4 games Vikings fans should watch during the team’s bye week
By Chris Schad
Seattle Seahawks (8-2) at Philadelphia Eagles (5-5)
Time: 12 p.m. CT, Sunday
Line: Eagles by 1 point
Playoff Seeding: Seattle 5th, Philadelphia 8th
Much like the Saints and Panthers game, this matchup features one team that the Vikings are chasing and another one they’re looking to put distance between.
The Eagles come into this game 2 1/2 games behind the Vikings for the second Wild Card spot, but this game being at home should be a big advantage. Unfortunately, the vulgar, aggressive ways of the Philly faithful will probably be the only advantage the Eagles will have thanks to a defense that has allowed 17 passing touchdowns and recently parted ways with Andrew Sendejo.
The Seahawks are not a team that airs it out often, but this could be a big game for Russell Wilson. Seattle’s franchise quarterback has been playing at an MVP level once again this season with an absurd 23:2 TD to INT ratio and this game sets up well for outside options Tyler Lockett and D.K. Metcalf to feast on a weak Eagles secondary.
With Chris Carson going up against Philadelphia’s fourth-ranked run defense, the game will likely fall into Wilson’s hands. That would be bad news for a Vikings team looking to catch Seattle for the fifth seed in the NFC, which could be the difference between a rematch with either the Eagles or Dallas Cowboys or a trip to New Orleans or Green Bay (assuming they don’t catch the Packers for the NFC North title).
Even with a Seahawks win, the Minnesota Vikings should have a chance to make it up in a Week 13 matchup in Seattle. With the Vikings already owning the head-to-head tiebreaker against Philly, it may be easier to see the Seahawks pick up the victory and try to make up ground next week.