Dissecting the move that revived the Seahawks playoff hopes in Week 13

Seattle Seahawks quarterback Sam Darnold was delivered a warning by Minnesota Vikings defensive coordinator Brian Flores ahead of Week 13. The Vikings were going to blitz the quarterback a lot, and it would be up to Darnold to make Minnesota pay. He couldn't.

While Seattle's offense looked out of sync and brutal for much of the game, the Seahawks' defense was playing well. The team was facing an undrafted rookie free agent quarterback, Max Brosmer, who was starting the first game of his career. Seattle made life impossible for him.

Still, after a fumble by Darnold set the Vikings up deep in Seahawks territory, Brosmer and his offense could have changed the narrative of the game. With a little over three minutes left in the first half, with Seattle only leading 3-0, Minnesota went for it on fourth-and-goal on Seattle's 3-yard line.

Ernest Jones makes season-altering play for the Seattle Seahawks in Week 13

Brosmer dropped back to pass, was pushed to his right by edge rusher DeMarcus Lawrence, tried to do far too much, and, while falling to the ground, tossed the ball directly to linebacker Ernest Jones IV. Jones was already basically sprinting toward Brosmer when he caught the ball and simply kept sprinting 84 yards for a touchdown.

Suddenly, a 3-0 game was 10-0, but it must have felt like 35-0 to Minnesota's offense. They were hopeless, but the Seahawks defense made sure it stayed that way.

The first Brosmer interception (he threw three more) was created by several things. One was the decision-making of Vikings head coach Kevin O'Connell. He should have gone for a field goal to tie the game, if only for morale.

Two was the immense pressure from Lawrence, having the kind of season that should make Dallas Cowboys fans jealous. Dallas passed on re-signing the veteran, and he has been terrific for Mike Macdonald's team.

Thirdly, Ernest Jones's awareness of how the play was developing. Instead of simply covering his receiver, Jones innately knew a turnover was forthcoming and made the most of it. He is the leader of the defense for a reason.

The game would just get worse for the Vikings from there on. The victory for Seattle would move the team to 9-3, but due to the Los Angeles Rams rather shocking loss to the Carolina Panthers, Seattle is back in first place (though LA has the tie-break lead) in the NFC West.

The rest of the season is certainly not easy for the Seattle Seahawks, however. The Atlanta Falcons are next, and that is a very winnable game, but then Seattle plays the reeling Indianapolis Colts, the Rams, the Panthers, and the San Francisco 49ers.