The win in the NFC first-round game means the Packers will have a chance to avenge their humiliating 38-3 defeat to the Cardinals on December 27.
Advertisement
The coldest game of all-time was the classic “Ice Bowl” on December 31, 1967, between the Dallas Cowboys and Green Bay Packers for the National Football League championship. The Seattle Seahawks were in big trouble heading into the fourth quarter, trailing 9-0 before Russell Wilson’s short TD 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.
The Vikings (11-6) took the ball back with 1:42 left at their 39 and, aided by a pass interference penalty on Kam Chancellor, drove deep into Seattle’s territory. Walsh simply missed after making all three earlier attempts.
Of course, Walsh prefers to have the laces in when he kicks for some reason that we need the guys from Mythbusters to explain, but this time the laces (and the ball) weren’t perfectly straight, and Walsh shanked the gimme field goal to secure the win for Seattle and give Blair Walsh possession of the Worst Playoff Moment in Vikings History since Gary Anderson’s Shanked Field Goal award.
With Seahawks cornerback Richard Sherman breathing down their necks, Locke put the ball down with the laces facing toward Walsh, and the kicker pulled it well left. “There’s a high percentage that they make them, but you’ve still got to do it”.
“We’ll never know”, the coach said, getting a little choked up.
Apparently, the curse of Marvin Lewis is with Mike Zimmer. Minnesota must give the Sooners graduate the ball and make sure he gets as many carries as possible – 20 is surely the minimum. Ryan punted four more times in the game after initially receiving a questionable-to-return designation. They gained all of 11 yards heading into the second period, and they trailed by double digits.
Temperatures fell to -21 degrees Celsius (-31 wind chill) before kickoff at TCF Bank Stadium, home of the University of Minnesota football team, as the Vikings await the completion of their new home – the US Bank Stadium – which is slated to open mid-year. “We became a snowball, kind of going downhill, and it was tough for us to stop”. The Packers finished with six sacks of Cousins on the day. “You keep believing in one another, keep playing the play and just find a way”. It won’t stop Sunday: They’ll play again in the 2016 regular season in Seattle.
“The Panthers are a great team and that will be a special game”, said Seahawks defensive end Michael Bennett.
The Minnesota Vikings’ season came to an end in heartbreaking fashion on Sunday afternoon thanks to a total shank by Blair Walsh on a potential game-winning field goal. He also had two catches for 13 yards, one of which he fumbled.
Rodgers turned things around in the second quarter, twice catching Washington with too many men on the field.
The Seahawks scored all 10 of their points in the fourth quarter to take the lead.
Advertisement
The Packers absolutely dominated the Redskins in the second half of Sunday’s game, as their offensive line completely bullied the Redskins front seven, allowing Eddie Lacy and James Starks to take over the game on the ground.
