and I got the opportunity to make the turnover," Turner said.
The takeaway returned the ball to Minnesota's offense and ultimately led to a 52-yard field goal by Turner's former Alabama teammate Will Reichard.
"We've got Roll Tide all over Minnesota," Turner laughed. "I've seen him make 60-yarders at practice since I was a freshman, so that was nothing."
The Vikings were able to rattle Smith a bit more during the second half but didn't get their first sack of him until the fourth quarter when Andrew Van Ginkel finally broke through on third-and-11 — the 34th dropback of the day by Seattle.
The takedown for a 6-yard loss forced Seattle to punt, and then seven minutes later Van Ginkel struck again. That one occurred on first down but set the Seahawks behind the 8 ball, and they missed a 60-yard field goal three plays later.
"It's huge," Van Ginkel said of the defensive stops. "When you know the back end is covering and the front is able to rush and get him flustered and then he throws errant throws, and the guys on the back end can go make a play. So when you have that complementary football, you know you can be dangerous."
Smith finished the game 31-of-43 passing for 314 yards, three touchdowns and two interceptions. His passer rating was 96.5. He completed his TD passes to DK Metcalf, Jaxon Smith-Njigba and A.J. Barner, who had just two catches on the day.
"We know what he can do," Turner said of Smith. "He's from Miami, where I'm from. Being able to play against a guy like that, that caliber, I know the type of attitude he has.
"Everybody grew up saying he was their cousin — that's what kind of status he has there," Turner added with a laugh. "It's a blessing to be able to play against an opponent like that."
Smith-Njigba did some damage through the air, recording eight catches for 95 yards and the score. Metcalf and Fant added three catches apiece, combining for 107 receiving yards.
Minnesota stifled Seattle's ground attack, limiting the team to 59 net rushing yards. Kenneth Walker III led the way with 31 yards on eight carries.
The Vikings broke up an impressive eight passes, with three of them being near-interceptiosn by Blake Cashman, Stephon Gilmore and Shaq Griffin.
Gilmore's breakup occurred immediately after Van Ginkel's sack when everything came down to the wire. With 2:21 left to go, he disrupted a throw on second-and-16 intended for Metcalf. Smith passed to Zach Charbonnet for a 1-yard gain on the next play, and Jason Myers then missed the long field goal.
"If you ask [Gilmore] about that, he's gonna be [mad]," Bynum said. "He wants to make that play [an interception]. … He prides himself on catching that and putting the game away."
Though Gilmore didn't end the contest there, Jackson of course was up for the task just a couple of minutes later. He and Bobby McCain, who started at safety opposite Bynum, shouldered responsibility to step up when Harrison Smith was ruled out with an injured foot.
"Just coming in, making sure you play a clean game, knowing that as long as you're in the right spots and all on same page, you're gonna be all right," McCain said. "There shouldn't be any drop off; you should just be able to go play ball."
McCain noted he was playing the robber role on Jackson's pick and had his eyes on Smith until he got the ball out.
"Once the ball was thrown, I saw Theo in position and was like, 'Oh my [gosh],' " McCain described. "I was so happy."
Vikings Head Coach Kevin O'Connell, who became the first coach in franchise history to record two 13-win seasons, tipped his cap to Jackson and McCain stepping in admirably for Smith, whom he expects to return to action next week.
"I think [Defensive Coordinator Brian Flores] and his guys have done a phenomenal job all year of really preaching the next-man-up mentality when we need it," O'Connell said.
"Bobby McCain really took a lot of the week on the defensive scout team, because everybody just kind of assumed we'd have '2-2' out there, and Theo took a lot of reps, but [assistant coaches] Daronte Jones, Michael Hutchings, Flo', to get that safety group ready and to communicate the way they did, that's why those guys are here," he added. "We preach to our guys a lot about, 'No matter who it is, we're gonna step in there and we're gonna make the play.' "
The Vikings improved to 13-2 and are now turning their attention to the final two contests of the regular season, back-to-back division games against Green Bay and at Detroit.
"Getting a win going into Christmas is a lot better [than the alternative]," Bynum said with a smile. "Knowing we have two good teams coming up these next two weeks, we'll have to get right back to work. But, it's a good feeling."
