Sam Darnold is going to want to win in Week 13. Sure, maybe the Seattle Seahawks quarterback wants to win every game, but the team's next game might have special meaning. Darnold was a successful QB for the Minnesota Vikings in 2024, until Minnesota no longer wanted him.
Seattle plays Minnesota in Week 13, and the Vikings are almost certainly missing Darnold. After losing just three regular season games last year, the Vikes are 4-7 this season and clearly not going to the playoffs. They could have re-signed Darnold, but passed.
Minnesota instead chose to go with J.J. McCarthy, who is, for all intents and purposes, a rookie this year. McCarthy was injured ahead of last season and missed the year. His first real game experience came in 2025, and he's been fairly terrible. He might not have a chance to continue that against the Seahawks, though.
Seahawks' Sam Darnold might be facing a J.J. McCarthy-less Vikings team in Week 13
According to Tom Pelissero of the NFL Network, McCarthy is in concussion protocol. While he hasn't officially been ruled out to play against Seattle as of this writing, he is probably unlikely to be on the field. Instead, Minnesota would probably start 2025 undrafted free agent Max Brosmer.
The question now, and all sarcasm aside, is whether the Seahawks are any worse facing Brosmer, as McCarthy has had three straight games with two interceptions. He is playing so poorly, and Seattle clearly knows what to expect from the quarter, that any change might be a greater adjustment for Mike Macdonald's team.
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In four games this season, Brosmer had attempted eight passes and completed five for 42 yards. He hasn't turned the ball over. He hasn't yet gotten to start a game, though, and it is likely that the Vikings would not task him with a pass-heavy game plan.
Not that Sam Darnold cares. Seattle's quarterback will be facing a Minnesota defense that is 24th in quarterback passer rating (98.0), but is second in pressure percentage (28.0). The Vikings are also ninth in yards allowed per rush (4.0). In other words, Darnold and the Seahawks offense might not have the easiest of times.
Seattle's defense might, though. No offense to Brosmer, but he will not have faced anything like what Mike Macdonald is going to show him. Even if Darnold doesn't have a massively productive day, the Seahawks' defense should get Seattle's QB1 the victory he craves.