The 2016 NFL playoffs had a wild close to Saturday evening, but now we're back for Sunday action. Things get going with the Minnesota Vikings hosting the Seattle Seahawks at TCF Bank Stadium. The game kicks off at 10:05 a.m. PT, and will air on NBC, with Al Michaels and Cris Collinsworth in the announcer booth, and Michele Tafoya on the sideline.
This game is gonna be really cold, with some reports suggesting it could be one of the six or seven coldest playoff games in NFL history. Suffice to say, I'm glad I won't be there. It will be interesting to see how the cold weather impacts the game. We could see fewer field goal attempts, and it will be interesting to see how frequently the two teams might be more willing to go for it on fourth down.
The Seahawks will be without Marshawn Lynch, who was listed as questionable, but then downgraded to out. There are questions about whether this is some sketchy gamesmanship, but the Seahawks insist the decision came basically just before they departed for Minnesota.
Seattle opened as a five-point favorite, and the line has moved around a decent amount. It climbed as high as six, but is currently at Seahawks -4. I took the Vikings earlier this week at +5, as I think this will end up being a pretty close game.
Where: TCF Bank Stadium, Minneapolis, MN
When: 10:05 a.m. PT
TV: NBC
Announcers: Al Michaels
Radio: Seahawks Radio Network | Vikings Radio Network
Online Streaming: NBCSports.com
Odds: Seahawks -4
Seahawks blog: Field Gulls
Vikings blog: Daily Norseman