Minnesota Vikings vs. Seattle Seahawks: 2018 Week 14 Recap

Game story

In Week 14 of the 2018 NFL season on 2018-12-10, the Seattle Seahawks took care of business against the Minnesota Vikings, pulling away with a 21–7 final that built a comfortable lead.

The highest-scoring period was Q4 with 25 combined points — the stretch that most shaped the final margin.

K. Cousins (Minnesota Vikings) paced the passing game, with -8.80 total EPA, and -1.6% completion percentage over expected.

On the individual side, S. Diggs (Minnesota Vikings) delivered the top overall EPA impact at +3.83 — the clearest player-of-the-game signal on the analytics sheet.

The momentum swing (-14.1% win probability) landed in the second quarter when Seattle Seahawks changed the game: (:16) (Shotgun) 3-R.Wilson pass short right INTERCEPTED by 54-E.Kendricks [99-D.Hunter] at MIN 15. 54-E.Kendricks to MIN 18 for 3 yards (65-G.Ifedi).

Line score

Final score and points by quarter.

Stars of the game

Top performers by total expected points added (EPA) across passing, rushing, and receiving.

1. 1 S. Diggs · Minnesota Vikings · Receiving · +3.83 total EPA · 6 snaps · +0.64 EPA/play
2. 2 C. Carson · Seattle Seahawks · Rushing · +3.59 total EPA · 22 snaps · +0.16 EPA/play
3. 3 A. Thielen · Minnesota Vikings · Receiving · +2.63 total EPA · 7 snaps · +0.38 EPA/play
4. 4 M. Davis · Seattle Seahawks · Rushing · +1.72 total EPA · 3 snaps · +0.57 EPA/play
5. 5 T. Lockett · Seattle Seahawks · Receiving · +1.10 total EPA · 7 snaps · +0.16 EPA/play
6. 6 K. Cousins · Minnesota Vikings · Rushing · +1.05 total EPA · 3 snaps · +0.35 EPA/play
7. 7 D. Cook · Minnesota Vikings · Receiving · +1.05 total EPA · 7 snaps · +0.15 EPA/play
8. 8 T. Conklin · Minnesota Vikings · Receiving · +0.76 total EPA · 2 snaps · +0.38 EPA/play

Player of the game

FantasyHQ analytics player-of-the-game pick based on total EPA and signature plays.

Who scored touchdowns and field goals

Every touchdown and field goal with the player named in official play-by-play.

Touchdowns

• Seattle Seahawks — C. Carson (Q4 2:57)
• Seattle Seahawks — J. Coleman (Q4 2:49)
• Minnesota Vikings — D. Cook (K. Cousins pass) (Q4 1:17)

Field goals

• Seattle Seahawks — S. Janikowski (Q2 44:15)
• Seattle Seahawks — S. Janikowski (Q4 13:26)

How it unfolded, quarter by quarter

A quarter-by-quarter recap built from live scoring plays and play descriptions.

The second quarter: Seattle Seahawks won the period 3–0. Seattle Seahawks connected on a field goal from the MIN 19 (Q2 44:15) — (14:15) 11-S.Janikowski 37 yard field goal is GOOD, Center-69-T.Ott, Holder-4-M.Dickson..

The fourth quarter: Seattle Seahawks won the period 18–7. Seattle Seahawks connected on a field goal from the MIN 17 (Q4 13:26) — (13:26) 11-S.Janikowski 35 yard field goal is GOOD, Center-69-T.Ott, Holder-4-M.Dickson.; Seattle Seahawks found the end zone from the MIN 2 (Q4 2:57) — (2:57) (Shotgun) 74-G.Fant reported in as eligible. 32-C.Carson up the middle for 2 yards, TOUCHDOWN.; Seattle Seahawks registered a safety from the MIN 2 (Q4 2:53) — TWO-POINT CONVERSION ATTEMPT. 3-R.Wilson pass to 16-T.Lockett is complete. ATTEMPT SUCCEEDS.; Seattle Seahawks found the end zone from the SEA 75 (Q4 2:49); Seattle Seahawks added 1 points from the MIN 15 (Q4 2:35) — 11-S.Janikowski extra point is GOOD, Center-69-T.Ott, Holder-4-M.Dickson.; Minnesota Vikings found the end zone from the SEA 6 (Q4 1:17) — (1:17) (No Huddle, Shotgun) 8-K.Cousins pass short middle to 33-D.Cook for 6 yards, TOUCHDOWN.; Minnesota Vikings added 1 points from the SEA 15 (Q4 1:10) — 5-D.Bailey extra point is GOOD, Center-47-K.McDermott, Holder-6-M.Wile..

Turning points

Plays that moved win probability the most — the swings that decided the game.

