Ernest Jones IV Dominates as Seahawks Blank Vikings in Statement Win
The Seattle Seahawks didn’t just win on Sunday - they made a statement. Behind a suffocating defensive performance led by linebacker Ernest Jones IV, Seattle shut out the Minnesota Vikings 26-0 at Lumen Field, notching their first shutout in nearly a decade. You’d have to go back to Week 3 of the 2015 season to find the last time this defense pitched a zero, and fittingly, that was also the last time they shut out Minnesota.
Jones was everywhere. The 26-year-old linebacker turned in a career-best performance, racking up 12 tackles and picking off two passes.
He was the heartbeat of a defense that forced five total turnovers - four interceptions and a fumble recovery - and held the Vikings to just 162 total yards. That’s the fewest Seattle has allowed in a game since, you guessed it, 2015.
Minnesota, starting undrafted rookie quarterback Max Brosmer in his first NFL appearance, never found a rhythm. Brosmer threw all four of the Vikings’ interceptions, and Seattle’s front seven made sure he felt the heat all afternoon. One of the game’s biggest moments came early in the second quarter, and it was all Jones.
With the Vikings threatening on fourth-and-1 from Seattle’s 4-yard line, Brosmer scrambled under pressure from DeMarcus Lawrence, who had just stripped Aaron Jones earlier in the game. Brosmer tried to get off a sidearm throw as he was going down - and that’s when Jones pounced. The linebacker snagged the pass and took off down the sideline, racing 84 yards for a touchdown that put Seattle up 10-0 and flipped the momentum for good.
“I saw DeMarcus holding him, getting ready to bring him to the ground,” Jones said after the game. “When you catch these interceptions, everything slows down.
I’m thinking, ‘There’s no way he’s about to throw this.’ He let it go.
Then I catch it, and I’m like, ‘There’s nobody in front of me!’ So I immediately started running.
I look up at the video board, and I’m like, ‘Dang, somebody’s catching me.’ It was Riq (Woolen).
Riq was trying to beat me to the end zone.”
That play marked Jones’ first career defensive touchdown - a moment he won’t forget anytime soon.
Through 10 games this season, Jones has been a force. He leads the team with five interceptions and has totaled 83 tackles, 43 of them solo.
And that’s despite missing time with a knee injury suffered in Week 9 against Washington. Sunday’s performance was a clear sign that he’s back to full strength - and then some.
Ernest Jones on his 85-yard interception return TD off Vikings rookie Max Brosmer’s whirly-bird toss right to him in #Seahawks’ rout: “There’s no way he’s going to throw this.”
— Gregg Bell (@gbellseattle) December 1, 2025
Said he saw on the video board someone catching him from behind—then realized it was Riq Woolen pic.twitter.com/MjwhPMaaWJ
But Jones’ impact this season goes beyond the box score. He’s been the emotional and physical anchor of the Seahawks’ defense, all while navigating a challenging year off the field.
Jones lost his father to Ewing sarcoma in July, and he’s been balancing the demands of the NFL with raising his 17-month-old son back home in Seattle. Through it all, he’s emerged as a leader - not just in the locker room, but at the heart of a defense that’s finding its identity.
Originally a third-round pick by the Rams in 2021, Jones has transformed Seattle’s linebacker corps in just his second season with the team. The middle linebacker spot now has a new face, a new voice, and a new tone - and it’s his.
With the win, Seattle improves to 9-3, pulling even with the Rams atop the NFC West. Minnesota, meanwhile, drops to 4-8 after suffering its fourth straight loss.
Next up for the Seahawks: a road trip to Atlanta to face the Falcons. If Jones and this defense keep playing like they did on Sunday, Seattle might be gearing up for more than just a playoff run - they might be building something special.