Daily Norseman - 2018 NFL Week 14: Minnesota Vikings at Seattle SeahawksThe Purple and Gold Standardhttps://cdn.vox-cdn.com/community_logos/48653/dailynorseman_fave.png2018-12-11T15:33:23-06:00http://www.dailynorseman.com/rss/stream/178928952018-12-11T15:33:23-06:002018-12-11T15:33:23-06:00Vikings at Seahawks Week 14: Five Game-Changing Plays
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<figcaption>Well, that was no fun. | Joe Nicholson-USA TODAY Sports</figcaption>
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<p><em>Looking back at the most important plays from the 21-7 debacle in Seattle.</em></p> <p id="eJtFfl">Last night just before kickoff, I was nervously pacing around my house watching the pregame when my 5 <sup>1</sup>⁄<sub>2</sub> year old daughter came up to me with a piece of paper.</p>
<p id="hM7Ab8">“Daddy, I made a picture for you. It’s a <a href="https://www.dailynorseman.com/">Vikings</a> unicorn.”</p>
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<p id="RTlJEq">I beamed with pride and gave her a big hug. Despite the fact that the unicorn was short a leg—a mistake she noticed and explained away by claiming “that makes it extra special”—it made me feel a little better about the Vikings’ chances.</p>
<p id="nB64Ov">After watching the game unfold, it turns out my daughter wasn’t trying to tell me that everything was going to be OK. Her message was obviously “just like this three-legged unicorn, you shouldn’t believe in the Vikings.”</p>
<p id="VKaidD">It was another abysmal performance by the offense that wasted another defensive performance that should have been good enough to beat a winning team on the road. <span>Russell Wilson</span> was held to a career-low 72 yards passing and Seattle had three points through three quarters, but it still wasn’t enough. <span>Kirk Cousins</span> did nothing to dispel the narrative that he doesn’t show up for big games. The offensive line got off to a rough start, but even after they started protecting better as the game went on, <span>Cousins</span> appeared to be hearing footsteps and missing open receivers. There was nothing “extra special” about the Vikings’ performance on Monday night, unless you count the fact that it got <a href="https://www.dailynorseman.com/2018/12/11/18136195/report-vikings-offensive-coordinator-john-defilippo-fired">Offensive Coordinator John DeFilippo fired</a>. The play calling was more balanced than last week in New England, but the results weren’t any better.</p>
<p id="euK8EI">Speaking of bad results, let’s take our weekly look at the five most important plays that led to yet another disappointing result.</p>
<h3 id="uCAeRq">Play 1: <a href="https://www.fieldgulls.com/">Seahawks</a> ball, 1st & goal at the Minnesota 1. Second quarter, 0:16 remaining. (Shotgun) R.Wilson pass short right INTERCEPTED by E.<span>Kendricks</span> [D.Hunter] at MIN 15. E.<span>Kendricks</span> to MIN 18 for 3 yards (G.Ifedi).</h3>
<p id="b82zbN">Despite doing next to nothing on offense throughout the entire first half, the Vikings trailed by only three points late in the second quarter. It looked like the Seahawks were about to add to their lead just before halftime, marching 59 yards in twelve plays. That is, until Russell Wilson did...this...on the 13th play.</p>
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<p id="aS4y1v">So how does a big defensive stop get included on a list of plays that led to a Vikings loss? Look at how much space <span>Eric Kendricks</span> had to run if he had caught the interception cleanly. He had a very good chance at scoring if he hadn’t jumped and bobbled it. Am I blaming the defense for the loss? Absolutely not. But if Kendricks was able to take the interception to the house and give the Vikings the lead at the break, perhaps the game unfolds a little differently.</p>
<h3 id="6grkzt">Play 2: Vikings ball, 4th & 1 at the Seattle 40. Third quarter, 2:05 remaining. R.Hill reported in as eligible. L.<span>Murray</span> right guard to SEA 40 for no gain (B.Wagner; F.<span>Clark</span>). Penalty on MIN-R.Hill, Offensive Holding, declined.</h3>
<p id="F6NK5k">Now almost three quarters into the game, the Vikings offense had still done next to nothing. In fact, it took over 40 minutes of game time for the Vikings to run their first play in Seattle territory. Mostly because they had already failed to convert on the following down & distance to this point:</p>
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<li id="9nRkCC">3rd & 3 (Cousins sacked by <span>Frank Clark</span> after steamrolling <span>Mike Remmers</span>)</li>
<li id="Se3VJ0">3rd & 2 (Cousins chased out of the pocket by Clark after blowing past <span>Remmers</span>)</li>
<li id="5CZdcu">3rd & 1 (Cousins chased out of the pocket by <span>Dion Jordan</span> after slow-developing play action)</li>
<li id="6p1oCs">3rd & 3 (<span>Diggs</span> forced to come back in front of the first down marker because Cousins was a bit late on the quick curl)</li>
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<p id="5tS5Vt">The only third and short play that actually worked through the first three quarters? A Cousins QB sneak. Obviously the whole passing thing wasn’t working, so John DeFilippo dialed up...this...instead.</p>
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<p id="7ujL0d">Clark and <span>Bobby Wagner</span> stopped the telegraphed <span>Latavius Murray</span> run well short of the first down and Seattle took over on downs. It wasn’t the last time the Vikings would be stopped on third or fourth and short—more on that in a bit—but this one was the biggest momentum changer of the game up to that point.</p>
<h3 id="I5DW8h">Play 3: Seahawks ball, 3rd & 8 at the Minnesota 41. Fourth quarter, 15:00 remaining. (Shotgun) R.Wilson pass incomplete deep right to T.<span>Lockett</span> [A.Barr]. PENALTY on MIN-X.<span>Rhodes</span>, Defensive Pass Interference, 31 yards, enforced at MIN 41 - No Play.</h3>
<p id="JqLbvf">After three quarters of offensive ineptitude, the Vikings were <em>still</em> only down by three points. The first play of the fourth quarter helped change that.</p>
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<p id="KQPo8P"><span>Xavier Rhodes</span> definitely made contact with <span>Tyler Lockett</span>’s arm on the play, but Lockett <em>really</em> sold it and it’s <em>really</em> debatable whether the pass was even catchable in the first place.</p>
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<p id="LRKvOM">Either way, the refs made the call, and instead of 4th & 8 outside of field goal range the Seahawks had 1st & goal. The Vikings defense held firm and forced the second <span>Sebastian Janikowski</span> field goal of the night, but it was still a huge call in a game where points were at such a premium.</p>
