When Seattle comes to town in a Wild Card matchup, it will mark the first time since 1976 when the Vikings had an outdoor playoff game. I remember the last one – a Vikings victory over the Rams sending them to the Super Bowl.
Coming off one of the greatest victories in some time to capture the NFC North at Lambeau Field, of all places, the Vikings should be primed to take the field on another cold day. And while it looked like for every Green Bay fan in the stands on Sunday night, there was a Viking fan right next to them. I’m guessing Green Bay sold out that night long ago – thinking the division would be wrapped up by then.
That won’t be the case on Sunday at Noon. The stands will be packed, it will be cold and it will be loud.
And it will need to be loud, louder than ever before – because what Seattle brings into TCF Stadium is the hottest team right now in the NFL. And the hottest quarterback as well.
If there is one player who stands between a Vikings win or loss, more than any other player, on Sunday, in my opinion it’s Russell Wilson.
If the Vikings can’t find ways to significantly contain his production, game over.
Wilson is not only on one of the hottest streaks ever for a quarterback in the league, he is what makes the Seahawks offense tick. He’s done it without Lynch and Lynch’s top replacement and he’s done it without the Seahawks prized off-season free agent acquisition, Jimmy Graham. He’s basically done with second tier wide receivers – making them much more than what they actually are.
Two of his greatest strengths are his swift feet and ability to throw accurately on the run. Getting out of the pocket is preferable for him. He keeps his eyes downfield like Magic Johnson did on a fast break when he ran Showtime for the Lakers in the 1980s. He is a former baseball player and his delivery of the football reminds me of a seasoned shortstop always able to make the throw deep in the hole or the one from just past the pitcher’s mound on a short hop.
One of the main reasons Wilson is so successful and able to do everything he does so well, while only standing barely 5-10, is that he has the hand size of a guy who is 6-5 or 6-6. And come Sunday, with bitter temps and treacherous wind chill, those big hands will be very handy, from taking the snap to shotgun formation and running with the ball while keeping his eyes down field.
I like the idea of the Vikings using one of their 11 guys on defense to spy Wilson the entire game – meaning we only rush 3 and keep one guy back to anticipate or follow where Wilson gets flushed from the pocket. It’s a high-risk maneuver, but one the Vikings may be forced into playing it this way on defense. They did something similar with Rodgers in Green Bay – but perhaps it will be more evident against Seattle.
Sure, Peterson and Lynch will get their yards. The defenses will probably play better than the offenses in the chilly conditions. Bridgewater will need to have a handful of big plays. Turnovers might decide the game entirely. As might field position. All of those things are big-time considerations on a Wild Card Sunday.
But perhaps the most important element of what will determine the Vikings success or failure on Sunday is how Russell Wilson plays and what the Vikings defense will do to contain his production. That, my friends, is the key.
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