Wildcard Weekend Predictions: Vikings vs Seahawks

[Mothman]

I think the cold weather being predicted for this game is a real X factor. The Seahawks aren't accustomed to it at all so it could help the home team.

If the Vikes are going to win, they'll need to get their running game going and stick with it for 4 quarters. They'll need to win the turnover battle (probably by +2) and it should go without saying that they'll need to block and tackle well. I suspect a win will require a dominant performance by the defense because I doubt the offense will be able to put up more than 13 or 14 points against the Seahawks (unless they're repeatedly set up with great field position).

A big game by the Vikes special teams could help turn things in their favor as well.

Bottom line: I don't think the Vikes have enough offense to win this game without serious help from the other two units.

My heart says Vikes by 3 but my head says they'll lose by double digits. Go heart and !

[Texas Vike]

I think the cold weather being predicted for this game is a real X factor. The Seahawks aren't accustomed to it at all so it could help the home team.

If the Vikes are going to win, they'll need to get their running game going and stick with it for 4 quarters. They'll need to win the turnover battle (probably by +2) and it should go without saying that they'll need to block and tackle well. I suspect a win will require a dominant performance by the defense because I doubt the offense will be able to put up more than 13 or 14 points against the Seahawks (unless they're repeatedly set up with great field position).

A big game by the Vikes special teams could help turn things in their favor as well.

Bottom line: I don't think the Vikes have enough offense to win this game without serious help from the other two units.

My heart says Vikes by 3 but my head says they'll lose by double digits. Go heart and !

Add to that the fact that SEA is coming from the nice cozy desert of AZ in their last game. Even with a few days back in Seattle, the brutal cold of MN will be more of a shock to them than it will to us. We've played our last two games outdoors in the cold. Unfortunately, they are a pound the rock, hard-nosed team too, so it may not be as big of an advantage as it would against some other candy-#### teams.

[Mothman]

Add to that the fact that SEA is coming from the nice cozy desert of AZ in their last game. Even with a few days back in Seattle, the brutal cold of MN will be more of a shock to them than it will to us. We've played our last two games outdoors in the cold. Unfortunately, they are a pound the rock, hard-nosed team too, so it may not be as big of an advantage as it would against some other candy-#### teams.

LOL! If the cold weather leads to a few Seahawks drops and turnovers, that might be enough.

[UKno1VIKING]

I think you can completely throw out the previous encounter with the seahags.
That was not our Defense that turned up that day, personell or attitude wise.
However, i do admit that i agree with most that we are the underdogs in this game.
I do however have faith in Zimmer in what he has learnt in the first game, and he will call a great game. This for me gives us the edge over Seattle (Hopefully).
I actually think that Lynch coming back for Seattle is a plus for us. He'll be rusty, and to be honest, i think he's lost a step or two. He doesnt scare me as much as Rawls did the first time around.
If we stop the run, and keep Wilson in the pocket, then theres no reason why we cant contain this "explosive" offence. Baldwin's been made to look good by Wilson's excellent season, and the rest of the receiving core are nothing special.
On offence, we've just got to do what we do best, run the ball primarily, manage the clock well and teddy has to be the efficient Teddy we've seen in the past few weeks.
With a full roster (fingers crossed for Joseph) and a team playing well, i feel Zimmer can guide us to a narrow victory 27-24

[Mothman]

Here's a link to a great read from The Seattle Times:

http://www.seattletimes.com/sports/seah ... r-revenge/

It looks like a layup. A one-foot putt. A jigsaw puzzle with just two pieces.

A month after manhandling the Vikings, 38-7, the Seahawks will head back to Minnesota for their first-round playoff game.

But don’t let that score from Dec. 6 sucker you. That result is officially irrelevant. You may think Seattle was just dealt the ideal hand, but in reality, they could have their hands full.

Anybody who has watched Seattle consistently since that Nov. 15 loss to the Cardinals would have a tough time betting against them — especially with Sunday’s blowout in Arizona. Never have the Hawks looked so complete this season, and never has the task of facing them seemed so daunting.

With a string of convincing road victories this year, it’s clear they’re not afraid to travel. And with their track record of postseason success, it is clear they don’t lack for confidence, either.

But the NFL is funny in the way it tricks fans and media members into assumptions. The Vikings looked helpless the last time they played the Seahawks, but they’ll be a long way from hopeless in the rematch.

[Texas Vike]

LOL! If the cold weather leads to a few Seahawks drops and turnovers, that might be enough.

To quote the overrated Chris Cornell (of Soundgarden fame), they will be "Feeling Minnesota".

[mansquatch]

The offense didn't score a single point. I think it's safe to say that had a lot to do with the loss.

