I remember the great Minnesota Vikings teams of Bud Grant with their "Purple People Eaters" defense. The Vikings played their games outdoors back then. I can still clearly recall bruising fullback Bill Brown with his crewcut and short sleeves in zero degree weather.
The Vikings are back playing outdoors, at least temporarily, and this adds a serious element of randomness to their Sunday afternoon playoff game against Seattle. The forecast is for game time temperatures to be at zero, clear skies and about a 10-15 mph wind.
The Seahawks haven't played in weather that cold. The coldest they ever played in was 16 degrees in Denver back in 2006. Seattle knows rain, not bitter cold.
The total already has shrank and for good reason. This is going to be a defensive game because throwing and catching is going to prove very difficult. It's going to come down to running. The Vikings edge of Adrian Peterson is negated by his tendency to fumble. Turnovers figure to be up in this game.
More than ever, backup running backs could prove important in this matchup because Peterson and Marshawn Lynch are going to need frequent break. So it might be worth playing Over on any yardage props found on Christine Michael, Bryce Brown, Fred Jackson, Jerick McKinnon and Matt Asiata and Under on any receiving and quarterback yardage props.
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