The Seattle Seahawks have defeated the Minnesota Vikings in the freezing cold with a one-point victory.
Scores were hard to come by for both teams with the first half only featuring one field goal courtesy of Blair Walsh early in the first quarter.
The Vikings went into the second half with the lead and capitalised with Blair Walsh kicking another two field goals and putting them 9-0 in front going into the fourth quarter.
The tides turned completely as the Seahawks began to dominate with Doug Baldwin scoring a touchdown putting them within three points of a playoff berth.
Stephen Hauschka kicked a field goal with just over two and a half minutes remaining with Seattle taking the one point lead.
In a last ditch plea, Blair Walsh took a 27-yard field goal attempt with just under 30 seconds remaining but he hooked it to the left and the Seahawks secured a meeting with the Carolina Panthers.
Final score:
Minnesota Vikings 9
Seattle Seahawks 10
Can the Minnesota Vikings upset the Seattle Seahawks, or will Russell Wilson continue driving his side to a third consecutive NFC Championship? Join The Roar from 5:05am (AEDT) for live scores and coverage.
The Vikings are flying high, having claimed the NFC North division title last week with an emphatic 20-13 win over arch-rivals and fifth seed Green Bay Packers.
Minnesota must step up defensively and slow down Wilson if they are to be any chance of progressing to the divisional round. They may have kept Aaron Rodgers quiet in their game against the Packers, but ensuring Wilson can’t create too many opportunities will be even tougher, and requires Danielle Hunter and the Vikings defence to be at their best.
The Vikings also need the league’s leading rusher, Adrian Peterson, to fire. Minnesota must give the Sooners graduate the ball and make sure he gets as many carries as possible – 20 is surely the minimum.
Second-half performances have been the Vikings strength of late, averaging 21.6 points after half time over their last three games. However, the Seahawks give up on average just 16.4 points per game on the road – the fewest in the NFL.
Richard Sherman is back to boost the Seahawks defence. They are already first in the league for scoring defence, with 17.3 points per game, and with the ‘Legion of Boom’ back, Seattle’s defensive line is set to get even better.
When the Vikings and Seahawks last met, in Week 13, Wilson dominated Minnesota, throwing for three touchdowns and rushing for another. Seattle’s defence was strong as well, limiting Peterson to just 18 yards from eight carries to see off the Vikings 38-7.
Prediction
Sherman will play a huge hand to see Seattle run away with the win.
Seahawks by 7.
Join The Roar from 5:05am (AEDT) for score updates and debate in our live blog.
Riley Pettigrew
Roar Guru
Roarers, don't forget to join Lou Lando for coverage of Washington Redskins vs Green Bay Packers from 8:40am (AEDT).
Riley Pettigrew
Roar Guru
The Seattle Seahawks have defeated the Minnesota Vikings in the freezing cold with a one point victory. Scores were hard to come by for both teams with the first half only featuring one field goal courtesy of Blair Walsh early in the first quarter. The Vikings went into the second half with the lead and capitalised with Blair Walsh kicking another two field goals and putting them 9-0 in front going into the fourth quarter. The tides turned completely as the Seahawks began to dominate with Doug Baldwin scoring a touchdown putting them within three points of a playoff berth. Stephen Hauschka kicked a field goal with just over two and a half minutes remaining with Seattle taking the one point lead. In a last ditch plea, Blair Walsh took a 27-yard field goal attempt with just under 30 seconds remaining but it was blocked and the Seahawks secured a meeting with the Carolina Panthers. Minnesota Vikings 9 Seattle Seahawks 10
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FINAL Seahawks win by one point Minnesota Vikings 9 Seattle Seahawks 10
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Q4 0:22 1st & 10 SEA 20 (SEA) Wilson kneels Minnesota Vikings 9 Seattle Seahawks 10
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Q4 0:26 4th & 1 SEA 9 (MIN) Walsh misses a 27-yard field goal attempt Minnesota Vikings 9 Seattle Seahawks 10
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Q4 0:26 Vikings call timeout Minnesota Vikings 9 Seattle Seahawks 10
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Q4 1:15 3rd & 4 SEA 12 (MIN) Peterson left guard, three yards Minnesota Vikings 9 Seattle Seahawks 10
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Q4 1:15 Seahawks call timeout Minnesota Vikings 9 Seattle Seahawks 10
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Q4 1:20 2nd & 8 SEA 16 (MIN) Peterson up the middle for four yards Minnesota Vikings 9 Seattle Seahawks 10
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Q4 1:20 Seahawks call timeout Minnesota Vikings 9 Seattle Seahawks 10
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Q4 1:26 1st & 10 SEA 18 (MIN) Peterson up the middle, two yards Minnesota Vikings 9 Seattle Seahawks 10
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Q4 1:23 Vikings call timeout Minnesota Vikings 9 Seattle Seahawks 10
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Q4 1:34 1st & 10 SEA 42 (MIN) Bridgewater passes short right to Rudolph, pushed out of bounds for 24 yards Minnesota Vikings 9 Seattle Seahawks 10
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Q4 1:38 2nd & 10 MIN 39 (MIN) Bridgewater passes incomplete. Penalty on Chancellor, pass interference, 19 yards, no play Minnesota Vikings 9 Seattle Seahawks 10
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Q4 1:42 1st & 10 MIN 39 (MIN) Bridgewater passes incomplete Minnesota Vikings 9 Seattle Seahawks 10
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Q4 1:51 4th & 5 SEA 30 (SEA) Ryan punts 41 yards to Sherels, pushed out of bounds for ten yards Minnesota Vikings 9 Seattle Seahawks 10
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Q4 2:00 3rd & 5 SEA 30 (SEA) Wilson passes incomplete. Penalty on Gilliam, offensive holding, declined Minnesota Vikings 9 Seattle Seahawks 10
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TWO MINUTE WARNING Minnesota Vikings 9 Seattle Seahawks 10
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Q4 2:07 2nd & 6 SEA 29 (SEA) Michael up the middle for one yard Minnesota Vikings 9 Seattle Seahawks 10
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Q4 2:07 Vikings call timeout Minnesota Vikings 9 Seattle Seahawks 10