Jim, they were down by 20 at half time against the best pass rushing defense in the NFL. Their offense isn't innocent, but how can you ignore the obviously bad situation such a defensive meltdown puts THIS team in? Against SEA, the defense must be stingy, if we get down by 2 scores our likelihood of recovery is extremely low. The defense MUST deliver to win this game.

[Mothman]

Jim, they were down by 20 at half time against the best pass rushing defense in the NFL. Their offense isn't innocent, but how can you ignore the obviously bad situation such a defensive meltdown puts THIS team in?

I didn't ignore it but as you said, the offense wasn't innocent. They played a big role in that blowout. They were down 20 at halftime in no small part because they performed poorly. They even turned the ball over late in the half, giving Seattle the chance to extend the lead to 3 scores. They failed to sustain drives and put points on the board, which would have kept the game competitive. Just because the defense allows points, that doesn't mean the offense can't answer those points. They weren't exactly victims.

I apologize for nitpicking but it makes no sense to me to cut the offense slack for a performance in which they didn't produce any points. The Vikes clearly lost that game as a team.

Against SEA, the defense must be stingy, if we get down by 2 scores our likelihood of recovery is extremely low. The defense MUST deliver to win this game.

No argument there but if the offense doesn't give them time to rest and puts another goose egg on the board, we both know the likely end result.

[Rieux]

As an aside, it turns out that classic bad ref calls do make a difference, in games we weren't even a part of. Had the Lions won the game against the Packers when the phantom facemask was called, and the game against the Seahawks with the Calvin Johnson fumble and illegal bat, they would have joined the Packers and Seahawks at 9-7, and would have swept them both, meaning the Lions would have been 5th seed. The Packers would have been 6th, based on the head-to-head victory over Seattle, and they would have been coming to Minnesota, and Seattle would be sitting at home. Some day, they'll allow video review of things like that facemask penalty, but it'll be just too late for the Lions.

I posted on another thread about this brutal injustice that officials have worked on the Lions and their fans this season. I don't think, though, that you're applying the NFL tie-breaking rules correctly. You're correct that, had the officials made the proper calls on those two plays, the Lions, Packers, and Seahawks would all have finished 9-7. But the very first step in the NFL's three-way tie-breaking procedure for determining wild card teams is:

1. Apply division tie breaker to eliminate all but the highest ranked club in each division prior to proceeding to step 2. The original seeding within a division upon application of the division tie breaker remains the same for all subsequent applications of the procedure that are necessary to identify the two Wild-Card participants.

As a result, it's impossible for two NFC North teams to participate beyond Step 1 (above) of a three-way tiebreaker; Green Bay would never be able to compare itself to Seattle and get by on their head-to-head win. Instead, by virtue of the above rule, Detroit's should-have-been sweep over the Packers would have meant that Green Bay was immediately eliminated. Detroit would get the #5 seed and Seattle the #6, by virtue of Detroit's victory in the illegal-bat game.

In other words, the Packers are currently in the playoffs only because of two flagrantly wrong game-turning calls that the Lions suffered. And it's for that reason that I've submitted a motion that whining about the "Fail Mary" (which did not, in any case, change any team's admission to or exclusion from the playoffs; it only affected the Packers' and 49ers' respective playoff seeds in January 2013) be ruled out of order forevermore.

[mondry]

If we have the same game plan we had the first time around against SEA and what we did against GB the other night we will lose badly. Seattle won't have 3 points at half time and we won't be winning 6-3 like against GB. (who is probably one of the most overrated, "struggling", 10-6 teams I've seen in a while)

Run Peterson and throw deep. Outside of the ARI and CHI games that's all Norv seems interested in doing but like last time we will be so one dimensional in the second half that Peterson will be stuck on 8 carries and Teddy will be running for his life from 4 guys while they drop 7 into coverage blanketing all the deep go routes.

I'm hoping like crazy that game plan for the packers was an attempt not to show our hand for the playoffs. To redirect some attention away from our intermediate and short passing game but I'm not holding my breath.

With the ARI game plan Vikes 27-17. With the SEA / GB game plan 38-3 Seahawks. Patterson won't get a return TD this time...

[Grashopa]

Surprised no one has talked much about special teams yet. the 2nd and 3rd best KR will be playing in this game. If our defense shows up then starting field position can make a huge difference for both sides. Also two of the best kickers in the league will be facing off, Walsh led the league in field goals but Haushka has a slightly better %. They both have a long of 54 yds. If we can keep it close into the 4th quarter field goals can end up making the difference.

23-16 Vikings

if it ends up being 23-20 Seahawks due to a failed last minute drive I am going to be very upset!

[IrishViking]

I think the bottom line is that our Defense has to out play the offense. as "unfair" as that is we are at the point where our identity is our identity. It will and would be great if our Offense shows up and Chicago Teddy shows up and we hang 30 on them. But odds are our Offense will be good for 14 points, barring short fields and such. This means that the Vikings Defense is on the hook so to speak for the playoffs. They got us here, they need to keep it up for us to win.

