The NFC games Sunday determined their first playoff opponent – it’s the Packers – and now, the build-up for a postseason game many on the team have been waiting for since that rough loss in Carolina at this time past year.
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The game didn’t end well, but just being there and experiencing the coldest Vikings game will be a fun memory for a lot of people.
With 26 seconds left, kicker Blair Walsh of the Vikings lined up for a 27-yard field goal and the potential game-winning kick.
The snap to Jeff Locke appeared good, but Walsh missed the field goal wide left and the Vikings lost the game 10-9. “He’s got to make it”, the Associated Press reports.
Walsh didn’t hide afterward.
“I’m telling you, sometimes that can psychologically get a kicker”, NBC color analyst Cris Collinsworth said of the laces while watching a replay. “I just didn’t put a swing on it that would be acceptable by anybody’s standards”.
The Seahawks (11-6) didn’t score until Russell Wilson’s short touchdown pass to Doug Baldwin early in the fourth quarter.
Steven Hauschka kicked the extra point and then a 46-yard field goal with eight minutes to go to put Seattle ahead for the first time in the game. After draining the clock for the seemingly inevitable win, Walsh missed the victor.
“That’s called grace”, Chancellor said. “That’s all it is”. “It was an ugly game, we didn’t play very well on offense and that’s on me”. You have kicked game winners before and will make game winners in the future. “We nearly had it. Just too many missed opportunities”, Peterson said.
The Seahawks were quiet for much of the game, huddling around sideline heaters and wearing huge capes on the shaded side of the stadium. They failed to take advantage and fell in the contest, 10-9. It’s going to be back and forth.
Wilson could not corral the high shotgun snap that flew over his left shoulder, he chased the ball down, slid to scoop it up then got up and rolled right to complete a pass to Seahawks rookie receiver Tyler Lockett in the middle of the field.
Chancellor, who ripped the ball away from Peterson, quickly became the goat after his penalty and subsequent missed tackle on tight end Kyle Rudolph’s 24-yard reception to the 18. Walsh, who had converted 33 of 34 kicks from inside 30 yards in his career before the fateful attempt, took full blame.
When the Vikings and Seahawks last met, in Week 13, Wilson dominated Minnesota, throwing for three touchdowns and rushing for another.
“Defense was lights out, they made so many big plays that kept us in the game”.
But it was the Vikings who benefited from frigid conditions for the majority of the first three quarters. Ryan landed on his face, breaking and bloodying his nose, and the Vikings turned the shortened field into their first field goal.
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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. That 15-yard foul resulted in Minnesota starting its drive at the Seattle 48.
