The Lynch injury has forced Wilson to throw more. There has been a silver lining in that it's helped Wilson evolve into an elite pocket passer. This reliance on the pass has also elevated Baldwin into elite status. Now, with lynch on the way back, look for Bevel to unleash the beastmode with a balanced air attack that will be unstoppable. Notice: I didn't even mention the defense which is still top ranked. One game at a time though. Vikings' AP is a force and can turn the best of teams upside down.
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Here's a baseball analogy. In the World Series, the Mets looked pretty darned good on paper, and against their early opponents. But in the Royals, they met a team that was equally good, and also knew, from their previous year's failure, just how high a level of effort it was going to take to win. To my eyes, that was the difference: the Mets thought that being good would be enough. Transfer that to the NFL, with the Seahawks in the Royals role: they are going to play like the Royals played, and I would not want to be in their path. And my beloved Packers... it sure looks like they are pushing all the customary buttons, and nothing is working the way it is supposed to. Gotta say, they just don't look good enough.
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Be afraid be very afraid!
Go Hawks
The Chief
Go Hawks
The Chief
Seattle is looking tough no doubt- but too much hype typically leads to disappointment.
They should not overlook the Vikings and be too confident based on their previous meeting a month ago. The Vikings have been playing much better since that game and point to that game as a turning point and are keen for revenge. They have a good defense that is young and fast, a solid running game...and if TB doesnt make any mistakes, they have a very good chance to win.
They should not overlook the Vikings and be too confident based on their previous meeting a month ago. The Vikings have been playing much better since that game and point to that game as a turning point and are keen for revenge. They have a good defense that is young and fast, a solid running game...and if TB doesnt make any mistakes, they have a very good chance to win.
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No team in the history of the NFL has been better built for the road. The trophy will once again reside on the shores of Puget Sound.
The season is so long under the modern schedule, all that matters is who is hot and healthy at the end. The Patriots and Packers came out like a shot but are now mediocre. Look for the Chiefs and Seahawks to do well. Of course, Carolina has been terrific throughout. Broncos? Who knows. But with homefield throughout they will be formidable. Bengals? Will they fold again? Should be a very interesting couple of weekends.
To reach the Super Bowl the Seahawks would have to beat Minnesota on the road, then Carolina on the road, then most likely Arizona on the road (if Arizona beats the winner of GB vs Washington). Three division champions ... this season they beat Minnesota badly, lost to Carolina and to Green Bay and split with Arizona, so they have a 2-3 record against other NFC playoff teams.
If they can win those three on the road then hats off to them, but it will tougher than many people think, especially playing three straight on the road.
If they can win those three on the road then hats off to them, but it will tougher than many people think, especially playing three straight on the road.
Seattle is undefeated (9-0) in home playoff games, but 0-3 in road playoff games in cold weather since 2005. Temperature in Minneapolis is likely to be around zero windchill.
So yes, winning on the road is not easy, especially when weather conditions favor the home team.
So yes, winning on the road is not easy, especially when weather conditions favor the home team.
I believe the Vikings still play indoors at the Metrodome, where wind, rain, and temperature are not significant factors.
the game is played indoors. makes no difference what the wather is outside. When is Seattle considered a warm state (lol)
As a Green Bay Packers fan I'm kind of glad the Pack did not win the division. The Packers beat the Seahawks earlier this year at Lambeau Field but now that they're all banged up I certainly don't want to see them play Seattle first in the playoffs. They are scary. Good luck Minnesota. You're gonna need it!
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Ever thought that the blowout was due to Arizona not bothering to play full out? Nothing like giving your team a bit of a rest when you are already guaranteed a post-season spot. The Giants also had a season where they just barely lost their games when they lost and they didn't make the playoffs...All about the media being completely in love with those Seahawks. Just saying
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Actually this article is wrong about the Seahawks having no possible home game during the playoffs. There is one way they can host the NFC Championship but it's obviously unlikely. If the Redskins beat the Packers at home then somehow pull off the upset in Arizona, the Seahawks would host the Redskins at home for the NFC Champ game. There ya have it.
No, the higher seed (# 4 Redskins) would get the home game over the lower seed (# 6 Seahawks).
That is not accurate. Washington is seeded higher (#4) by virtue of winning their division and would host Seattle in any game they played.
Higher seeds get the home games, so # 4 Washington would still get the home game over # 6 Seattle if your scenario plays out.
In their second to last game of the season the Seahawks were beaten (at home no less!) by the Rams. The Rams are horrible. Well, the Rams offense is horrible. The defense is pretty good. If fact, the Rams have beaten the Seahawks twice this year. Given those results, an objective observer must conclude that the Seahawks can not be a very good team.
And yet, Seattle is going to the playoffs and St. Louis is not.
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Even the best can have an off game or two. Maybe the Seahawks don't take the lowly Rams seriously, maybe the Rams only train to beat the best. Either way, the Rams are home for the winter and the Seahawks are ramping up for their third Super Bowl appearance in as many years.
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Notably, I see no reference to one of those "intangibles" in any NFL playoff game between two closely matched teams from diverse regions of the country; the weather.
As a season winter is winter. But winter at an outdoor stadium in the Twin Cities isn't winter at an outdoor stadium in Seattle. Especially in January.
Forecast for kickoff on Sunday: a high temperature of around 8 degrees with light winds. Relatively moderate by our dead-of-winter standards here. But still a lot rawer than Seattle.