I am not taking anything off of the Offense. I want them to produce. But at this point we are past the "working the kinks out stage" we are what we are, lets make it work.


I will be thrilled if Linval, Barr, and Smith make this a whole new Defense for the Hawks to face. I am hoping that with a moderately more effective offense we reduce the drives and time Seattle has the ball and our Defense will stop them a few more times. Best case I see Seattle scoring 14-20 fewer points. I could see us winning or losing by 1 score. probably 20-17


For some reason though. I believe that we have the bigger shot at blowing them out then they do us. It sounds crazy but for some reason I do.

but I also called the 5 game win streak at finishing 11-5 this year so my feelings have been on point so far

That said i expect a much closer game with the Seahawks winning.

[vikeinmontana]

i actually feel these two teams are more similar than some think. in sports, nfl football especially, we're all victims of the moment. seahawks are playing great football right now no doubt, and people are acting like they are unbeatable. if we happen to "shock the world" and beat the seahawks sunday, the talking heads and columnists will be talking about us winning the superbowl! it's so dumb. you can literally go from no chance to the favorite to win after a game. and that's how the nfl has always been.

i'm by no means saying the hawks can't or won't win this game. they're playing great. have all the confidence in the world. know they are the favorites on the road. hear the people talking and no that every person in the country is picking them to win. and i'm ok with that and even kind of like it. i love the makeup of this team. i love their toughness. and i love zimmer. they will be fired up and ready to roll come sunday!

i think you fans in attendance can actually have an impact this game and i usually don't buy into that. but i would love to see you guys making that stadium a place the hawks don't want to be. make it miserable. let them hear is all game. get there early and let them hear it before the game! make sure they know this isn't going to be like last time. this isn't going to be easy. let our guys feed off your energy. give them the advantage in that way and then let their play do the talking. sports are funny. a little momentum early can go a long way and then anything can happen.

i expect a battle sunday and would do anything to be their with you lucky bastards.

[TSonn]

Positives for us:
Forecast of 6 degrees at kickoff (-5 with windchill)
10 am PST start time
We're getting Smith, Barr, and (hopefully) Joseph back this game (once Smith and Barr went out in the first meeting it looked like our whole team mailed it in)
The Seahawks played a bad game and lost (SEA vs STL) more recently than us (MIN vs SEA)
Marshawn Lynch returning to the line-up could spark negative changes (they were 4-4 with Lynch in the line-up)
We are big underdogs so we could play more loose
Seattle might be distracted by having to play CAR next week (if they win)

Negatives for us:
They are a better football team.

This team has well exceeded my expectations for the regular season (I predicted 9-7) so I would be extremely satisfied if we have a competitive game into the 4th quarter. My predictions: heart says Vikes 24 - Hawks 21 and my head says Hawks 31 - Vikes 17. Let's see if this week provides any guidance!

[PacificNorseWest]

Take a look at this...Seattle's offense was struggling quite a bit in the group of games in that first image, then all of sudden, BAM! They take off? It intrigued me, so I looked into it.

Quality of defense played, specifically when it comes to rushing the passer with exception of Pittsburgh and Minnesota, was lacking during this "run." Pittsburgh's pash rush offset by a horribly inadequate secondary that gave up one of the leagues worst totals of yards through the air and Minnesota without it's 3 best defensive players. Other than that?...None of those teams can get after the quarterback the way the better teams in the league can and the one team that's near the top, St. Louis, and they mopped 'em (8 sacks).

Let's not be completely bias here though. Their offensive landscape has certainly changed and I belive it's quite a few factors. Lockett has emerged as a receiver since then...Marshawn got hurt at some point and even though Rawls played very well, they started to shift their focus from a running game that sets up the pass to a passing attack that sets up the run. Russell's ability to extend drives is a factor that mixes into all of this, but along with shifting their focus, Bevell is calling plays that get the ball out of Russell's hand quicker and less reliability on PA, so on and so forth. Here in Seattle, they also attribute a ton of this to a change on the offensive line, especially when it comes to the C position, but I'm not completely sold.

I'm glad Marshawn is back. He wasn't having the impact that he used to have in years past and he's probably going to come out a bit rusty. It may knock the Seahawks off their groove a bit. The key to me, is and will be, containing Russell Wilson. He killed the Vikes on third down in their first meeting and having Barr and Harrison back will help whomever spies on Russell, while not taking a key player out of plays where Russell isn't taking off with it. TOP was skewed heavily in favor of Seattle. Minnesota, in chorus with getting their defense off the field on third downs by making stops, needs to see their offense convert a few long drives to neutralize Seattle's offense and disallow both a rusty Marshawn and a scorching Russell to find a groove...

I have more, but this is long enough for now.