For the second time in three weeks, the Minnesota Vikings were bulldozed by an opponent on their home field.
This time it was the reigning NFC Champion Seattle Seahawks, who look every bit like a team ready to defend their crown when the playoffs begin in just over a month.
Seattle scored five touchdowns in a span of six drives, pulling away in a 38-7 win at TCF Bank Stadium.
Seahawks quarterback Russell Wilson continued his red-hot play, accounting for four touchdowns and 274 yards passing as Seattle won its third consecutive game and moved to within a game of the Vikings in the NFC wild card standings.
"Just a really complete victory," Seahawks coach Pete Carroll said. "A lot of guys did good stuff. Playing this well from start to finish, it was a nice accomplishment against a good club."
After starting the season 7-2 and moving to the top of the NFC North standings, the Vikings have now been embarrassed in back-to-back home games.
Minnesota lost 30-13 to the Green Bay Packers here on November 22. Now at 8-4, the Vikings have a short week to lick their wounds before a date with NFC West-leading Arizona on Thursday (local time) in the desert.
"We aren't as good as we think we are," Vikings coach Mike Zimmer said.
"That wasn't very good for any phase of our football team. Seattle did a good job and I give them credit for the way they played. They beat us in every phase."
Wilson did not sound surprised by Seattle's latest win.
"I think we've been resilient all year and I think it's starting to show up right now," the quarterback said.
"We've stayed the course and we have guys who can make so many different plays, that's the fun part for me playing quarterback; who gets the ball right now? We have so many different guys who can get the ball in the end zone and make things happen."
Panthers clinch playoff berth
The Carolina Panthersy became the first team to clinch a playoff berth.
Even before taking the field for their game against New Orleans, the 11-0 Panthers mathematically locked up first place in the NFC South when their closest division rivals, the Atlanta Falcons, lost to the Tampa Bay Buccaneers.
It is the third consecutive year the Panthers have won their division.
Jets beat Giants in OT
New York Giants kicker Josh Brown's franchise record ended at 29 straight field-goal attempts made when he pulled a 48-yarder wide left, helping the New York Jets to a 23-20 overtime win.
The Jets (7-5), down 20-10 at the half, got home when kicker Randy Bullock scored the 31-yard game-winner to keep their playoff hopes alive.
The Giants (5-7) got a fifth-straight 100-yard receiving performance form Odell Beckham Jr. (six receptions for 149 yards, one touchdown).
Bengals claim Ohio bragging rights
The Cincinnati Bengals overwhelmed the Cleveland Browns 37-3 behind three touchdowns by quarterback Andy Dalton.
The Bengals (10-2) were dominant from beginning to end and strengthened their hold on the AFC North lead. Dalton had a 3-yard run for a score and threw a pair of TD passes.
The Browns (2-10) are heading in the opposite direction, with seven straight losses.
Buccaneers complete comeback
Rookie quarterback Jameis Winston threw a touchdown pass to receiver Mike Evans with 1:39 left to give the Tampa Bay Buccaneers a 23-19 comeback win over the Atlanta Falcons.
The Bucs (6-6) went 80 yards on the touchdown drive, with Winston converting a third-and-19 with a wild 20-yard scramble.
The win keeps the Bucs alive for the wild card, while the Falcons (6-6) have dropped five in a row and six of seven games after a 5-0 start.
Big plays see Dolphins past Ravens
Two rookies making their first NFL starts - wide receiver DeVante Parker and defensive tackle Jordan Phillips - made big plays to lead the Miami Dolphins past the Baltimore Ravens 15-13.
With another close finish, Baltimore became the first team in NFL history to have its first 12 games decided by eight or fewer points.
The Dolphins (5-7) remain on the outer fringes of the playoff picture. Baltimore (4-8) is virtually out of the race.
49ers get first road win
Blaine Gabbert's 71-yard touchdown pass to Torrey Smith after 2:10 of overtime gave the San Francisco 49ers an improbable 26-20 victory over the Chicago Bears.
It was the 49ers' first road victory after five defeats, most of them by lopsided scores.
With the scores tied late in the fourth quarter, Chicago (5-7) brought in Robbie Gould for a 36-yard field goal attempt as time expired, but it was wide left.
