2016 Wild Card Playoffs: Vikings vs Seahawks Early Live GameThread

It's the final Wild Card Playoff games on Sunday. This time, the NFC is fighting to stick around another week and will be trimming itself down to the best of the best. Will today's early game be more interesting than the snoozefest that was the Texans against the Chiefs?

#6 Seattle Seahawks @ #3 Minnesota Vikings

Where to Watch: 1:05 on NBC

Spread: Seattle by 5

Over/Under: 40

Background:

The Minnesota Vikings have made a turnaround, going from 6-10 in 2014 to winning 11 games and taking the NFC North title this season. The Vikings offense is led by Adrian Peterson, who has returned triumphantly from his exile last year, as he leads the league in rushing with 1485 yards and 11 Touchdowns. Teddy Bridgewater leads the Vikings in passing with a meager 3,231 yards, 14 touchdowns, and nine interceptions. Minnesota also gets help from their defense that is ranked fifth best in points allowed.

The Seattle Seahawks started out the season slow, going 5-5 to start the season, before Russell Wilson went into high gear and Seattle went 5-1 to finish the season and make the playoffs. Russell Wilson leads a dynamic Seahawks passing attack with 4,024 yards, 34 touchdowns, and only eight interceptions. As usual, Seattle's defense is elite, allowing a league least 17.3 points per game.

This is the first time the Vikings have won the NFC North since 2009, the first time the Vikings have made the playoffs since 2012, and the first time the Vikings have made the playoffs in the Teddy Bridgewater-Mike Zimmer era. This is the fifth time Pete Carroll's Seahawks have made it to the playoffs and their first road playoff game since 2012.