SEATTLE – The Vikings won in Seattle for the first time since 2006. They remain in control of their destiny as the NFC’s No. 1 seed and have two 13-win seasons in three years on the way to a home showdown with the Packers.

Take a deep breath, Vikings fans.

The Vikings eked out a 27-24 win over the Seahawks thanks to the kind of starting shooting from Sam Darnold that will further propel the quarterback into the MVP conversation. He hit Justin Jefferson for a 39-yard score with 3:58 left, and the Vikings sealed the game with an interception of Geno Smith by Theo Jackson in the final minute.

Darnold managed just 22 of 35 on a rainy afternoon in Seattle, but hit Jefferson for two scores and found Jordan Addison for another score while throwing for 246 yards in the game. Geno Smith threw for 314 yards, but the Vikings’ pressure changed the game late.

Why it happened: The Vikings boasted their pass rush in this game, with Andrew Van Ginkel getting two sacks in the second half and Jihad Ward pressuring Smith on the game-winning interception. The Seahawks were just 2 of 10 on third down, a week after the Bears went 1 for 12. That, combined with Darnold’s inner strength on a drive where he seemed to have trouble reading the plays, helped them win in a building where they’ve missed out on a lot of plays.

What it means: They are tied with Detroit and ahead of Philadelphia, which lost to the Commanders earlier Sunday, and will be the No. 1 seed in the NFC playoffs if they win their final two games. They’ll also have to think more about Darnold’s future after the QB put in another convincing performance in one of the NFL’s toughest road situations.

Course of the game: Byron Murphy II pulled Darnold to the ground by the facemask, causing the quarterback to hobble for the sack, but the Vikings got a first down on the call. On the next play, Darnold escaped the pressure and threw a 39-yard dart on the move to Jefferson, who spun in the air and scored his second touchdown of the day.

Turning point: On the Seahawks’ second-and-16 play from 26 yards in the fourth quarter, Geno Smith hit Tyler Lockett for 17 yards and a first down, which came when Lockett rolled forward past the sticks before anyone touched him. The Seahawks rushed to snap the ball before the Vikings could challenge the point, and the drive resulted in Smith’s go-ahead touchdown pass to AJ Barner with 4:21 left.