Seahawks blank Vikings 26-0 for their 1st shutout victory in 10 years

SEATTLE (AP) — Ahead of the season, Ernest Jones IV set a goal of finishing the year with six interceptions.

With six games left, the Seahawks linebacker already has a career-high four picks, including the one he returned 85 yards on Sunday for the first touchdown of his career. That was the first of five takeaways by Seattle's dominant defense as the Seahawks blanked the Minnesota Vikings 26-0 for their first shutout victory in more than a decade.

“I was so tired,” Jones said of his TD run. “Luckily the next drive, I think, was a short one. But it was worth it.”

The Vikings were shut out for the first time since Green Bay beat them 34-0 on Nov. 11, 2007. Seattle's most recent shutout win was 26-0 over Chicago on Sept. 27, 2015.

This one was a mismatch, with the Seahawks (9-3) going against an undrafted rookie quarterback in Max Brosmer, who was making his first NFL start for the free-falling Vikings (4-8). Brosmer, who went 19 of 30 for 126 yards, became the first player to throw four interceptions in his first career start since Buffalo's Nathan Peterman had five against the Los Angeles Chargers on Nov. 19, 2017.

Seattle moved into a first-place tie with the Los Angeles Rams in the NFC West.

The Vikings lost their fourth straight and had their second-fewest total yards (162) in a game this season. Seahawks defensive end DeMarcus Lawrence — who pressured Brosmer into throwing the ball that Jones turned into a pick-6 — said this is the best defense he's played for in his 12 NFL seasons.

“Yes, and I mean that wholeheartedly,” Lawrence said. “But I feel like there’s another level we’re going to reach. Y’all haven’t seen the best of us, and we’re going to capitalize on our opportunities.”

The Vikings had the first takeaway of the game, when Sam Darnold — the quarterback who led Minnesota to a 14-3 season a year ago — fumbled deep in Seattle territory early in the second quarter.

Brosmer couldn't take advantage. Trailing 3-0, the Vikings went for it on fourth-and-1 at the Seattle 4, and Lawrence got a free run at the rookie, who scrambled to his right and made a desperation sidearm heave. The pass landed in Jones’ arms, and the linebacker took it the distance to give the Seahawks a 10-0 lead.

“Fourth down, he’s trying to make a play,” coach Kevin O’Connell said, “and it ends up being obviously catastrophically bad.”

“It’s unbelievable to have a defense like this, just consistently,” Darnold said. “For us as an offense, especially, for me personally. Like, I hate putting them in positions to where I’m getting a sack, fumble, and the defense is recovering it and now they’re all the sudden, they’re down in the red zone.”

While Seattle's Jaxon Smith-Njigba, the NFL’s leading receiver, did not catch a pass until the third quarter, the Seahawks limited Justin Jefferson, the NFL’s second highest-paid receiver, to two catches for a career-low 4 yards.

“We’re super happy to have the best defense in the world,” Smith-Njigba said. “It’s awesome.”

Darnold was sacked a season-high four times in the first half alone, and Seattle had its fewest total yards in a game this season. The offense settled for three field goals by Jason Myers — the first two from 56 and 54 yards — and a 17-yard touchdown run by Zach Charbonnet.

Jefferson left the Vikings' locker room without speaking to the media. The four-time Pro Bowler was targeted six times, just like in last week’s 23-6 loss to the Packers, but corralled only two passes from Brosmer.

“Tough day today. It was tough,” Brosmer said. “Give credit to Seattle’s defense. Got some great playmakers over there, great scheme. Thought they had a great plan for us.”

With five games remaining, Jefferson still needs 201 yards receiving to make it six straight seasons of 1,000 or more.

Seattle’s offensive line was challenged by Vikings defensive coordinator Brian Flores, who called several effective blitzes in the first half. Darnold finished the half 7 of 15 passing for 77 yards.

“Coach Flores does a great job mixing up looks, and we were just taking what they give us and made the best decision for the team,” Smith-Njigba said. “It was just one of those days.”

Prior to the game, the Seahawks held a moment of silence in honor of Kenny Easley, who died Nov. 15 at age 66. Easley is one of four players in franchise history — alongside Steve Largent, Cortez Kennedy and Walter Jones — to spend his entire career with the Seahawks and get make it into the Pro Football Hall of Fame.

The safety's No. 45 was retired by the Seahawks in 2017, the year of his induction.

Vikings: C Ryan Kelly (hip flexor) and RB Aaron Jones (shoulder) both sustained injuries and did not return.

Seahawks: RG Anthony Bradford (elbow) and CB Josh Jobe (concussion) were injured in the second half and did not return.

Vikings: Host Washington next Sunday.

Seahawks: Visit Atlanta next Sunday.

AP NFL: https://apnews.com/hub/nfl

Seattle Seahawks linebacker Ernest Jones IV (13) reacts after tackling Minnesota Vikings running back Zavier Scott (36) during the second half of an NFL football game, Sunday, Nov. 30, 2025, in Seattle. (AP Photo/Lindsey Wasson)

Seattle Seahawks defensive end Leonard Williams (99) and linebacker Ernest Jones IV (13) celebrate after a touchdown by running back Zach Charbonnet, not pictured, during the second half of an NFL football game against the Minnesota Vikings on Sunday, Nov. 30, 2025, in Seattle. (AP Photo/Lindsey Wasson)

Seattle Seahawks quarterback Sam Darnold (14) passes against the Minnesota Vikings during the second half of an NFL football game, Sunday, Nov. 30, 2025, in Seattle. (AP Photo/Lindsey Wasson)

