Vikings vs. Seahawks 2013, Week 11: Seattle handles Minnesota, Percy Harvin makes instant impact

The four-game suspension would come for a “non-PED” violation, which would be the first of Thurmond’s career. The cornerback, drafted out of the fourth round by the Seahawks in 2010, is in his fourth season in the NFL and is set to head into unrestricted free agency after this season.

The Seahawks lead the NFC with a 10-1 record, thanks in large part to a dominating defense that ranks No. 2 overall against the pass in 2013.

Harvin had just two touches in his return from offseason hip surgery -- his first action since being traded from Minnesota to Seattle -- but showcased his electric playmaking in both.

His first touch and only catch of the night was a highlight reel one-handed grab that went for 17 yards and had Jacson Bevens over at Field Gulls “hanging off the light fixtures with excitement.“

The running back lacked the burst that typically defines his powerful, punishing running style as he managed just 65 yards rushing on the day.

“Actually, it was bothering me a lot,” Peterson said of the injury. “There were a couple plays in the first half, oh man, I knew if I was able to explode the way I normally do I could have gotten some big chunks, even taken it to the house.”

Harvin, who had one catch for 17 yards and an electric 58-yard punt return against his former team, told the media about the operations in the locker room after the game. His apendectomy -- the removal of the appendix -- occurred after he was placed on the Vikings’ injured reserve last season. He did not elaborate on the tumor or its severity.

Sunday was the first action the fifth-year pro had seen since Nov. 4, 2012, when an ankle injury ended his season for the Vikings. He was shipped to Seattle in a blockbuster trade in March and was expected to become Russell Wilson’s top target, but that plan was put on hold after he opted to undergo hip surgery in August.

The Seahawks improved to 10-1 on the season and will have a bye week next week.

Marshawn Lynch was a monster on Sunday, rushing for just over 50 yards and two touchdowns to go with a receiving touchdown. Russell Wilson was not exactly a fantasy stud, but his performance wasn’t too shabby, either. He passed for 230 yards and two touchdowns.

There are a lot of great things about football, but the greatest is that a large percentage of the tremendously athletic people who play it happen to be really, really fat.

311-pounder Brandon Mebane is one of these. He celebrated this fact after a QB hurry when his shirt stopped covering his entire belly:

The explosive receiver has been one of the best in the NFL in making plays after the catch, but he has yet to truly break out with a truly big season. Harvin’s special teams contributions have dropped the past two seasons, with the receiver recording 677 yards on 62 catches in nine games in 2012.

• Ben Muth: Chiefs-Broncos will hinge on running game

Game Date/Time and Location: Sunday, Nov. 17, 4:25 p.m. ET at CenturyLink Field, Seattle, Wash.

TV schedule and distribution map: FOX; The506.com

Let’s just get this out of the way:

Otherwise, Sunday’s game is admittedly not a big a matchup. The Seahawks will almost assuredly be going to the playoffs and the Vikings almost assuredly will not. The fact the game is in Seattle where the Seahawks have now won 12 straight means that the Vikings will likely be heading home with a loss in tow.

ESPN represents a common theme among experts. Everyone is picking the Seahawks to win. It’s a testament to how dangerous this Seattle team can be, and just how much the Vikings are struggling at quarterback.

The song remains the same over at CBS Sports, where all eight analysts believe Seattle will extend its lead in the NFC West. Take human error out of the equation and it’s still pegged to be a Seahawks win, with CBS’s prediction machine also siding with the home team.

“Honestly it’s a lot better than I expected to be all week,” he said Thursday. “I was a little pessimistic about what was going to happen over the weekend. I was very uncomfortable. I woke up Monday and Tuesday and I kept feeling better and better. Our training staff has done such a great job of getting me to feel better. So I threw it around a lot more than I expected to [Wednesday]. And each day it’s going to keep getting better.”

Ponder is wearing a protective harness on his shoulder.

For more betting details on this game, head over to OddsShark.

• Welcome to the saddest club, Colin Kaepernick