Photo by Rob Leiter/Getty Images
The Packers’ division hopes could get a big boost if Seattle wins tonight.
For the second straight year, the Minnesota Vikings and Seattle Seahawks meet in December in the Pacific Northwest with playoff seeding on the line. Last season, Minnesota entered the teams’ week 14 matchup at 6-5-1 and needing a win to stay relevant in the NFC playoff hunt. Meanwhile, Seattle sat at 7-5 with a Wild Card berth in their sights.
This year, both teams enter the game squarely in the lead among NFC Wild Card contenders and hunting division titles. Furthermore, both would be able to pull even with the top teams in their divisions with a victory tonight. A Vikings win would put them at 9-3 and behind the Packers on tiebreakers, while the Seahawks could catch the 10-2 49ers and take over the top seed in the NFC. Tonight’s loser will fall a full game back of the lead, and the Green Bay Packers would love to see the Vikings slip back a game, giving Green Bay a buffer in the division race.
In fact, 538’s ELO rankings show a big impact on the Packers’ division chances with this game, even if it does not move the needle on their odds of getting a first-round bye. A Seahawks win gives Green Bay a 72 percent chance of winning the NFC North, but Minnesota actually would be favored down the stretch if they win this game, dropping the Packers’ odds to just 45%. Either way, though, the Packers’ first-round bye chances sit at about 20%.
Interestingly, Minnesota has lost each of the last five games in this series, including two home games and three in Seattle. This game comes in the Northwest once again, where the Hawks are 3-2 this season. Tune in for this huge game tonight and discuss here.
WHO?
Minnesota Vikings (8-3) vs. Seattle Seahawks (9-2)
WHERE?
CenturyLink Field
Seattle, Washington
WHEN?
Monday, December 2, 2019
5:15 PM Pacific Time (8:15 PM Eastern)
HOW?
TV Broadcast: ESPN
Commentators: Joe Tessitore, Booger McFarland, Lisa Salters
Online Streaming: ESPN.com and ESPN App
Radio Broadcast: Westwood One Sports
Satellite Radio: Sirius 81/83, XM 225/226
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