Adrian Peterson also should have held on to the football and not allowed a go-ahead field goal drive of 12 yards in the Vikings’ 10-9 NFC wild-card loss to Seattle at TCF Bank Stadium on Sunday.
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He hit three field goals from 22, 43 and 47 yards in the first three quarters and lined up for what coach Mike Zimmer called a “chip shot” to send the Vikings to the next round and eliminate the two-time defending NFC champions. “A lot of those times, guys make those kicks”.
-Tight end Luke Willson did not play because of a concussion.
The Seattle Seahawks may have escaped with a win against the Minnesota Vikings on Sunday, but they have a game on the road with the No. 1 seed Carolina Panthers on tap.
“When bad things happen, you try and turn them into something positive and something good”, Wilson said.
“I’m telling you, sometimes that can psychologically get a kicker”, NBC color analyst Cris Collinsworth said of the laces while watching a replay. “Keep believing and fortunately it went our way today”.
After Teddy Bridgewater connected with Kyle Rudolph for a 24-yard catch, the Vikings looked primed to hit a short field goal with very little time left on the clock. You just can’t do that. He’s always trying to get people going. It made him a hero and absolutely shifted momentum as the Seahawks started their comeback. Chancellor, Hauschka, Richard Sherman, Michael Bennett and their endless list of familiar contributors in big games have each battled some kind of professional disrespect.
The Seahawks left their previous visit to Minnesota with a 38-7 victory December 6, after pure domination on both sides of the ball left no doubt that they would be legitimate contenders to reach their third straight Super Bowl, even without the ear-splitting advantage of CenturyLink Field. Wilson found throwing deep particularly challenging.
Facing the wind in the second quarter, he had Baldwin wide open behind the safeties at the goal line, but the ball hung in the air and was easily batted down.
“The defense kept hanging in there”, Wilson said. “You have to find a way to win”. Walsh, however, took credit for the loss stating that he did not do his job. Peterson’s fumble problems returned in the fourth quarter when he coughed one up after catching a pass for a first down.
The Seahawks on their next scoring drive, were saved by Wilson’s athleticism, with him getting out of potential sacks that could have cost the Seahawks the yardage they needed for a go-ahead field goal. “That’s something that will haunt me throughout the offseason”. The Vikings led 9-0 after three quarters of play.
The second coldest game ever was the 1981 AFC championship clash between the Cincinnati Bengals and the San Diego Chargers, where the temperature was at minus nine.
“Without a doubt, we’ll be back”, Peterson said. “Just wait and see and take it one day at a time”. We’ve got to be better.
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The Hall of Fame Vikings coach was an honorary captain for the game. Grant asked an National Football League staffer before walking to midfield. They made it look easy.