<h3 id="IJPDPK">Play 4: Vikings ball, 4th & goal at the Seattle 1. Fourth quarter, 9:10 remaining. (Shotgun) K.Cousins pass incomplete short middle to K.<span>Rudolph</span> (B.McDougald).</h3>
<p id="UXVeDo">After Seattle took the 6-0 lead, the Vikings had a great chance to get their first points of the game. They made their first trip to the red zone thanks to this amazing 48-yard catch by <span>Stefon Diggs</span> over <span>Tre Flowers</span>:</p>
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<p id="8ZtWCb">Two plays later, it was 1st & goal at the 4 yard line. Once again, the Vikings’ short yardage woes killed another chance to salvage the game. They failed to reach the end zone on four straight plays:</p>
<ul>
<li id="zIhWdO">1st & goal at the 4: 2-yard run by Murray</li>
<li id="mFkZFz">2nd & goal at the 2: incomplete pass on a difficult throw to <span>Adam Thielen</span> in the back corner of the end zone</li>
<li id="5FOvw9">3rd & goal at the 2: a messy-looking shotgun hand off to <span>Dalvin Cook</span> that was stuffed after maybe a yard</li>
<li id="KPkksx">4th & goal at the 1: this:</li>
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<p id="V7A5KI">Cousins tried to force a pass to <span>Kyle Rudolph</span>, who was blanketed by Bradley McDougald. <span>Thielen</span> was wide open after the safety on his side fell down, but Cousins had already looked away and the Vikings were stopped without points yet again.</p>
<p id="G3DSVm">After yet another turnover on downs, the Vikings defense stepped up and forced a three-and-out from Seattle, giving Minnesota great field position with just over eight minutes remaining. The offense gained all of 12 yards before petering out. This time Mike Zimmer elected to go for the field goal.</p>
<p id="Yilkw7">The wildly inconsistent refereeing combined with the constant misadventures of the Vikings’ kicking game was a recipe for disaster, and that’s just what happened.</p>
<h3 id="F4jQQQ">Play 5: Vikings ball, 4th & 9 at the Seattle 29. Fourth quarter, 5:46 remaining. D.Bailey 47 yard field goal is BLOCKED (B.Wagner), Center-K.McDermott, Holder-M.Wile.</h3>
<p id="2RXirf">Wagner made a great play here by leaping over the line and blocking the kick. <a href="https://www.dailynorseman.com/2018/12/10/18135668/officials-completely-blew-monday-nights-biggest-call-minnesota-vikings-seattle-seahawks-bobby-wagner">It was completely illegal and the refs blew an obvious call</a>, but it was still pretty impressive.</p>
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<p id="cA2nMu">I mean, you’re not allowed to touch anyone if you leap over the line like that, and Wagner touched no fewer than THREE players:</p>
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<p id="IsnDfs">It was originally called a penalty right away, but for some reason the referees picked up the flag, keeping the Seahawks’ six-point lead intact. Two plays later, Wilson was scrambling 40 yards down the left sideline to set up the game’s first touchdown. Two plays after that, Cousins had his obligatory fumble returned for a touchdown and the game was <em>really</em> over.</p>
<p id="yejRwG">I’m not saying the no-call changed the outcome of the game; Seattle’s defense crushed the Vikings into a pulp until garbage time. But it effectively ended any chance the Vikings may have had of making it a contest. (And let’s be honest here—there’s no guarantee that kick was going through the uprights.)</p>
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<p id="8yNsgK">Even after smearing feces all over CenturyLink Field and firing their Offensive Coordinator, the Vikings remain the 6 seed in the <a href="http://www.sbnation.com/nfl-playoff-picture">NFC playoff picture</a>. They face two winnable games against the <a href="https://www.thephinsider.com/">Dolphins</a> and <a href="https://www.prideofdetroit.com/">Lions</a> before hosting a <a href="https://www.windycitygridiron.com/">Bears</a> team that may not have anything to play for in Week 17. They can still salvage a playoff berth from the wreckage they have wrought, but they’re going to have to play much better down the stretch to pull it off.</p>
<p id="Yuqwyc">As always, we welcome you to vote in the poll to tell us which play you thought was the biggest and encourage you to suggest any we may have missed in the comments.</p>
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https://www.dailynorseman.com/2018/12/11/18136096/minnesota-vikings-seattle-seahawks-2018-week-14-monday-night-football-recapEric Thompson2018-12-10T23:40:17-06:002018-12-10T23:40:17-06:00The officials completely blew Monday Night’s biggest call
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<figcaption>Photo by Bob Levey/Getty Images</figcaption>
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<p>It may not have mattered, but at the time it was huge</p> <p id="wuGosu">Over the past few seasons, I’ve tried to keep the amount of complaining I do about National Football League officials to a minimum, at least on here. (Twitter is another story. . .sometimes.) And while the <a href="https://www.dailynorseman.com/">Minnesota Vikings</a>’ offense performed poorly enough where they probably didn’t deserve to defeat the <a href="https://www.fieldgulls.com/">Seattle Seahawks</a> on Monday Night Football, the Seahawks certainly didn’t need any additional assistance.</p>
<p id="KavkBA">But they got it on what might have been the biggest play of the game.</p>
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<p lang="en" dir="ltr">Blocked field goal by Bobby Wagner... Here's the rule:<br><br>Running forward and leaping across the LOS in an obvious attempt to block a kick UNLESS the leaping player was in a stationary position on the line of scrimmage when the ball was snapped. <a href="https://twitter.com/hashtag/Seahawks?src=hash&ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">#Seahawks</a> <a href="https://t.co/GjwS7l8Cek">pic.twitter.com/GjwS7l8Cek</a></p>— Samuel Gold (@SamuelRGold) <a href="https://twitter.com/SamuelRGold/status/1072337327526174726?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">December 11, 2018</a>
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<p id="SWuswE">With the Vikings trailing the Seahawks 6-0 and facing a 4th-and-9 from the Seattle 29-yard line, the Vikings brought on kicker <span>Dan Bailey</span> to attempt a 47-yard field goal. The kick, as you can see from the video above, was blocked by Seattle linebacker <span>Bobby Wagner</span> to preserve that lead. To block the kick, Wagner made an incredible leap over the Vikings’ offensive line and got into position to make the block.</p>
