The Seattle Seahawks and the Minnesota Vikings will clash in the NFL Playoffs 2016 on Sunday lunchtime, and this NFC Wild Card game is set to be a dramatic one with two fiercely competitive sides looking to progress to the next round. The game has a scheduled start time of 1.05 p.m. ET and takes place from TCF Bank Stadium in Minnesota. The game can be watched on TV on the NBC network or online through live stream via the link below.
This will be the first time the Vikings will host a Playoff game in six years, and they couldn't have drawn a more difficult team to try and get around to progress. The Seahawks have become a consistent fixture in the Playoffs in recent years and seem to always come strong in elimination football. They will prove a huge challenge for this Minnesota team who will need to be at their best to navigate their way past Seattle here today.
The Vikings though have reason to have confidence. They won the NFC North and should come into the postseason not fearing any team. However, the Seahawks may not seem like that much of a reward as opposition for winning the NFC North, but if Minnesota want to go all the way, that means they will have to be prepared to take down any team.
Minnesota will have to overturn the big defeat they suffered at the hands of the Seahawks just five weeks ago - that loss was the Vikings' worst defeat of the season.
Also, even though the Seattle come into the Playoffs as the lowest seeded team in the NFC, they are arguably the strongest team out of the four sides in the Wild Card Round when considering postseason caliber over recent seasons, as well as recent form.
Seattle started the season 2-4, but bounced back by winning eight of their last 10 games to finish on 10-6, and now look serious Super Bowl contenders.
One massive blow for the Seahawks though is the news that Marshawn Lynch has been ruled out of today's game. He had been listed as questionable for this game after missing the final seven regular season games after needing hernia surgery. Many had expected him to make it back in time for today's game and play, but on Friday, news broke that Lynch would not make the clash with the Vikings.
Lynch is one of the most seasonable Playoff performers in the entire league and his absence will certainly be a boost for the Vikings. Lynch has rushed for more than 100 yards in six of his 10 career postseason games.
The Seahawks will not be fazed by having to play today's game on the road. They have won their past five straight games away from CenturyLink Field, and have defeated opponents by a combined score of 109-19 in their past three games.
And of course, the 38-7 demolition of the Minnesota Vikings on Dec. 6 will be fresh in the minds of both teams, and that will be a source of inspiration for the Seahawks, and will be something the Vikings need to get out of the minds when they take to the field on Sunday.
Today's big NFL 2016 Playoff game between the Seattle Seahawks and the Minnesota Vikings has a scheduled start time of 1.05 p.m. ET and can be watched on TV on the NBC network or online through live stream by clicking here.