Seattle Seahawks defensive end DeMarcus Lawrence (0) sacks Minnesota Vikings quarterback Max Brosmer during the first half of an NFL football game, Sunday, Nov. 30, 2025, in Seattle. (AP Photo/Stephen Brashear)

Seattle Seahawks linebacker Ernest Jones IV (13) tackles Minnesota Vikings running back Aaron Jones Sr. (33) during the second half of an NFL football game, Sunday, Nov. 30, 2025, in Seattle. (AP Photo/Stephen Brashear)

Seattle Seahawks running back Zach Charbonnet (26) runs for a touchdown against the Minnesota Vikings during the second half of an NFL football game, Sunday, Nov. 30, 2025, in Seattle. (AP Photo/Lindsey Wasson)

Minnesota Vikings quarterback Max Brosmer (12) passes an interception against Seattle Seahawks defensive end DeMarcus Lawrence (0) during the first half of an NFL football game Sunday, Nov. 30, 2025, in Seattle. (AP Photo/Stephen Brashear)

President Donald Trump said U.S. forces will keep hitting Iran “very hard” in the next two or three weeks and bring the country “back to the Stone Ages,” even as he touted the success of U.S. operations and argued that all of Washington’s objectives have so far been met or exceeded.

Trump said Iran would continue to face a barrage of attacks in the short term.

“We are going to hit them extremely hard over the next two to three weeks,” Trump said. “We’re going to bring them back to the Stone Ages, where they belong.”

Trump didn’t say anything about negotiations with Iran or bring up the April 6 deadline he set for Iran to open the Strait of Hormuz, the critical waterway for global oil and gas transport. He has threatened to attack Iran's energy infrastructure if the strait was not reopened.

Trump also did not offer a clear path to end the supply disruptions that have sent energy prices soaring. He did not mention the possibility of sending U.S. ground troops into Iran, or NATO, the trans-Atlantic alliance he has railed against for not helping the U.S. secure the waterway.

Oil rose more than 4% and Asian stocks fell after the comments. Oil prices were sharply higher following Trump’s remarks. Brent crude, the international standard, jumped 4.9% to $106.16 per barrel. Benchmark U.S. crude rose 4% to $104.15 a barrel.

U.S. gas prices jumped past an average of $4 a gallon for the first time since 2022 on Tuesday, as the Iran war continues to push fuel prices higher worldwide. Analysts say those high fuel costs will trickle into groceries as businesses’ transportation and packaging costs pile up.

Here is the latest:

A New York-based think tank said Thursday that U.S. President Donald Trump’s speech suggests he “is willing to leave the Strait of Hormuz off the table, leaving other nations to deal with the consequences.”

“Trump’s message was that the United States can sustain its own economic and energy ecosystem, while countries dependent on regional exports will either have to buy from the United States or manage the Strait themselves,” the Soufan Center wrote.

“While Trump explicitly thanked U.S. allies in the Persian Gulf for their cooperation and allyship, an expedited U.S. withdrawal without securing the Strait will leave many of these countries, whose economies are dependent on energy exports, in the lurch.”

Fuel prices in Thailand soared again on Thursday after the government further cut subsidies, sending diesel price to over 44 baht ($1.35) per liter, about 12% increase.

The surge was the second time in a week, after a majority of fuel prices rose by 6 baht ($0.18) per liter last Thursday.

Democrats are criticizing Trump’s primetime address to the American people on the war in Iran as “incoherent” and as doing little to answer “the most basic questions the American people,” according to statements from two Democratic lawmakers released on Wednesday.

Sen. Mark Warner, D-Va., noted that Trump owed Americans more answers about a conflict that has driven up prices on gas “alongside rising prices for diesel, fertilizer, aluminum, and other essentials, with consequences that will continue to ripple through the economy for a long time to come” in his statement.

Meanwhile, Sen. Chris Murphy, D-Conn., released a statement that said the “speech was grounded in a reality that only exists in Donald Trump’s mind.”

Murphy went on to add that “no one in America, after listening to that speech, knows whether we are escalating or deescalating.”

Oil rose more than 4% and Asian stocks fell after U.S. President Donald Trump said in his first national address since the Iran war began that the U.S. will keep hitting Iran very hard.

Trump also said the United States will “finish the job” in Iran and that military operations could wrap up soon.

Tokyo’s Nikkei 225 was down 1.4% to 53,004.81 in early Asia trading on Thursday. South Korea’s Kospi lost 3.4% to 5,292.36. Hong Kong’s Hang Seng fell 0.8% to 25,082.59.

U.S. futures were down more than 0.7%.

Oil prices were sharply higher following Trump’s remarks. Brent crude, the international standard, jumped 5% to $106.22 per barrel. Benchmark U.S. crude rose 4.2% to $104.36 a barrel.

Members of civic groups hold signs against the U.S. and Israel attacks on Iran near the U.S. Embassy in Seoul, South Korea, Wednesday, April 1, 2026. (AP Photo/Lee Jin-man)

Israel's rescue teams and residents take shelter as sirens sounds next to a site struck by an Iranian missile in Bnei Brak, Wednesday, April 1, 2026. (AP Photo/Oded Balilty)

A family who fled Israeli shelling in southern Lebanon warm themselves by a bonfire next to tents used as shelters in Beirut, Lebanon, Tuesday, March 31, 2026. (AP Photo/Emilio Morenatti)

People stand near a damaged van beside scattered debris following an Israeli strike in Beirut, Lebanon, Wednesday, April 1, 2026. (AP Photo/Hassan Ammar)

A firefighter extinguishes a car at the site of Israeli airstrikes, in Beirut, Lebanon, Wednesday, April 1, 2026. (AP Photo/Hussein Malla)