<p id="EFszer">The officials, initially, threw a flag on Wagner for violating the league’s rule against “leverage” on kick attempts. The penalty would have been a 15-yard personal foul, and would have given the Vikings a fresh set of downs at the Seattle 14-yard line.</p>
<p id="Ju8GAT">And then the officials, led by head referee Brad Allen, decided that they would pick up the flag after all. The penalty was negated, and the Seahawks marched down the field to score the game’s first touchdown and effectively end the competitive portion of Monday night’s contest.</p>
<p id="78cxSY">Why was the flag picked up? Well, according to the NFL rulebook, graciously provided by ESPN’s Kevin Seifert, I’m not entirely sure.</p>
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<p lang="en" dir="ltr">Don’t think that it will impact the outcome, but here is what the rule book say about leaping over the line to block a FG: <a href="https://t.co/X7o0AzB0Ox">pic.twitter.com/X7o0AzB0Ox</a></p>— Kevin Seifert (@SeifertESPN) <a href="https://twitter.com/SeifertESPN/status/1072337175109357569?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">December 11, 2018</a>
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<p id="xToVhm">Seifert’s tweet comes directly from the NFL rulebook, which you can find <a href="https://operations.nfl.com/media/3277/2018-nfl-rulebook_final-version.pdf">right here at the league’s official website</a>. The specific section cited is Section 3, which you can find on page 52 of the rulebook. It reads as follows:</p>
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<p id="Q61LTE">LEVERAGE</p>
<p id="2mIOyD">(o) Jumping or standing on a teammate or opponent to block or attempt to block an opponent’s kick <em>or apparent kick</em>.</p>
<p id="sfLJE7"><strong>(p) Placing a hand or hands on a teammate or opponent to gain additional height to block or attempt to block an opponent’s kick </strong><em><strong>or apparent kick, or in an attempt to jump through a gap to block an opponent’s kick or apparent kick</strong></em><strong>.</strong></p>
<p id="L598gM">(q) Being picked up by a teammate in a block or an attempt to block an opponent’s kick <em>or apparent kick</em>.</p>
<p id="uAGEN9">LEAPING</p>
<p id="kRBuZM">(r) Clearly running forward and leaping in an obvious attempt to block a field goal, <em>or</em> Try-kick, <em>or apparent kick </em>unless the leaping player was in a stationary position on the line of scrimmage when the ball was snapped. A player, who is behind the line of scrimmage before or at the snap, may run forward and leap, provided he does not cross the line of scrimmage or land on players.</p>
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<p id="7WCg22">The relevant clause. . .I think it’s a clause. . .here is (p). (The italicized parts were apparently added this season. The link has been corrected.) As you can see in the video, Wagner quite clearly put his hands on his teammate’s backs in order to jump over the line and get into position to block the kick.</p>
<p id="vzLXra">It seems that other folks that have officiated this game before thought that the flag was properly thrown.</p>
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<p lang="en" dir="ltr">Clearly a foul by Seattle on the blocked FG. A player cannot use his handS on an opponent or a teammate to jump through a gap to block a FG. <a href="https://twitter.com/hashtag/MINvSEA?src=hash&ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">#MINvSEA</a></p>— Terry McAulay (@SNFRules) <a href="https://twitter.com/SNFRules/status/1072338232191401984?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">December 11, 2018</a>
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<p lang="en" dir="ltr">As many have noted, the play in <a href="https://twitter.com/hashtag/MINvsSEA?src=hash&ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">#MINvsSEA</a> should have been a penalty on Seattle for leverage. The officials should not have picked up the flag on that play.</p>— Gene Steratore (@GeneSteratore) <a href="https://twitter.com/GeneSteratore/status/1072343942258147328?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">December 11, 2018</a>
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<p lang="en" dir="ltr">Lots of talk about the Wagner block. The wording in the rule book is NEW this year and is clear. The new wording states, "May not place a hand or hands on a teammate or opponent in an attempt to jump through a gap to block an opponent's kick or apparent kick." Case closed. Foul.</p>— Mike Pereira (@MikePereira) <a href="https://twitter.com/MikePereira/status/1072350284750512128?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">December 11, 2018</a>
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<p id="t5PsjP">Now, look, I understand that the officiating in this one wasn’t the reason that the Minnesota Vikings lost on Monday night. They had plenty of opportunities to take advantage of in Seattle and managed to grasp none of them.</p>
<p id="uJuUXD">Do I have any faith that, even if the flag had stood, the Vikings’ offense would have managed to do anything positive with the ball at the Seattle 14-yard line? No. None. Zero.</p>
<p id="ynG30A">Is it likely that the Vikings would have lost on Monday night had the officials gotten this call right? Yeah, probably.</p>
<p id="oBF9KS">But that doesn’t change the fact that Brad Allen’s crew ignored a rule that, honestly, couldn’t be spelled out more clearly in the league rulebook. Bobby Wagner broke the rules to block that field goal, the officials were set to call a penalty on it, and the officials decided that they’d go ahead and pick up the flag and wipe out the penalty.</p>
<p id="ZUjrnE">Too many times this season, the officials have been the story this NFL season. This is the first time, to my recollection, that it’s really affected the Vikings. I’m guessing that nobody will be held to account for it, because that’s generally not how officiating in the NFL works, but the bottom line is that they screwed up, and they screwed up big.</p>
https://www.dailynorseman.com/2018/12/10/18135668/officials-completely-blew-monday-nights-biggest-call-minnesota-vikings-seattle-seahawks-bobby-wagnerChristopher Gates2018-12-10T22:16:23-06:002018-12-10T22:16:23-06:00Seattle Seahawks 21, Minnesota Vikings 7: No offense
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<figcaption>Joe Nicholson-USA TODAY Sports</figcaption>
