Seattle Seahawks vs Minnesota Vikings Match Player Stats On Jan 10, 2016

The Sports Xchange
Jan 10, 2016

MINNEAPOLIS -- Minnesota Vikings kicker Blair Walsh missed a 27-yard field goal with 22 seconds remaining and the Seattle Seahawks advanced to the NFC divisional playoffs with a 10-9 victory at frigid TCF Bank Stadium.

The Seahawks scored all 10 of their points in the fourth quarter to take the lead. Seattle visits the Carolina Panthers next Sunday.

Seattle overcame historic cold on Sunday; the game-time temperature of minus-6 degrees was tied for the third-coldest playoff game in NFL history. The temperature and minus-25 wind chill were the coldest in Vikings history.

For most of the game, the freezing temperatures limited both offenses.

But trailing by nine early in the fourth, Seahawks quarterback Russell Wilson made the play of the game, retreating to pick up a snap that sailed by his head. He scooped up the ball and rolled to his right about 20 yards behind the line of scrimmage and found wide open wide receiver Tyler Lockett in the middle of the field for a gain of 35 yards down to the Vikings’ four-yard line.

"Ultimately, we've got to keep playing. I wanted to check the play, and the ball was snapped. I got up and kept running and sure enough, found the little man," Wilson told ESPN on the field after the game.

Two plays later, Wilson hit receiver Doug Baldwin on a quick out-route near the pylon for a 3-yard score, narrowing the Vikings’ lead to 9-7.

"We kept battling," Wilson said. "The defense was lights-out tonight."

On the second play of the ensuing drive, Minnesota running back Adrian Peterson converted a screen pass into a first down but had the ball ripped out of his hands by Seahawks safely Kam Chancellor. Seattle recovered the ball at the Vikings 40-yard line.

Seven plays later, Seahawks kicker Steven Hauschka connected on a 46-yard field goal to give Seattle its first lead of the day.

Minnesota was unable find the end zone, instead settling for three Walsh field goals.

The Vikings took advantage of a bad snap on a punt in the first quarter, taking over at the Seattle 28. But the Seahawks defense stiffened, forcing Minnesota to convert a 22-yard field goal for a 3-0 lead.

The points were the only ones of the first half for either team, as the two clubs combined for just 185 total yards and 12 first downs.

Minnesota took advantage of a Wilson interception on the first drive of the second half, driving eight plays to set up a 47-yard kick by Walsh.

Walsh made his third kick with two seconds left in the third quarter for a 9-0 lead.

NOTES: Seahawks RB Marshawn Lynch did not make the trip after practicing fully all week. Lynch missed the last seven games of the regular season following sports hernia surgery in November. His status vs. the Panthers is uncertain. ... Seahawks TE Luke Willson did not play because of a concussion. ... Vikings WR Adam Thielen was active after sustaining a shoulder injury against Green Bay last week. ... Vikings CB Terrance Newman left the game in the second half with an ankle injury and did not return.