When it was 9-0 in the fourth quarter, I was preparing to speculate that the Seahawks lost this game in September at St. Louis, or at Green Bay, or at Cincinnati, or at home in a loss or two they could have won. “Because you take things for granted – I’ve joked around and said, ‘Yeah, I done put the ball on the turf but how many have I lost it?”
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Now, he said, it’s time to go “back to the chalkboard”.
Yesterday’s NFL football playoff game between the Seattle Seahawks and the Minnesota Vikings was the 3rd coldest game in NFL history, as temperatures were -6° F with a wind chill of -25° F. It was so cold that camera batteries weren’t performing well and had to be warmed up on the sidelines. Gary Anderson hadn’t missed a kick throughout the 1998 season when he lined up in the NFC Championship Game to kick a goal ahead field goal with 2:18 left in the game.
Lynch did not play in the the Seahawks 10-9 win against the Minnesota Sunday, and now the Seahawks attention turns to Sunday’s game against the Panthers in a divisional round playoff game. He said it was a blessing to return and have some success, but was quick to say that it’s “unfulfilled” because the Vikings didn’t make it past the first round of the playoffs.
That defeat kept Peterson from going to his first Super Bowl. He has his health and a full offseason to focus on his goals for next year – winning the NFC North again and playing in the Super Bowl in his offseason hometown of Houston.
So it’s hardly exaggerating to suggest 2016 will be a big year for the Vikings and their workhorse running back as they move into a new stadium and try to take another step or two.
Only three times, excluding the game Sunday against the Seahawks, did he finish with fewer than 60 yards rushing.
“(Going) 11-5 won’t be acceptable (next season), in my eyes”, said cornerback Captain Munnerlyn. “I feel the sky’s the limit for us. The headsets didn’t respond, so we just got stuck a couple times”.
In the 2010 season, the Seahawks stunned the reigning champion New Orleans Saints in the Wild Card round with the Beast Quake: Marshawn Lynch broke eight tackles on a determined 67-yard run in the fourth quarter of a 41-36 upset. On the 47-yarder, which came late in the third quarter, Seattle’s Richard Sherman came rushing around the end and was within a fingernail’s length of getting a piece of the kick.
“We should have won that game”, defensive end Everson Griffen said.
Speaking for those who have suggested on occasion that Peterson ain’t half bad, it took less than one rising sun for the cyber pitchforks to arrive at the pillow. And, of course, Peterson must be cut or traded because he’s making too much money, they said. In their defense, the weather was completely against them.
Yogi Berra said it best “it ain’t over ’till it’s over”.
It was because of this scene that many fans felt they had just witnessed the pivotal scene from the film in real life.
As for being a better fit for the offense, Peterson realizes he has to grow in order to play more on third downs. “I hold myself responsible for this loss, as well”.
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Peterson certainly will be back for a 10th season with the Vikings after he restructured his contract last July and then had a strong season.