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<p>The defense did what they could for a while, but got no help from the other side.</p> <p id="K7mUTw">On Monday night at CenturyLink Field, the <a href="https://www.dailynorseman.com/">Minnesota Vikings</a> had their share of opportunities against the <a href="https://www.fieldgulls.com/">Seattle Seahawks</a>.</p>
<p id="cpJket">They took advantage of none of them.</p>
<p id="ONsUJJ">Thanks to an utterly putrid performance by the Minnesota offense for the second week in a row, the Vikings fell to the Seattle Seahawks on Monday Night Football by a final score of 21-7.</p>
<p id="Z40OA4">All of the scoring in the first half came courtesy of a 37-yard field goal by <span>Sebastian Janikowski</span> in the second quarter. The Seahawks had a chance to extend their lead going into the locker room, but <span>Russell Wilson</span> made this inexplicable pass with time winding down.</p>
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<p lang="en" dir="ltr">Thank you, <a href="https://twitter.com/EricKendricks54?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">@EricKendricks54</a>!<a href="https://twitter.com/hashtag/Skol?src=hash&ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">#Skol</a> <a href="https://t.co/xkll4G57W1">pic.twitter.com/xkll4G57W1</a></p>— Minnesota Vikings (@Vikings) <a href="https://twitter.com/Vikings/status/1072318395482337281?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">December 11, 2018</a>
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<p id="7f2p0p">The interception by Kendricks. . .his second in the last two games. . .kept it a 3-0 ball game going into the locker room at halftime.</p>
<p id="rNd9Nj">After a scoreless third quarter, the Seahawks got another Janikowski field goal midway through the fourth quarter, a 35-yarder to make it 6-0. The Vikings then pushed deep into Seattle territory on their next possession, keyed by a big 48-yard pass from <span>Cousins</span> to <span>Stefon Diggs</span>. Eventually, the Vikings found themselves facing a 4th-and-goal at the Seattle 1-yard line. Cousins looked for <span>Kyle Rudolph</span> in the end zone, but the ball was knocked away and fell incomplete, keeping the score at 6-0 with nine minutes left in the game.</p>
<p id="S6TB8G">The Vikings had another opportunity for points on their next drive, as they got <span>Dan Bailey</span> in position to attempt a 47-yard field goal, but the attempt was blocked by Seattle linebacker <span>Bobby Wagner</span> to keep the Vikings off the scoreboard.</p>
<p id="0TMAvg">Seattle finally put a football into the end zone with just under three minutes remaining in the game, as <span>Chris Carson</span> went over from two yards out to make the score 12-0. Wilson then found <span>Tyler Lockett</span> for a two-point conversion to make it 14-0.</p>
<p id="0podts">On the very next series, any chance of the Vikings doing anything was thoroughly extinguished, as Cousins was hit by a Seattle defender and fumbled the football, which was picked up by Seattle cornerback <span>Justin Coleman</span> for a 29-yard score, with Janikowski’s extra point making it 21-0.</p>
<p id="kte5LQ">The Vikings did manage to get a completely meaningless touchdown at the end of the game on a 6-yard pass from Cousins to Cook to narrowly avoid being shut out for the first time in over a decade. That cut the score to 21-7, but after the Vikings failed to recover an onside kick, the Seahawks went to the victory formation and the Vikings went to their second straight loss.</p>
<p id="DSgh4v"><span>Kirk Cousins</span>, numbers be damned, had an ugly night. The boxscore shows 20 completions on 33 attempts for 208 yards and a touchdown, but he also had the backbreaking turnover and missed several throws on the night. The Minnesota offense didn’t cross midfield until there were four minutes left in the third quarter, and just looked awful all night long.</p>
<p id="UAafxx"><span>Stefon Diggs</span> and <span>Adam Thielen</span> both went over 70 yards receiving on the night, as <span>Diggs</span> collected 76 yards and <span>Thielen</span> had 70. Thielen also went over the 100-catch mark for the first time in his career. That was just about the only highlight for the offense on the night.</p>
<p id="pk69V9">The Vikings’ defense got absolutely thrashed on the ground, as they allowed the Seahawks to rush for 214 yards on the game, and they averaged over five yards a carry in the process. That’s how Russell Wilson was able to throw for just 72 yards. . .the lowest total of his career. . .and still see his team win by two scores.</p>
<p id="edIvHf">Another ugly loss for the Minnesota Vikings in a situation where they could have stepped up and proved themselves, ladies and gentlemen, as they fall to the Seattle Seahawks by a final score of 21-7 on Monday Night Football. Thanks to everyone that got their coverage of this week’s game right here at The Daily Norseman!</p>
https://www.dailynorseman.com/2018/12/10/18135498/seattle-seahawks-minnesota-vikings-final-score-game-recapChristopher Gates2018-12-10T21:15:42-06:002018-12-10T21:15:42-06:00Minnesota Vikings at Seattle Seahawks: Fourth quarter discussion
<figure>
<img alt="NFL: Minnesota Vikings at Seattle Seahawks" src="https://cdn.vox-cdn.com/thumbor/ITJQO8qKBnXy0hp8fvL-mV_3xrU=/0x0:3180x2120/1310x873/cdn.vox-cdn.com/uploads/chorus_image/image/62660348/usa_today_11824667.0.jpg" />
<figcaption>Kirby Lee-USA TODAY Sports</figcaption>
</figure>
<p>Yes, the score is still 3-0.</p> <p id="b3asmJ">Leading the <a href="https://www.dailynorseman.com/">Minnesota Vikings</a> by a score of 3-0, the <a href="https://www.fieldgulls.com/">Seattle Seahawks</a> got the ball to start the second half, having deferred after the opening coin toss. <span>Dan Bailey</span>’s kickoff went through the end zone for a touchback, giving the Seahawks a start at their own 25-yard line. The Seahawks did what they’ve done all night thus far. . .run the football. <span>Chris Carson</span> went for six yards, and <span>Tyler Lockett</span> followed that up with a 5-yard run to move the chains. <span>Russell Wilson</span> then completed a pass to <span>George Fant</span>. . .yes, an offensive lineman. . .for a nine-yard gain, and a carry by Carson moved the sticks once again. Just like that, the Seahawks were near midfield.</p>
<p id="SLynuN"><span>Sheldon Richardson</span> then dropped Lockett for a loss of four yards, and Carson was stopped after a short run to bring up 3rd-and-11 for the Seahawks at their own 48. Wilson’s pass on third down was dropped by <span>David Moore</span>, and the home team was forced to punt. <span>Michael Dickson</span> came on to boot it away, and the fair catch was called for by <span>Marcus Sherels</span> at the Minnesota 16-yard line.</p>
