The Seahawks (8-3) are back at Lumen Field following consecutive road game, and will be hosting a Vikings squad that has lost five of the past six games to fall to 4-7 for the season. To help you get ready for this week's game and learn more about the Vikings, we reached out to Vikings.com writer and editor Lindsey Young with four questions about the Seahawks' Week 13 opponent:

This season clearly has not gone how the Vikings hope/envisioned coming off a 14-3 campaign in 2024. What factors have led to this season's struggles, and what do the Vikings feel like they need to do to get back on track?

Young: It certainly has been disappointing for the team coming off such a successful 2024 campaign to be facing multiple hurdles this season, starting with a lack of offensive continuity. The Vikings have been hit by a number of injuries since preseason, including J.J. McCarthy, who already was sidelined all of his rookie season with a knee injury. The 22-year-old QB suffered a high-ankle sprain in Week 2 that kept him out of the lineup through Week 8. Minnesota's offensive line also has been through the wringer this year; in fact, this past week's contest at Green Bay was the first in which all five of the Vikings starting O-line were on the field together to start a game. Left tackle Christian Darrisaw and left guard Donovan Jackson also left the game early with injuries.

Defensively, that oblong object called a football hasn't fallen the Vikings way very many times. Minnesota ranked T-3 last year in turnover differential (+12), and this year the team is 31st (-11), with five of its nine total takeaways occurring in Week 3 against the Bengals. The Vikings have had some solid defensive outings, but the takeaways haven't been there. When you continue to lose the turnover battle, it's tough to win games.

With J.J. McCarthy in the concussion protocol, the Seahawks might be seeing Max Brosmer in his first start, a player who, in an odd coincidence, attended the same high school as Seahawks coach Mike Macdonald. What can you tell us about the undrafted rookie, and what do the Vikings like about his game?

Young: Such a small world that Max and Coach Macdonald share an alma mater! After attending Centennial High School, Max played collegiately for the University of New Hampshire (2019-23) before transferring to the University of Minnesota for the 2024 campaign. First and foremost, Minnesota fans LOVE a guy who played for the Golden Gophers! But in all seriousness, Max has impressed coaches since the Vikings signed him as an undrafted rookie this spring. Though he didn't get a ton of reps during training camp, he made the most of any opportunity given and played admirably in the Vikings preseason game against the Titans. As an older rookie at 24 years old, Max has shown poise, maturity and a strong work ethic that goes a long way with coaches and teammates alike. We have yet to see him in regular-season action, but should he get called upon to start Sunday, there's no better challenge than on the road at Lumen Field.

Aside from the obvious big names, what player or players could you see being an X-factor in this game?

Young: The Vikings will need to affect Sam Darnold if they want to impact a Seattle passing offense currently ranked fourth in the NFL. Of course they'll look to those big names you're referencing, such as Andrew Van Ginkel and Jonathan Greenard (if healthy), to rush a QB they're quite familiar with. But I'm also keeping my eyes on second-year pass rusher Dallas Turner and, up front, defensive lineman Jalen Redmond. A first-round pick last year, Turner has experienced some growing pains that can be expected at the position, but he's shown up on film a handful of times this season and has recorded a sack in each of his past two games. Against the Bears and Packers in Weeks 11 and 12, Turner has also totaled 10 tackles, three tackles for loss and a pass defensed. Redmond is a diamond-in-the-rough homed in on by Defensive Coordinator Brian Flores and was referred to recently as a "bright spot" by Head Coach Kevin O'Connell. The former XFL product has been a problem for opposing offenses more than once, and I expect him to show up again this weekend.

What matchup or matchups are you most looking forward to seeing play out on Sunday?

Young: Jaxon Smith-Njigba is undeniably tearing it up right now, and I'm looking forward to seeing how Flores and the Vikings defense look to limit the receiver's connection with Darnold. Though Minnesota has struggled in various ways this season, they've seen a lot of success against the pass. The Vikings defense has allowed an average of 186.1 yards per game through its first 11 games, the seventh fewest league-wide. It also marks the team's fewest passing yards allowed per game in the first 10 games to start a season since 1993 (178.4 passing yards/game). Additionally, the 2025 season marks the first time since the start of the 1996 campaign that Minnesota has held its opponents to 250 net passing yards or fewer in at least 10 of its first 11 games.