Seattle won for the 6th time in 7 games last week, easily handling Arizona 36-6. Minnesota secured the AFC North title with a 20-13 win at Green Bay on Sunday. The Seahawks destroyed the Vikings 38-7 in Week 13.
Seahawks QB Russell Wilson led the NFL in passer rating this season, not something anybody expected. He has had to shoulder more of the load because of injuries and has been up to the task, especially in the second half of the season. He threw 3 TD passes and ran in another one in the earlier rout of the Vikings. He and WR Doug Baldwin discovered some serious chemistry late in the season and the wideout finished with 14 TD catches, the same total as the whole Vikings squad. Minnesota gave up 24 TD passes on the year and will have to keep an eye on Baldwin, who did most of his damage after TE Jimmy Graham was lost for the year. Wilson was sacked 45 times this season but most of those came in the first half of the year. RB Marshawn Lynch is expected back for this game and while he won’t carry the load himself, he will be a big part of the offense. RB Christine Michael ran for 102 yards last week and will see time in this game as well.
Minnesota got a very poor effort from QB Teddy Bridgewater last week (10-19, 99 yards, 1 pick) and he’ll have to be much better if the Vikings are to have a chance in this game. Seattle led the league in fewest points allowed for the 4th-straight season (despite giving up 61 in their first 2 games) and has held 7 of their last 10 opponents to 13 points or less. WR Stefon Diggs and TE Kyle Rudolph are the top two targets for Bridgewater and they need to win their one-on-one matchups to give Bridgewater a chance. The Seahawks had only 37 sacks on the season but have several players who can find their way to the QB. Bridgewater was sacked 44 times in 2015 and will have to make quick throws and hope his receivers can make plays with the ball in their hands. RB Adrian Peterson led the NFL with 1,485 rushing yards but was held to only 18 yards on 8 carries in the earlier matchup. I expect Seattle to sell out to stop the run and force the young Vikings QB to consistently beat them through the air.
Seahawks 58% Over 56%
