MINNEAPOLIS – Seattle Seahawks quarterback Matt Hasselbeck clenched his teeth and grimaced.

The game all but decided, Minnesota head coach Brad Childress pulled quarterback Brett Favre, who put forth another sparkling performance in leading the Vikings to a 35-9 win over Seattle.

The sold-out crowd at Mall of America Field gave Favre a standing ovation. And in trotted reserve quarterback Tarvaris Jackson to run Minnesota’s offense with 43 seconds left – in the third quarter.

“It’s almost embarrassing to be down that much and the other team is pulling their guys,” Hasselbeck said. “It’s just hard being in this situation right now. We’re not used to it. It’s new territory. It’s very tough.”

Seattle’s decisive loss to Minnesota proved once again that this team is no longer the perennial playoff contender of years past. Seattle is now 5-16 on the road dating back to the beginning of the 2007 season. The Seahawks have lost all five games away from home this year.

Mora called Minnesota the most complete team Seattle has faced this season. Seattle did a decent job of containing explosive running back Adrian Peterson (24 carries for 84 yards), but the Vikings were led by the 40-year-old Favre, who finished 22 of 25 for 213 yards, throwing four touchdowns and no interceptions.

Favre’s 88 percent completion percentage was a career high; he also finished with an impressive 141.7 passer rating.

The defense kept the Seahawks in the game early, forcing Minnesota to punt in the opening quarter. But the Seahawks’ offense never got on track.

How inept was Seattle’s offense? In the first half the Seahawks ran just 19 plays for a total of 70 yards and did not cross the 50 yard line.

For the game, Seattle finished with just 212 total yards and was 1-of-10 on third down conversions. Minnesota more than doubled Seattle in time of possession (42:11 to 17:49).

And the Seahawks also passed another ominous milestone, rushing for a franchise-worst four yards on 13 carries, eclipsing the mark of 14 yards set at Qwest Field against Arizona on Oct. 18.

“We were out there way too long,” said Seattle safety Lawyer Milloy about his team’s defense. “I think we played pretty well early, but they stuck with their game plan. They stuck with the run, and that is why he (Favre) is more efficient this year.”

The Vikings’ offense got going in the second quarter, with Favre leading his team on a 10-play, 84-yard drive that culminated in a 23-yard touchdown pass to Percy Harvin.

After the Seahawks’ offense again failed to move the ball, Favre had his team in the end zone six plays later, finding tight end Visanthe Shiancoe on a 7-yard slant route for a touchdown and a 14-0 Minnesota lead.

On the ensuing kickoff, Ben Obomanu fumbled at Seattle’s 34 yard line, with Minnesota’s Heath Farwell recovering.

Favre made Seattle pay, finding Bernard Berrian six plays later in the middle of the end zone to put his team up 21-0.

And the rout was on.

Favre threw his last touchdown pass of the game to Sidney Rice for a 7-yard score late in the third quarter, and then headed to the bench with chants of “MVP” echoing through the Metrodome.

Favre, who now has 21 touchdowns and only three interceptions this season, gave proper credit to the players around him for his success with the Vikings.

“There is no doubt that the way I am playing now is a direct result of the guys around me,” Favre said. “It’s not like all of a sudden I’ve found some fountain of youth. So up to this point, like I said earlier, collectively a great effort, but my goal is to get this team to the Super Bowl.”

Rice scored again on a 34-yard bomb in the back of the end zone over Seattle defensive back Marcus Trufant for Minnesota’s final points of the day.

Rice finished with six catches for 89 yards and two scores, while Shiancoe totaled eight catches for 78 yards and touchdown. Harvin finished with five catches for 79 yards and a score.

Seattle never mounted much of a challenge in he second half, but finally got on the scoreboard with an Olindo Mare 40-yard field goal at the end of the third quarter.

Running back Justin Forsett closed out the scoring with a 1-yard plunge for his team’s only touchdown of the day.

Now 3-7, the Seahawks will travel to St. Louis on Sunday to complete a run of three straight road games.

Mora said his team will continue to practice and prepare hard each week in order to break out of a season-long funk, particularly on the road.

“That’s the only thing I know that helps you dig out of one of these things,” Mora said. “And I believe if we do those things, as bad as it seems right now, as awful as we feel right now, because we do feel awful ... We’ll get over the hump. But if we don’t do those things, then it’s going to be difficult.”

Eric D. Williams: 253-597-8437

eric.williams@thenewstribune.com

blog.thenewstribune.com/seahawks

BY THE NUMBERS Percentage of passes Minnesota’s Brett Favre completed (22 of 25), a personal and franchise record. Seahawks rushing yards (13 carries), a franchise low. Career games Favre has thrown four or more touchdown passes, breaking a tie with Dan Marino for the NFL record. Elapsed time until the Seahawks crossed midfield. Seahawks’ third-down efficiency. Seahawks’ time of possession. ROAD WOES

The Seahawks have lost six road games in a row:

DateResult

Sundayat Vikings 35, Seahawks 9

Nov. 15at Cardinals 31, Seahawks 20

Nov. 1at Cowboys 38, Seahawks 17

Oct. 4 at Colts 34, Seahawks 17

Sept. 20at 49ers 23, Seahawks 10

Dec. 28at Cardinals 34, Seahawks 21 GOLDEN BRETT

Among the categories in which Brett Favre is the career leader:

StatisticFavre’s total

Passing yards67,609

Completions5,936

Attempts9,590

Touchdowns485

Regular season wins177

Starts in a row279