5 questions with the Vikings opponent: Week 5 vs. the Seahawks

How do Seahawks fans view the Week 5 game against the Minnesota Vikings?

The Minnesota Vikings have another big challenge ahead of them in Week 5. The team will be taking a trip to the west coast to take on the Seattle Seahawks, a situation that hasn’t been kind to the purple and gold in the past.

By now, Vikings fans likely have a good idea of what the team is up against. However, sometimes it helps to take a look at things from a different point of view. For that, we reached out to Lee Vowell of 12th Man Rising (FanSided’s Seahawks site) for some information.

Thankfully, Mr. Vowell answered our questions and his answers could be a bit surprising to fans of the Minnesota Vikings. Here are his thoughts:

1. Coming into Week 5, what is the feeling among most Seahawks fans when it comes to the Minnesota Vikings?

12s are starting to feel like the Seahawks can score a bunch of points but also can give up tons of points. Every game is close for Seattle, even when their defense was great in the middle-2010s. Now 12s have the opposite worry: Russell Wilson will lead his team to a few touchdowns but the defense might give up just as many.

Going into Week 5, this is the perfect example of that. Kirk Cousins may not be having the greatest season but he has weapons and Minnesota can throw and run, especially Dalvin Cook. Minnesota is going to score some. But I do not think the Vikings defense scares 12s.

2. Seattle is putting up 30+ points per game this season and has some great offensive weapons. How can the Vikings attempt to slow down the Seahawks offense?

Seattle’s offense has gotten into a great rhythm early this season. Most of that has to do with players like Wilson, Chris Carson D.K. Metcalf and Tyler Lockett. But a lot of the credit should go to how offensive coordinator Brian Schottenheimer is calling the games. He is letting the offense be more aggressive. If Wilson is on and Schottenheimer calls a good game, Seattle is going to score 30 or more points probably.

But Seattle could also slow itself down if Schottenheimer gets more conservative, like in more recent seasons. This means more 2nd and 3rd and longs and more heat on Wilson. The single biggest concern I think most 12s have about the Vikings defense is Yannick Ngakoue. If Seattle sets itself up for a lot of passing situations, Ngakoue will have a big day.

3. The Seahawks will be the third undefeated team the Minnesota Vikings will play this season (Packers, Titans). Are there any weaknesses Minnesota can try to exploit?

Yes, Seattle’s pass defense. I wouldn’t be surprised if Cousins and Adam Thielen and Justin Jefferson all have big days. Seattle gives up tons of throwing yards and the reason is two-fold. One, the Seahawks pass rush isn’t that good. Secondly, Jamal Adams has already been ruled out and Quinton Dunbar could miss another game.

Seattle has a bye week in Week 6 and then starts a stretch of division games and will want to make sure they are as healthy as they can be for that. Resting Dunbar is likely and Adams. There is no reason the Vikings cannot score quite a bit against Seattle, especially through the air.

4. Who are one offensive and one defensive player from Seattle who Vikings fans may not know but should pay attention to on Sunday?

Offensively, receiver David Moore is having a solid season for the Seahawks. He averages 17.3 yards a catch and has caught 10 of his 11 targets. He seems to simply make big plays when needed. He isn’t going to put up Metcalf or Lockett numbers, but a defense has to keep him in check.

Defensively, this is a tougher question. The defense hasn’t been that good and the players who have are ones everyone knows, like Bobby Wagner. But since Adams is out, I will go with Ryan Neal who started at strong safety in Week 3 in place of Adams and has an interception in each of the last two games. He’s a big safety and likes to hit.

5. What is your prediction for the game on Sunday (please include a score)?

Like every other Seahawks game, this will probably be a one-score affair. Both teams offensively should do well. The game will probably come down to which defense gets a late stop. And Seattle might be at home but will not have 12s in the stands. Still, I think Russell Wilson and Seattle win 38-34 in a game that will keep both fanbases up late not knowing who wins until the end.

Huge thanks go out to Lee Vowell of 12th Man Rising for taking the time to answer these questions ahead of Sunday’s game between the Minnesota Vikings and Seattle Seahawks. Hopefully, he is right and this game will be competitive and entertaining.