<p id="3CVJHO"><span>Kirk Cousins</span>, who had a miserable first half, led the Vikings’ offense. . .who also had a miserable first half. . .out for their first possession of the half. The drive started with a pass from <span>Cousins</span> to <span>Laquon Treadwell</span> for seven yards, and a short pass to Rudolph ended up short of the sticks. Cousins got a sneak for the first down, and on the next first down Cousins found <span>Treadwell</span> again for a short gain. <span>Dalvin Cook</span> then took a toss around the left side to near first-down yardage to bring up another third-and-short. Cousins was again chased out of the pocket when a pass was called for some reason, and had to throw the ball away. <span>Matt Wile</span> came in to punt the ball away again, and Lockett called for the fair catch at the Seattle 18-yard line.</p>
<p id="Vc9OHI">Carson got things started for the Seahawks again with a short gain, and the Vikings forced a throw away from Wilson on second down to bring up another third-and-long. Wilson had to slide on what appeared to be a broken play on third down to force a three-and-out. Dickson punted it away again, and <span>Sherels</span> called for the fair catch at the Minnesota 28-yard line.</p>
<p id="MJFxvm">Minnesota started the drive with a wide receiver screen to <span>Adam Thielen</span> for his first reception of the night, picking up seven yards. <span>Dalvin Cook</span> then carried it for six yards and moved the chains. Cook then took a screen for five yards, and a defensive holding call on the Seahawks gave the Vikings five more yards and a fresh set of downs. That moved the ball to the Seattle 49, giving the Vikings their first play in Seattle territory on the evening.</p>
<p id="q6mNNO">That play was another handoff to Cook, who went for three yards. Cousins then completed a short pass to Cook to make it 3rd-and-3 from the Seattle 42-yard line. Cousins then completed a pass to <span>Stefon Diggs</span>, who was pushed back from the line to gain, making it 4th-and-1. The Vikings elected to go for it, and <span>Latavius Murray</span> was stopped short of the yardage to force a turnover on downs.</p>
<p id="715amh">For good measure, the Vikings were called for holding on the 4th-and-1 play and <em>still</em> didn’t get the necessary yardage. Not that it mattered.</p>
<p id="ogWXou">Seattle took over with two minutes left in the quarter, and started the drive with a short run by Rashaad Penny. Wilson then completed a pass to <span>Tyler Lockett</span> for 14 yards and a first down into Minnesota territory, and Penny had another short run on the ensuing first down. Penny was then stopped for a short loss, and as we move to the fourth quarter, the Seahawks are looking at a 3rd-and-8 from the Minnesota 41-yard line.</p>
<p id="Bll2MD">We’ve got fifteen minutes of football left from CenturyLink Field, and the Minnesota Vikings still trail the Seattle Seahawks by a score of 3-0. Can the Vikings manage to get any points on the board in this one? Will it be enough to get a huge victory? Let’s hope so!</p>
https://www.dailynorseman.com/2018/12/10/18135453/minnesota-vikings-seattle-seahawks-fourth-quarter-discussionChristopher Gates2018-12-10T20:36:37-06:002018-12-10T20:36:37-06:00Minnesota Vikings at Seattle Seahawks: Third quarter discussion
<figure>
<img alt="Minnesota Vikings v Seattle Seahawks" src="https://cdn.vox-cdn.com/thumbor/IQJxtbuc8Ah0iB4uvtJlDRXmENI=/0x16:2037x1374/1310x873/cdn.vox-cdn.com/uploads/chorus_image/image/62660183/1071538460.jpg.0.jpg" />
<figcaption>Photo by Abbie Parr/Getty Images</figcaption>
</figure>
<p>It’s a three-point game. . .it just seems worse.</p> <p id="jH71u4">The first quarter at CenturyLink Field was scoreless, but the second quarter started with the <a href="https://www.fieldgulls.com/">Seattle Seahawks</a> camped at the <a href="https://www.dailynorseman.com/">Minnesota Vikings</a>’ 14-yard line, facing a 2nd-and-9. <span>Russell Wilson</span> was forced to throw one away on second down, bringing up a third-and-long situation for the home team. On third down, <span>Danielle Hunter</span> got through the Seattle front to bring down Wilson for a sack to stop the drive. 78-year old <span>Sebastian Janikowski</span> came onto the field and connected on a 37-yard field goal attempt for the game’s first points, giving Seattle a 3-0 lead early in the second quarter.</p>
<p id="2I7bm0">Janikowski’s kickoff was short, and <span>Ameer Abdullah</span> brought the ball out to the Minnesota 22-yard line to start the drive. <span>Kirk Cousins</span> brought the Vikings’ offense out for their third drive of the night, and the drive started with a nice pass from Cousins to <span>Stefon Diggs</span> for a 11-yard gain and a first down. <span>Dalvin Cook</span> was stopped for a short gain on the ensuing first down, and Diggs then took an end-around out to the 30-yard line to make it a 3rd-and-3. The drive then came to an end, as <span>Frank Clark</span> got through <span>Mike Remmers</span> and took Cousins down for a sack. <span>Matt Wile</span> came in to punt it away again, and the Seahawks took over at their own 23-yard line.</p>
<p id="CDvEeo"><span>Chris Carson</span> got the drive started for the Seahawks with a six-yard run, and carried for 10 more on the next play to move the sticks for the home team. Wilson then completed a pass to <span>Ed Dickson</span> for a short gain, and <span>Rashaad Penny</span> then broke off a ridiculous run that saw him completely reverse field and pick up 17 yards into Minnesota territory at the 40-yard line.</p>
<p id="TeqT9q">After a Seattle timeout, Wilson missed on a deep shot to <span>David Moore</span> that was nearly intercepted by Holton Hill. Penny then picked up five yards to make it 3rd-and-5 from the Minnesota 35. Wilson then overshot Lockett to end the drive, and a personal foul penalty on <span>Germain Ifedi</span> pushed the Seahawks out of field goal range. <span>Michael Dickson</span> came in to punt the ball away, and <span>Marcus Sherels</span> called for the fair catch at the Minnesota 10-yard line.</p>
<p id="uyKPRi"><span>Dalvin Cook</span> got things started on the next drive with a nice 13-yard run for a quick first down. Cook got the next play as well, picking up three yards. Cousins then found <span>Kyle Rudolph</span> for a short gain, bringing up a 3rd-and-2 situation for the purple. On third down, Cousins wound up running for his life and threw the ball out of bounds. On came <span>Matt Wile</span> again, and Lockett’s return put the ball on the Seattle 40-yard line.</p>
