The Minnesota Vikings play the Seattle Seahawks on Sunday in what could turn into a blowout. Seattle (9-1) has the best record in the NFC, while the Vikings (2-7) are currently in line for a top five pick in next year’s NFL Draft.
WHAT’S AT STAKE: Bragging rights.Ex-Vikings Percy Harvin, Sidney Rice (out for the season with an injury) and Heath Farwell now play for Seattle. Add in former Vikings offensive coordinator Darrell Bevell, who holds the same title with the Seahawks, and people in Minnesota refer to them as the Seattle Vikings. Conversely, former Seattle tight end John Carlson now plays for the Vikings, and he’s coming off his best game as a Viking (seven receptions for 98 yards and a touchdown).
THE LAST TIME THEY MET: Week nine of last season the Seahawks trounced the Vikings, 30-20. Seattle quarterback Russell Wilson threw for three touchdowns and running back Marshawn Lynch plowed his way to 124 yards on the ground. Despite a huge game for Adrian Peterson (182 yards and two touchdowns), Christian Ponder passed for a season-low 63 yards.
It was also the game Harvin suffered what turned out to be a season-ending injury. He hasn’t played in an NFL game since, but he is expected to play this week.
PLAYER IN THE SPOTLIGHT: It has to be Harvin. As of Wednesday, Seahawks coach Pete Carroll wasn’t sure if Harvin would play in the game. Farwell, however, in an interview with KFAN-FM 100.3, said Harvin has look better than ever in practice.
#Seahawks coach Pete Carroll says he's not sure Percy Harvin will play Sunday. Will practice today. Says he's doing great.
— Tom Pelissero (@TomPelissero) November 13, 2013
QUOTE OF THE WEEK: Vikings rookie wide receiver/kick returner Cordarrelle Patterson on being compared to Harvin.
Patterson on comparisons to Harvin: "I'm me. I can’t be nobody else. Why would I want to be Percy Harvin? I’m trying to set my own standard.
— Chip Scoggins (@chipscoggins) November 13, 2013
Patterson: "I come in each day trying to get better and just be what CP can do, not what Percy Harvin can do. I just have to be myself."
— Chip Scoggins (@chipscoggins) November 13, 2013
INJURY REPORT: It’s a modest injury list this week considering last week the Vikings dressed only 43 players for their game against Washington. The latest report as of Friday included Christian Ponder and Adrian Peterson, but both are “probable,” according to Vikings.com.
Christian Ponder said he would be surprised if he doesn't start: "My expectation is that I’m feeling good and I’ll be ready to go." #Vikings
— VikingUpdate.com (@VikingUpdate) November 15, 2013
Get the rest of the injury report right here.
THE LATEST LINE:There isn’t a team in the NFL with longer odds than the Vikings. The latest odds from Bovada, via ESPN, list the Vikings as 13-point underdogs. Ouch.
PREDICTION: The Seahawks have a ton of depth and they never lose at home. They’ve won 12 straight and 14 of 15 at home dating back to 2011. The crowd noise and talented Seahawks will be way too much for the Vikings. Seahawks 38, Vikings 17 is our pick.
