Vikings at Seahawks Game Observations: Sam Darnold to Justin ...

3. Middle 8 less than great

A big key to the 2022 Vikings success was the team's performance in the middle 8 minutes of games (the final 4 of the first half and first 4 of the second).

That second of the game wasn't good Sunday for the Vikings.

The offense got the ball at its 29 with 1:57 remaining in the first half, but back-to-back pass plays were broken up to set up a quick third-and-10 and prevent any time from ticking off the clock.

A pass to Addison on third-and-10 gained 7, and he was pushed out of bounds, again stopping the clock.

Seattle got the ball at its 12 with 1:25 remaining in the first half.

The Seahawks drove 88 yards in just five plays (excluding a snap that didn't count because of a holding penalty against Stephon Gilmore.

Geno Smith completed passes of 20 and 12 to Metcalf before hitting Jaxon Smith-Njigba for 13 and 25 before the penalty. Smith followed with an 18-yard touchdown to Smith-Njigba to make it 17-14 Vikings with 20 seconds remaining in the first half.

Seattle got the ball to start the second half and drove 40 yards on eight plays to tie the game with a 43-yard field goal by Myers.