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Seahawks vs Vikings, 3 keys to a Seattle win

By Dan Viens

Dec 6, 2015; Minneapolis, MN, USA; Seattle Seahawks wide receiver Tyler Lockett (16) is tackled by Minnesota Vikings defensive back Terence Newman (23) at TCF Bank Stadium. The Seahawks defeated the Vikings 38-7. Mandatory Credit: Brace Hemmelgarn-USA TODAY Sports
Dec 6, 2015; Minneapolis, MN, USA; Seattle Seahawks wide receiver Tyler Lockett (16) is tackled by Minnesota Vikings defensive back Terence Newman (23) at TCF Bank Stadium. The Seahawks defeated the Vikings 38-7. Mandatory Credit: Brace Hemmelgarn-USA TODAY Sports /
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We take a look at 3 keys to a Seattle win as they travel to Minnesota to take on the Vikings in the NFL playoffs wild card round.

No matter how far the Seattle Seahawks go in the postseason this year, there’s no doubt it will have a different look than the last 3 years. This time, there will be no bye, no home games, no built-in advantages. A run to the Super Bowl will require travel, and a grinding….underdog mentality. But isn’t that where the Seahawks feel most at home?

Ultimately, it will come down to match ups, and execution. The Vikings don’t match up any better against the Seahawks now than they did on December 6th when they lost at home to Seattle 38-7. But if they out-execute the Hawks, they have a chance to pull the upset (Minnesota is a 5 point underdog.)

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With that in mind, here’s a look at 3 keys to a Seattle win on Sunday.

DEALING WITH THE ELEMENTS:

The forecast for Sunday is daunting; high temperatures around zero with wind chills in the negative teens. Just typing that made me cold. You hear all the time that “the weather affects both teams equally.” And while that may be true, one team may be better at dealing with it that day. Who’s receivers are going to drop more perfectly placed passes, and which running back is more likely to put the ball on the ground? And cold weather affects QB’s differently. Russell Wilson has massive hands for a quarterback, a full inch larger than Teddy Bridgewater, will that give him an advantage? Bridgewater also throws with a glove on his hand, how will that affect his delivery in extreme cold? Will footing be an issue? Sometimes the effects of a cold weather game are random; a slip here while trying to turn the corner on a potentially big gain, or a bad bounce of the ball there that results in a muffed punt at an inopportune time. We won’t really know until we see it unfold which team is affected most by the elements, but don’t dismiss it as a non factor.

Next: The return of Beast Mode

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