• Seattle Seahawks (Q2 30:16) — (:16) (Shotgun) 3-R.Wilson pass short right INTERCEPTED by 54-E.Kendricks [99-D.Hunter] at MIN 15. 54-E.Kendricks to MIN 18 for 3 yards (65-G.Ifedi). [WPA -14.1% · EPA -5.46]
• Minnesota Vikings (Q4 9:10) — (9:10) (Shotgun) 8-K.Cousins pass incomplete short middle to 82-K.Rudolph (30-B.McDougald). [WPA -13.8% · EPA -4.14]
• Minnesota Vikings (Q4 12:43) — (12:43) 8-K.Cousins pass deep left to 14-S.Diggs to SEA 17 for 48 yards (37-T.Flowers). [WPA +13.2% · EPA +3.25]
• Seattle Seahawks (Q4 15:00) — (15:00) (Shotgun) 3-R.Wilson pass incomplete deep right to 16-T.Lockett [55-A.Barr]. PENALTY on MIN-29-X.Rhodes, Defensive Pass Interference, 31 yards, enforced at MIN 41 - No Play. [WPA +10.1% · EPA +3.20]
• Minnesota Vikings (Q3 17:05) — (2:05) 69-R.Hill reported in as eligible. 25-L.Murray right guard to SEA 40 for no gain (54-B.Wagner; 55-F.Clark). Penalty on MIN-69-R.Hill, Offensive Holding, declined. [WPA -9.5% · EPA -3.32]

Impact plays

Highest expected-points added snaps that flipped field position and scoring chances.

• Minnesota Vikings (Q4 2:49) — (2:49) (Shotgun) 8-K.Cousins sacked at MIN 18 for -7 yards (59-J.Martin). FUMBLES (59-J.Martin) [59-J.Martin], RECOVERED by SEA-28-J.Coleman at MIN 29. 28-J.Coleman for 29 yards, TOUCHDOWN. [WPA -0.6% · EPA -8.04]
• Seattle Seahawks (Q2 30:16) — (:16) (Shotgun) 3-R.Wilson pass short right INTERCEPTED by 54-E.Kendricks [99-D.Hunter] at MIN 15. 54-E.Kendricks to MIN 18 for 3 yards (65-G.Ifedi). [WPA -14.1% · EPA -5.46]
• Minnesota Vikings (Q4 9:10) — (9:10) (Shotgun) 8-K.Cousins pass incomplete short middle to 82-K.Rudolph (30-B.McDougald). [WPA -13.8% · EPA -4.14]
• Minnesota Vikings (Q4 5:46) — (5:46) 5-D.Bailey 47 yard field goal is BLOCKED (54-B.Wagner), Center-47-K.McDermott, Holder-6-M.Wile. [WPA -7.5% · EPA -3.41]

Quarterback report card

K.Cousins led all passers in efficiency for Minnesota Vikings, setting the tone in the passing game according to FantasyHQ analytics.

• K.Cousins (Minnesota Vikings) · 37 dropbacks · 54.1% completion · -1.6% CPOE · -0.24 EPA/play · -8.80 total EPA
• R.Wilson (Seattle Seahawks) · 26 dropbacks · 38.5% completion · +2.2% CPOE · -0.23 EPA/play · -5.93 total EPA

Team stats comparison

Side-by-side offensive and defensive efficiency from FantasyHQ analytics.

By the numbers

Seattle Seahawks held the efficiency edge in offensive EPA per play (-0.01 vs -0.26), even if the scoreboard told a different story.

• Minnesota Vikings: 11 drives, -18.75 total EPA, 2 scoring drives
• Seattle Seahawks: 11 drives, -1.15 total EPA, 3 scoring drives

Key takeaways

What to remember for fantasy research, film review, and follow-up box score digging.

• Seattle Seahawks leaves with the win and the better postgame narrative for Week-to-week momentum.
• S. Diggs (Minnesota Vikings) is the first name to pull up for highlight reels and prop-retrospective research.

Every scoring play

Chronological scoring with field position and full play-by-play context.

1. Seattle Seahawks FG (+3) — Q2 44:15 · MIN 19 · Score 0-3
   (14:15) 11-S.Janikowski 37 yard field goal is GOOD, Center-69-T.Ott, Holder-4-M.Dickson.
2. Seattle Seahawks FG (+3) — Q4 13:26 · MIN 17 · Score 0-6
   (13:26) 11-S.Janikowski 35 yard field goal is GOOD, Center-69-T.Ott, Holder-4-M.Dickson.
3. Seattle Seahawks TD (+6) — Q4 2:57 · MIN 2 · Score 0-12
   (2:57) (Shotgun) 74-G.Fant reported in as eligible. 32-C.Carson up the middle for 2 yards, TOUCHDOWN.
4. Seattle Seahawks Safety (+2) — Q4 2:53 · MIN 2 · Score 0-14
   TWO-POINT CONVERSION ATTEMPT. 3-R.Wilson pass to 16-T.Lockett is complete. ATTEMPT SUCCEEDS.
5. Seattle Seahawks TD (+6) — Q4 2:49 · SEA 75 · Score 0-20
   (2:49) (Shotgun) 8-K.Cousins sacked at MIN 18 for -7 yards (59-J.Martin). FUMBLES (59-J.Martin) [59-J.Martin], RECOVERED by SEA-28-J.Coleman at MIN 29. 28-J.Col
6. Seattle Seahawks XP (+1) — Q4 2:35 · MIN 15 · Score 0-21
   11-S.Janikowski extra point is GOOD, Center-69-T.Ott, Holder-4-M.Dickson.
7. Minnesota Vikings TD (+6) — Q4 1:17 · SEA 6 · Score 6-21
   (1:17) (No Huddle, Shotgun) 8-K.Cousins pass short middle to 33-D.Cook for 6 yards, TOUCHDOWN.
8. Minnesota Vikings XP (+1) — Q4 1:10 · SEA 15 · Score 7-21
   5-D.Bailey extra point is GOOD, Center-47-K.McDermott, Holder-6-M.Wile.