On Sunday it is the turn of the NFC wildcard matches to be played in the NFL playoffs with four teams battling to make it through to the divisional games next weekend.
Sunday’s action begins in what is forecasted to be an extremely chilly Minnesota as the NFC North champions welcome the side who have won the NFC for the last two seasons in the Seattle Seahawks.
This is a big night for Mike Zimmer’s team. They have done remarkably well to win the division and now they will attempt to justify their billing in the postseason. They went to Lambeau Field and won the division last week but this looks a tougher test on paper.
Historically over the last couple of years the Seahawks have really come alive at this time of year and even the absence of Marshawn Lynch hasn’t derailed them. After a slow start to the season the Seahawks defence has really come up trumps in recent times and Russell Wilson is playing lights out football.
Traditionally we’re used to the Legion of Boom providing the backbone of this Seattle defence but it has been their front seven which has really dominated this season and that spells danger for the Minnesota Vikings because if they are to have any chance at all of winning this match Adrian Peterson is going to have to run loose.
This Seattle defence hasn’t given up 100 yards to a rusher all season and unless they start now I just don’t see Minnesota being productive enough on offense. On the flip side the Minny defence has shown they can stand up and be counted this season but they face one of the best quarterbacks in the league in amazing form here.
I think this is an awful match up for the Vikings and as such I’m going to back Seattle to come through here but I respect Minnesota’s defence so the best bet looks to be the Vikings to score less than 17.5pts. They only managed seven points when these sides met here in week 13 and I don’t see them getting 11 more.
The second game on Sunday sees Green Bay Packers heading to the NFC East champions Washington Redskins. The Redskins won a pretty poor division to host this game but the Packers haven’t been anything like their usual selves this season.
It has been a season of surprising results for the Packers. They lost to Detroit at Lambeau for the first time in ages and their defeat to the Vikings last week was equally as surprising. This Packers offense has stuttered all season but they have a wealth of playoff experience on their side which could be crucial.
Washington have stormed into the playoffs and look in good form. Kirk Cousins is leading a balanced offense and the Skins defence is making enough plays to give that offense good positions to launch from but this is largely a young side who haven’t got much postseason experience which is less than ideal.
I’m not sure how far Green Bay will go in these playoffs but I do like them here purely on the experience grounds as much as anything else. At odds against I just back Aaron Rodgers to get it done more than I do Kirk Cousins. Yes the Packers offense has struggled but it has generally only done so against elite defences in the main.
Washington don’t have that so I’m with the Packers at odds against even on the road. They have the experience to get it done however tight the match pans out to be.
Back Minnesota Vikings Under 17.5pts for a 4/10 stake at 1.91 with Ladbrokes
Back Green Bay Packers to beat Washington Redskins for a 4/10 stake at 2.05 with Betway