<p id="rNGVvT">Carson picked up five yards on the Seahawks’ first play of the drive, and Penny then got the rest of the yardage needed for a first down. The run by Penny put the Seahawks over 100 yards rushing. . .in the first half. Not ideal. Carson then carried the ball into Vikings’ territory, and pass by Wilson barely got back to the line to bring up 3rd-and-6. Wilson then found <span>Mike Davis</span>, but he was stopped just short of the line to gain to make it 4th-and-inches. Seattle wound up burning a timeout, and then went for it. <span>Linval Joseph</span> was called for hands to the face, which gave Seattle the first down (they would have gotten it anyway on the run by Carson). That took us to the two-minute warning with the Seahawks threatening.</p>
<p id="FXfElR">Out of the two-minute warning, Wilson connected on what appeared to be a long touchdown to <span>David Moore</span>, but he couldn’t get both feet down in bounds and the pass was ruled incomplete. Wilson then found Lockett for seven yards to bring up another third down. The Seahawks converted it on the ground, as <span>Mike Davis</span> took a handoff down to the Minnesota 14 for a 13-yard gain. <span>Davis</span> then took the ball down to the 10, and another carry took it down to the 5. Wilson then kept one around the left side, and got the ball down to the 1-yard line to set up a first-and-goal. Then, Russell Wilson did. . .this.</p>
<div id="eiDH5T">
<blockquote class="twitter-tweet">
<p lang="en" dir="ltr">Thank you, <a href="https://twitter.com/EricKendricks54?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">@EricKendricks54</a>!<a href="https://twitter.com/hashtag/Skol?src=hash&ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">#Skol</a> <a href="https://t.co/xkll4G57W1">pic.twitter.com/xkll4G57W1</a></p>— Minnesota Vikings (@Vikings) <a href="https://twitter.com/Vikings/status/1072318395482337281?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">December 11, 2018</a>
</blockquote>
<script async="" src="https://platform.twitter.com/widgets.js" charset="utf-8"></script>
</div>
<p id="HRvIyu"><span>Eric Kendricks</span> came up with the interception, giving the Vikings a huge break and keeping the Seahawks off the board. The score remains 3-0 as we go into the locker room at halftime.</p>
<p id="oaJfNi">The offensive numbers for the Vikings are. . .well, they’re ugly. The team as a whole was limited to just 61 total yards in the first half. <span>Kirk Cousins</span> has struggled mightily, having completed just 4-of-8 passes for 27 yards. Dalvin Cook has been solid, carrying the ball eight times for 37 yards. <span>Stefon Diggs</span> has a five-yard carry, and <span>Latavius Murray</span> has a two-yard carry.</p>
<p id="kF32BS">On the receiving side of things, <span>Stefon Diggs</span> is the leading receiver with. . .two catches for 26 yards. <span>Kyle Rudolph</span> has a five-yard reception, and Dalvin Cook has a catch that lost four yards. Yeah. . .it’s been ugly.</p>
<p id="mXCuFT">Despite all of that, it’s still just a three-point game at halftime at CenturyLink Field, as the Seahawks lead the Vikings by a score of 3-0. The home team will get the ball first coming out of the locker room at halftime, so the Minnesota defense will have to step up again. Can they do it? Can the offense get on track?</p>
<p id="h1daYE">Come on in and join us for the third quarter and find out!</p>
https://www.dailynorseman.com/2018/12/10/18135387/minnesota-vikings-seattle-seahawks-third-quarter-discussionChristopher Gates2018-12-10T19:46:49-06:002018-12-10T19:46:49-06:00Minnesota Vikings at Seattle Seahawks: Second quarter discussion
<figure>
<img alt="NFL: Minnesota Vikings at Seattle Seahawks" src="https://cdn.vox-cdn.com/thumbor/V_2EpCezsafe5OlcOOlKY_k071Y=/0x104:5194x3567/1310x873/cdn.vox-cdn.com/uploads/chorus_image/image/62660021/usa_today_11824594.0.jpg" />
<figcaption>Kirby Lee-USA TODAY Sports</figcaption>
</figure>
<p>We’re scoreless after a quarter, but the home team is threatening</p> <p id="hgIIAm">The final NFL game of Week 14 got underway at CenturyLink Field with the Seattle Seahawks winning the coin toss and deferring to the second half,<a href="https://www.fieldgulls.com/"> meaning the Min</a>nesota Vikings would get the football first. Sebastian Janikowski put<a href="https://www.dailynorseman.com/"> his foot to the </a>ball and Ameer Abdullah returne<span>d the kickoff to the</span> Minnesota 23 for the Vikings’<span> first drive o</span>f the evening.</p>
<p id="Pjcrbs">Kirk Cousins led the Minnesota offense out onto the field, and got thing<span>s started wi</span>th a short run by Dalvin Cook. Cousins then rolled to his right and lofted one to Stefon Diggs for a fi<span>rst dow</span>n, moving the ball to the 39. A pair of runs<span> by Cook bro</span>ught up a 3rd-and-4 situation for the purple, and a delay of game penalty pushed it back to a 3rd-and-9. Cousins was nearly intercepted, but the pass fell incomplete and Matt Wile came in to punt it away. Wile’s punt bounced into the hands of<span> Tyler Lo</span>ckett, who brought the bal<span>l ba</span>ck to the Seattle 20.</p>
<p id="Mjz7og">Russell Wils<span>on and compan</span>y took the field, and got their drive started w<span>ith a 4-yard r</span>un by Chris Carson. Carson then carried again for another nice gain, bringing up a 3rd-and-1 situation for the home team. The third time was not a charm for Carson, as he was stopped short by Eric Kendricks on the play, and the Vikings’ defense forced a three-and-<span>out! Rookie se</span>nsation. . .as much as a punter can be. . .Michael Dickson came in to punt the ball away, and the punt took a favor<span>able roll down </span>to the Minnesota 16-yard line.</p>
<p id="A7RW6I">Cousins and company started their next drive with an incompletion intended for Dalvin Cook. Cook then lost a couple of yards on second down to make it third-and-long. It looked like the Vikings would be stopped after a loss on a pass to Cook, but the Seahawks were called for a personal foul on Bobby Wagner to give them 15 yards and a fresh set of downs. Cook then b<span>urst through</span> the line for 13 yards and another first down to the Minnesota 43-yard line.</p>
<p id="ucjiU6">The Vikings then tried a screen to Cook again. . .and lost four yards to make it 2nd-and-14. After a short gain by Latavius Murray, Cousins missed on a deep shot to Aldrick Robinson and b<span>rought on anoth</span>er fourth down. Wile came in once a<span>gain, and a dece</span>nt return by Lockett was negated by a block in the back penalty on Seattle, putting t<span>he ball</span> back at the Seahawks’ 10-yard line.</p>
