Russell Wilson scrambles as Seattle beat Minnesota to boost their playoff chances. Alika Jenner/AFP
Russell Wilson threw for two touchdowns as the Seattle Seahawks boosted their playoff hopes with a 37-30 victory over the Minnesota Vikings in their Monday night game.
Seahawks quarterback Wilson finished with 240 passing yards after making 21 completions from 31 attempts in a thrilling duel at Seattle’s CenturyLink Field.
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Running back Chris Carson rushed for 102 yards and one touchdown from 23 carries as the Seahawks secured a win that elevated them to the top of the NFC West standings.
The Seahawks are now level with divisional rivals San Francisco, with 10 wins and two losses, but move into top spot after winning their head-to-head with the 49ers last month.
The Vikings, meanwhile, fell to 8-4 with the defeat but remain firmly in contention for a wildcard spot from the NFC North.
Minnesota had started Monday’s game brightly, with Dalvin Cook going over from two yards out to cap a six-play 83-yard Vikings drive.
Seattle responded immediately in the final seconds of the first quarter however, with Wilson finding DK Metcalf with a 19-yard pass to take the Seahawks to the one yard line.
Carson then skipped through a huge gap in the Vikings defence make it 7-7 after the extra point.
The Vikings regained the lead in the second quarter with a freak touchdown when Wilson’s attempted pass was blocked by Minnesota defensive tackle Armon Watts.
Wilson tried to bat away the rebound from Watts’ block but directed the loose ball only as far as safety Anthony Harris, who grabbed the interception and raced 20 yards into the endzone to make it 14-7.
Both teams exchanged field goals to leave Minnesota 17-10 ahead at half-time, but an early turnover after the restart set up a touchdown for Seattle’s Rashaad Penny.
Seattle took a 20-17 lead with a Jason Myers field goal before Wilson picked out David Moore with a 60-yard bomb to put the Seahawks 27-17 ahead.
Wilson then found Penny from 13 yards early in the fourth quarter to leave Seattle in control at 34-17.
Though Minnesota responded with touchdowns from Laquon Treadwell and Kyle Rudolph to cut the lead to four points, a final Seattle drive ate up valuable minutes and put Myers in position for a field goal to complete the scoring.
