The Seahawks are back at home for a second straight meeting with a tough NFC North opponent, the 12-2 Minnesota Vikings. Minnesota has won seven straight games to stay in the running for the NFC's top seed, while the Seahawks are looking to bounce back after Sunday's loss to Green Bay, which ended a four-game winning streak. To get you ready for this week's matchup, we reached out to Vikings.com writer & editor Lindsey Young with five questions bout this week's opponent.

It would appear, from afar at least, that the Vikings are exceeding expectations placed on them heading into the season, at least externally, by a pretty healthy margin. What have been some of the biggest reasons for a quick turnaround from a 7-10 team last year to 12-2 and already having clinched a playoff berth with three games to play?

Young: It's definitely fair to say that external expectations have been far exceeded, though it's been clear since the spring that this team has had a ton of confidence in what it brings to the table. Sam Darnold really smoothly transitioned into this locker room and Kevin O'Connell's offensive system, and his success has been a huge part of getting the Vikings to where they're at in this part of the season. Free agent additions have been tremendously impactful, especially on defense. I still remember the introductory press conference we held this spring with Jonathan Greenard, Blake Cashman and Andrew Van Ginkel, and it's impossible to sum up just how critical they've been within Brian Flores' defense. The Vikings also added veteran CBs Shaq Griffin and Stephon Gilmore to the secondary, which has been another layer of expertise facing opposing wideouts, and drafted rookie pass rusher Dallas Turner — who has really showed up the past couple of games. It's one thing to go out and ink new players to the roster; it's another to ensure those players have the exact makeup (both on and off the field) you're seeking and will mesh well together in a new setting. The Vikings have accomplished all that and more, and it's paying off in a big way.

Probably related to the previous questions, but it's hard to imagine anyone saw this type of season coming from Sam Darnold in his seventh year in the league, what has allowed the former No. 3 overall pick thrive the way he has in Minnesota?

Young: I think there's a number of factors at play here. Sam Darnold's arm talent and physical ability hasn't ever (or should never have) been questioned, but it's true he experienced his share of struggles to start his pro career. System fit and surrounding cast matter, and I believe Darnold is in the best possible setting he could be — with former quarterback Kevin O'Connell at the helm, former NFL quarterback (and teammate) Josh McCown leading the position group and playmakers like Justin Jefferson, Jordan Addison, T.J. Hockenson … the list goes on … at the ready. Darnold also spent an entire season last year learning in the 49ers system and working on San Francisco's scout team, which certainly added to his experience prior to arriving in Minnesota. He's mentioned a number of times the importance of "being where my feet are" and not looking too far ahead or looking behind, and it's a mindset that certainly seems to be serving him well.

What has been the key for Brian Flores' defense to go from being middle of the pack, statistically speaking, in 2023, to being one of the league's best defenses in 2024?

Young: I mentioned the new additions up above so won't be repetitive there, but it's worth reiterating the success that General Manager Kwesi Adofo-Mensah and Flores have had in identifying and signing players who have a selfless approach to the game and also fit Flores' aggressive style of defense. One of the biggest acquisitions has been Minnesota native Blake Cashman, who returned to his home state after three seasons with the Jets and the past two in Houston. He's also one of my favorite free agency stories because Flores explained in September that his daughter hangs out with the daughter of former University of Minnesota LB coach Mike Sherels, who last year raved about Cashman. Flores looked up film of him and knew he wanted him on the team … and this past spring, it happened!

Another under-the-radar aspect of the Vikings defense is how much FUN they have playing. They currently are ranked No. 2 in the league with 28 takeaways on the season, and they're always extra motivated to get more and break out a creative celebration … like recreating The Parent Trap handshake. Flores implements JOY into his coaching philosophy, and it truly helps guys play to their optimum level.

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

Young: There's plenty of talk about Hockenson and his impact in the passing game, but I'll also be keeping my eyes on tight ends Johnny Mundt and Josh Oliver. Both are typically viewed more as blockers, but don't underestimate their ability to make grabs when needed. They both have been reliable targets for Darnold, and I could see them being utilized more if weather becomes a factor and teams need to focus more on moderate chunk yardage over explosive plays. Mundt has 18 catches for 135 yards and a career-high two touchdowns this season, and Oliver has 20 catches for a career-high 242 yards and three touchdowns. Sunday's game will also a semi-homecoming for Mundt, who played collegiately just four hours away at the University of Oregon.

What matchups or matchups are you most looking forward to playing out on Sunday?

Young: My colleague Rob Kleifield and I were just discussing this, and we both agree you can never go wrong with whoever's going against Justin Jefferson, right? It's been interesting to see the ways defenses have approached "Jets" this season, and he recently noted that it's been different than anything he's seeing thus far, even though he's obviously been raising the bar ever since Minnesota drafted him in 2020. Devon Witherspoon and Riq Woolen have each played well for Seattle this season, so the two of them against Jefferson is a matchup I'm definitely looking forward to seeing! And if I can mention a second option, as well, it will be the Seahawks pass rush against the Vikings offensive line. Minnesota unfortunately lost left tackle Christian Darrisaw to a knee injury in Week 8 but was able to trade with Jacksonville for Cam Robinson, who made a fairly seamless transition into the position group.