<p id="vLSA6n">The Seahawks got their drive started with a first down, as Wilson found Nick Vannett for a 12-yard gain. Wilson then found Lockett for a short g<span>ain, and the</span>n Carson rambled for nine yards to move the chains again. Carson then pounded for seven more, and the Seahawks were rapidly approaching the midfield stripe. Wilson then escaped what looked like a sure-fire sack by Linval Joseph and ran into Minnesota territory at the 49.</p>
<p id="3ILvl1">Rookie running<span> back Rashaad</span> Penny then got his first carry of the night, good for eight yard<span>s. Wilson the</span>n kept the ball on a zone read and ran for eight more yards and another Seattle first down. Penny then took the ball to the 29, and Wilson found Lockett after some jet sweep motion for a 14-yard gain to the Minnesota 15. Lockett was then stopped for a short gain on an end-around, and as we move to the second quarter, the Seahawks are looking at a 2nd-and-9 from the Minnesota 14.</p>
<p id="Jwe5yz">We’re scoreless after one quarter of play in Seattle, folks. Will the Vikings’ offense eventually wake up here? Let’s hope so!</p>
https://www.dailynorseman.com/2018/12/10/18135353/minnesota-vikings-seattle-seahawks-second-quarter-discussionChristopher Gates2018-12-10T18:15:04-06:002018-12-10T18:15:04-06:00Minnesota Vikings at Seattle Seahawks: Key information and first quarter discussion
<figure>
<img alt="Minnesota Vikings v New England Patriots" src="https://cdn.vox-cdn.com/thumbor/NGlVg63qSTxXMK7WVsnWGBcJqKY=/1x0:2845x1896/1310x873/cdn.vox-cdn.com/uploads/chorus_image/image/62653846/1067866204.jpg.0.jpg" />
<figcaption>Photo by Adam Glanzman/Getty Images</figcaption>
</figure>
<p>Let’s do some football, folks.</p> <p id="4Zo2Wa">It’s the last game of Week 14 in the National Football League, everybody, and that means we’ve made it to another opportunity to cheer on the <a href="https://www.dailynorseman.com/">Minnesota Vikings</a>. Tonight, the purple play their lone Monday Night Football contest of the year at CenturyLink Field against the <a href="https://www.fieldgulls.com/">Seattle Seahawks</a>, and they’re in prime position to take a huge step towards the 2018 postseason because of the results of Sunday’s games.</p>
<p id="8nUSRs">Here is everything you need to know about tonight’s game.</p>
<p id="4BqjmX"><strong>Time</strong>: Monday, 10 December, 2018, 7:15 PM Central time</p>
<p id="peRsbw"><strong>Location</strong>: CenturyLink Field, Seattle, Washington</p>
<p id="1svj0j"><strong>Television coverage</strong>: ESPN</p>
<p id="T4ebgN"><strong>Radio coverage</strong>: <a href="https://www.vikings.com/audio/radio-network">Vikings Radio Network</a>, Sirius Channel 81, XM Channel 226</p>
<p id="6ewggb"><a href="https://www.sbnation.com/nfl/odds"><strong>Line</strong></a>: Seattle -3, over/under 46</p>
<p id="BFWCRQ"><strong>Prediction</strong>: Seahawks 24, Vikings 23</p>
<p id="VrVXkk"><strong>Three keys</strong></p>
<p id="FWQcru"><strong>1) Stop the run</strong> - The Seahawks come into this game with the #1 rushing offense in the National Football League, averaging almost 150 yards/game on the ground. The ability to run the ball gives their offense the opportunity to do a lot of different things, so it is imperative that the Vikings stop it. The Vikings have been one of the better teams in the league against the run this season, but there aren’t many offenses that make the commitment to the run that Seattle does. If the Vikings can slow down the Seahawks’ run game, it would go a long way towards a victory.</p>
<p id="Y7MeiD"><strong>2) Balance the offense</strong> - Mike Zimmer has said that the Vikings need to run the ball more. John DeFilippo has said that the Vikings need to run the ball more. Does that mean that they’re actually going to run the ball more? They probably should. Seattle’s run defense is in the middle of the pack, and if the Vikings want to keep their quarterback upright in this one, they need to not drop back 80% of the time like they did against New England last week. <span>Dalvin Cook</span> and <span>Latavius Murray</span> need to play a big role tonight for the Vikings to win.</p>
<p id="QEpOOu"><strong>3) Realize what’s at stake</strong> - This team, presumably, wants to be playing games in January and (possibly) beyond. We’re at a point in the season where opportunities are becoming more scarce, and if this team wants to make the playoffs, they need to stop screwing around and play up to their ability. We know that this team has the talent and is capable of playing good football, and this is the time that it needs to come together.</p>
<p id="Z3IchB"><strong>Know the Foe</strong>: <a href="http://www.fieldgulls.com">Field Gulls</a></p>
<p id="hYKjeJ"><strong>Twitter</strong>: <a href="http://www.twitter.com/dailynorseman"><strong>Right here</strong></a></p>
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<p id="PxZlE6">As always, there will be a new Open Thread up at the start of each quarter, so be sure to keep your eyes open for those. With that, enjoy tonight’s action, and hopefully in about three hours we’ll all be here talking about a big Minnesota Vikings victory.</p>
<p id="hrT6Ee">SKOLLLLLLLLLLLLLLLLLLLLLLLLLLLLLLLLLLLL VIKINGS!!!!</p>
https://www.dailynorseman.com/2018/12/10/18133887/minnesota-vikings-seattle-seahawks-key-information-first-quarter-discussionChristopher Gates2018-12-10T12:32:55-06:002018-12-10T12:32:55-06:00NFC North playoff picture: It’s all about the Wildcard for the Vikings right now
<figure>
<img alt="NFL: Minnesota Vikings at New England Patriots" src="https://cdn.vox-cdn.com/thumbor/3R_qG4XNxq4ELkeQRuAW17sJmaM=/0x0:3600x2400/1310x873/cdn.vox-cdn.com/uploads/chorus_image/image/62657336/usa_today_11778704.0.jpg" />
<figcaption>‘See, it’s simple. If we win, Carolina, Washington, and the Eagles lose, Chicago loses, all the planets align, and Freddie Mercury rises from the dead, we’re in. Simple. Now make a tackle.’ | Greg M. Cooper-USA TODAY Sports</figcaption>
</figure>
<p>Things broke well for the Vikings yesterday, but it wasn’t perfect.</p> <p id="NDg9wL">When the <a href="https://www.windycitygridiron.com/">Chicago Bears</a> and <a href="https://www.turfshowtimes.com/">Los Angeles Rams</a> took the field last night, things had gone as well as could be expected for the <a href="https://www.dailynorseman.com/">Vikings</a> to that point. Dallas beat Philadelphia, Cleveland beat Carolina, and the <a href="https://www.bigblueview.com/">Giants</a> boatraced Washington. Had the Rams beat the Bears, like most people thought, the Vikings would have a 50/50 shot to win the division, depending on how they did against Seattle, and things would be a lot more interesting.</p>
