The Seattle Seahawks travel to TCF Bank Stadium to face the Minnesota Vikings in the first round of the NFL playoffs. The Vikings won the NFC North division title this season, and second year head coach Mike Zimmer will look to keep the momentum rolling into the playoffs after winning three straight games. Seattle has looked like one of the hottest teams down the stretch of this season, but head coach Pete Carroll will look to keep his team grounded heading into the postseason.
Seattle is coming off arguably their most impressive win of the season, beating NFC West rival and second seed the Arizona Cardinals by 30 points. Seattle's offense has been rolling down the stretch of this season and has won six of their last seven games. Seahawks quarterback Russell Wilson is having his most impressive season since entering the league and has thrown for a career-high 4,024 yards with 34 touchdowns to eight interceptions.
Wilson has thrown 24 touchdowns to just one interception in the past seven games, and he is a dual threat behind center. The Super Bowl winning quarterback has rushed for a career-high 553 yards in his fourth season in the league and will need to step up his game with star running back Marshawn Lynch ruled out.
Seahawks running back Christine Michael will look to carry the load Sunday, but he faces a difficult challenge against Minnesota's defense. Michael is coming of a season-high 102 yard rushing performance last week, and Carroll will likely feed the hot hand out the Seahawks running backs. Seahawks running backs Bryce Brown and Fred Jackson will also get opportunities on Sunday, as Seattle will look for any of their backs to step up in the absence of Lynch.
Seattle's defense has consistently been dominant over the past few seasons, and this year was no different, as they finished ranked second in the NFL in terms of yards allowed per game. Seahawks linebacker K.J. Wright is a playmaker for Seattle's defense, and he led the team with 116 combined tackles this season. Wright continually makes plays around the ball for Seattle and has forced four fumbles during the 2015 season.
Wright will look to disrupt Minnesota's offensive game plan and contain running back Adrian Peterson. The Vikings star running back led the NFL with 1,485 rushing yards this season and scored 11 touchdowns. The 6-foot-1, 220-pound running back is still one of the best in the league, and opposing defenses need to gang tackle to bring him down.
Peterson will look to open the offense for the Vikings, as second year quarterback Teddy Bridgewater has been inconsistent throwing the ball this season. Bridgewater has thrown for 3,231 yards this season with 14 touchdowns to nine interceptions. Ball security will be of the utmost importance to the Vikings offense, as they will not want to give Seattle and second-chance opportunities.
Both teams ended their regular season with strong wins over division opponents, and both head coaches will look to have their teams ready for a physical matchup in frigid Minnesota.
Where To Watch: NBC at 1:05 p.m. Eastern time.
Online Live Stream: click here.
Minnesota Vikings Radio Broadcast: click here.
Seattle Seahawks Radio Broadcast: click here.