Shouldn't the pundits factor in a point or two in the spread based on the outdoor conditions?
How do the Seahawks typically play outdoors in cold weather?
As a season winter is winter. But winter at an outdoor stadium in the Twin Cities isn't winter at an outdoor stadium in Seattle. Especially in January.
Forecast for kickoff on Sunday: a high temperature of around 8 degrees with light winds. Relatively moderate by our dead-of-winter standards here. But still a lot rawer than Seattle.
Shouldn't the pundits factor in a point or two in the spread based on the outdoor conditions?
How do the Seahawks typically play outdoors in cold weather?
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I'll take 8degrees and sun over 38 degrees and rain any day.
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Why no mention of Seattle's 38-7 thrashing of the Vikings just a month back? In Minnesota.
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Four defensive starters for the Vikes were injured and did not play in that game.
Had those four played that day the Seahawks still would have won (17-7) because Bridgewater's performance was as bad as last night's against the Packers.
Had those four played that day the Seahawks still would have won (17-7) because Bridgewater's performance was as bad as last night's against the Packers.
They will lose to Minnesota, and that's that.
I definitely would NOT count Seattle out even if they are the last seed. They are coming in on a hot streak as are the Chiefs & Steelers Broncos & Panthers. Not real sure about the Bengals without Dalton & the Patriots offensive line is a disgrace. If I was betting on an NFC team...Panthers or Seahawks, AFC oh I just don't know yet.
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The rules for making the NFL playoffs should be changed.
Any team with 10 or more wins should be playoff eligible up to eight teams.
The Jets should be playing the Patriots next weekend, they have earned the right to be in the playoffs more so than the Patriots have earned a bye week.
Any team with 10 or more wins should be playoff eligible up to eight teams.
The Jets should be playing the Patriots next weekend, they have earned the right to be in the playoffs more so than the Patriots have earned a bye week.
At twelve and four, the Pats have the best record in the AFC, along with the Broncos, who have the first seed by virtue of a head-to-head overtime win in Denver, where New England rarely wins. The result of that game gives the Broncos the home field in a potential rematch with the Patriots, and that fact favors the Broncos to go to the Superbowl, where they'll probably lose to the Panthers, Cardinals, or Seahawks. The one uncertainty with Denver is who will be their quarterback, but it looks as though they have two pretty good options at that position. New England has the best quarterback, but unless a lot of their players get healthy in the next two weeks, they are depleted at too many other positions. If the Patriots make it to the Superbowl they'll probably lose too, but there is no way they don't deserve their second seed, and their first-round bye.
What makes ten wins the cut off? The Jets and other AFC East teams got the benefit of being matched up agains the two weakest divisions in eahc of the conferences, as only the NFC East and AFC South procuded division winners at 9-7, getting 6 of their 9 wins from those mathcups, but going 4-5 outside of those games. Should they be rewarded for having an easier shcedule than other teams?
As a long-time suffering NY Jets fan, I was disheartened by the Jets' loss to the Bills yesterday. However when I later watched Seattle play Arizona, it was like night and day - Wilson was making crisp, swift on-target passes, and the Seattle defense was impressive. I then realized the Jets, although having the identical record of 10-6 as the Seahawks, were no playoff-caliber team. Minnesota should be very worried.
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In other words, the Seahawks have the best defense in the NFL, the best quarterback, and the best kick returner. They also have been in the playoffs the last three seasons and the Super Bowl the last two. Beast Mode will be returning. Their offensive line has greatly improved after many early season injuries. There are no guarantees, but all that gives them a pretty good chance of going to the Super Bowl again.
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They are going to lose this Sunday ...
Dreamer
You must have some big money on the Vikings. :)
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Being a Viking fan (which is often not easy) I'm fully aware of our teams capabilities, and the Seahawks make me very nervous. However as the author points out the merits of Seattle I would like to mention that two of the Vikings losses were to Division Leader Denver @ home (23 to 20), and the playoff bound Cardinals (23 to 20). BTW - The Cards had nothing to play for yesterday. Go Vikes.
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Also, weren't your guys also missing a couple players on D in the last meeting with SEA?
I suspect this game is going to be a battle and much closer. But being a SEA fan, I'm hoping they can take it.
Looks like it'll be around 10 degrees at game time. The ball will be a rock...
And ARI did have a little something to play for in the first half. CAR didn't really start pulling away from TB until late-ish in the 1st half. The second half in ARI was a throw away for sure...
Good luck to your guys....but not too much... ;)
I suspect this game is going to be a battle and much closer. But being a SEA fan, I'm hoping they can take it.
Looks like it'll be around 10 degrees at game time. The ball will be a rock...
And ARI did have a little something to play for in the first half. CAR didn't really start pulling away from TB until late-ish in the 1st half. The second half in ARI was a throw away for sure...
Good luck to your guys....but not too much... ;)
They should make you nervous. The Seahawks crushed the Vikings a month ago today.
Didn't you learn _anything_ from Deflategate? Lower temperatures mean the ball will be _less_ inflated -- softer, not harder.
The Seahawks? Bring 'em on. I hope the like playing in 10° weather, with the snow and wind.
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That is exactly the reason I was hoping the Hawks would be playing Washington!
Looks like snow and wind wont be too much of a factor, it IS going to be bitter cold, however.
Ha! try low single digits
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GO HAWKS!
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Blowout? The Seahawks DESTROYED Arizona.
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And Minnesota a month ago.
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