<p id="hhX79s"><span>Mitchell Trubisky</span>’s best efforts aside, the Bears still won though, and are now in firm control of the NFC North. The division race isn’t over, but you can see the endgame from here. Still, though, the dreams of a division title aren’t dead, even though a wildcard spot is most likely where the Vikings land. Let’s see how it could all play out.</p>
<p id="BowkoG">We’ve been looking at the Vikings playoff chances since their week seven win against the <a href="https://www.ganggreennation.com/"><strong>Jets</strong></a>, so if you’d like to go back to read all of these posts, <a href="https://www.dailynorseman.com/2018/12/5/18127248/nfc-playoff-picture-minnesota-vikings-nfc-north-this-reeks-of-disappointment-why-am-i-a-vikings-fan"><strong>you can go here</strong></a>, and from last week’s post you can find the rest.</p>
<p id="dwn1xZ">If you don’t want to take the time to get caught up, a quick primer, if I may: I’ve been using two sites to help with playoff percentages and seeding, the <a href="https://projects.fivethirtyeight.com/2018-nfl-predictions/?ex_cid=rrpromo"><strong>538 playoff predictor</strong></a>, and <a href="https://playoffpredictors.com/Football?L=IwZgTMxh2bfzqSKlXQ9EHdY1es82RBW0puUixlMa9VMJFae6ADBrh73-wMFDhI0WPGCgA"><strong>Playoff Predictors dot com</strong></a>, which allows you to waste hours of your day coming up with ‘if-then’ win-loss scenarios to see who is in and who is out of the playoffs. Since we started this, the Vikings chances for a playoff spot haven’t dipped below 50%, but they’ve swung back and forth.</p>
<p id="osqvIs">After the <a href="https://www.patspulpit.com/">Patriots</a> game last week, here’s where things stood for the Vikings and making the playoffs:</p>
<figure class="e-image">
<img alt=" " data-mask-text="false" src="https://cdn.vox-cdn.com/thumbor/DyPhYaYn1z5FgM24AUdjMeQWlF8=/400x0/filters:no_upscale()/cdn.vox-cdn.com/uploads/chorus_asset/file/13603391/playoff_chart_patriots_game.jpg">
</figure>
<p id="h4KphI">After Sunday’s action, this is where the NFC North playoff picture sits, before the Monday Night Football game, per the 538 playoff odds site:</p>
<figure class="e-image">
<img alt=" " data-mask-text="false" src="https://cdn.vox-cdn.com/thumbor/53r7aOWmmSlRUHPMNSTdcImGANY=/400x0/filters:no_upscale()/cdn.vox-cdn.com/uploads/chorus_asset/file/13616159/before_seahawks_game.jpg">
</figure>
<p id="ZiCcIC">As mentioned above, the Bears victory over the Rams moved their chance to win the division to over 90%. And even though that game didn’t help the Vikings, the losses from earlier in the day increased their playoff odds from 60% last week to 70% this week. So all in all, things could have been a lot worse than they turned out to be. Still, we need to factor in tonight’s game to get a better picture of where the Vikings stand.</p>
<p id="xC8ZC6">What happens if the Vikings beat Seattle tonight? Let’s take a look:</p>
<figure class="e-image">
<img alt=" " data-mask-text="false" src="https://cdn.vox-cdn.com/thumbor/D3Dc7ME2RyOOASElIfPwNJv7XC0=/400x0/filters:no_upscale()/cdn.vox-cdn.com/uploads/chorus_asset/file/13616177/Vikings_beat_seattle.jpg">
</figure>
<p id="m3sgVa">A win essentially means Minnesota is in the playoffs, and it more than doubles their chances to win the division. For the fanbase, it will give us a tremendous confidence boost, too, after the Vikings lackluster performance in New England last week. Winning the NFC North is a tall order right now, even with a win tonight, but two of the three games the Bears have left are against the <a href="https://www.acmepackingcompany.com/">Packers</a>, and of course, the Vikings at home in week 17. After tonight, Minnesota has Miami and Detroit before the Bears, so it’s not over.</p>
<p id="nOWFeO">On the flip side, in the universe where all puppies have rabies, snakes are considered lovely household pets, and the <a href="https://www.fieldgulls.com/">Seahawks</a> win tonight, this is how things will stand:</p>
<figure class="e-image">
<img alt=" " data-mask-text="false" src="https://cdn.vox-cdn.com/thumbor/Hq7FHBJ0Ovj8soYl-Hk5bwVydpU=/400x0/filters:no_upscale()/cdn.vox-cdn.com/uploads/chorus_asset/file/13616209/vikings_lose_to_seattle.jpg">
</figure>
<p id="sp9JZy">The Vikings will still have better than a 50/50 shot go to the playoffs and will control their own destiny for the second wildcard slot as the sixth seed, but the rest of the season will be like chewing glass, and the Bears will essentially lock up the division. In that scenario, the only way Minnesota wins the NFC North is to win out, while the Bears lose out.</p>
<p id="9jEnM8">Okay, let’s look at some what-if scenarios, again using the 538 site and the playoff predictor site. Right now, the playoff order in the NFC is:</p>
<ol>
<li id="OuIZbH">
<a href="https://www.canalstreetchronicles.com/">Saints</a> (First round bye)</li>
<li id="GSZ9pE">Rams (First round bye)</li>
<li id="QYvzD3">Bears</li>
<li id="QGe8FS"><a href="https://www.bloggingtheboys.com/">Cowboys</a></li>
<li id="VKHt6e">Seahawks</li>
<li id="4vcJSi">Vikings</li>
<li id="RjypVo"><a href="https://www.catscratchreader.com/">Panthers</a></li>
<li id="Wzx8Bb"><a href="https://www.bleedinggreennation.com/">Eagles</a></li>
<li id="QRrzKM"><a href="http://www.sbnation.com/nfl/teams/washington-redskins">Redskins</a></li>
</ol>
<p id="LDdJj2">If the Vikings beat Seattle tonight, they’ll take control of the 5 seed in the NFC, and can put some distance between them and the 6-7 trio of Carolina, Washington, and Horse Poop Eaters. Additionally, if the Vikes beat Miami at home next week, and the Panthers (Saints at home), Eagles (at the Rams), and Redskins (at the Jags) all lose (distinct possibilities), Minnesota would actually clinch a playoff spot. Amazing, I know. If Green Bay can somehow figure out a way to beat the Bears and all those other hypotheticals remain the same, their chance to win the division is a 50/50 shot again.</p>
<p id="zwoMv0">So, uh, go Packers?</p>
<p id="FpfFDZ"><em>/runs to bathroom</em></p>
<p id="eOXSLB"><em>/vomits</em></p>
<p id="njNOwj">Hypothetical scenarios are just that, though, and as far as the VIkings concerned, no matter what the scenariois , they all have one thing in common:</p>
<p id="uO23fn">Win football games. Just win tonight, and everything will take care of itself.</p>
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<p id="XtSDWm"> </p>
https://www.dailynorseman.com/2018/12/10/18134228/nfc-north-playoff-picture-its-all-about-the-wildcard-for-the-vikings-right-nowTed Glover