The Minnesota Vikings are still smarting from their unlikely NFC wild card playoff exit a year ago, when kicker Blair Walsh missed a chip-shot field goal at the end of regulation. The Seattle Seahawks won the game 10-9 and advanced to the NFC Divisional round while the Vikings went home. While it won’t make up for that crushing defeat, Minnesota can get a small measure of revenge with a win over Seattle in Week 2 of the preseason in NFL wagering.
This duel in Week 2 of the preseason will go down Thursday, August 18, 2016 at 10 p.m. ET at CenturyLink Field in Seattle, Washington.
NFL Odds at BookMaker.eu
ODDS ANALYSIS
The Seahawks don’t have a ton to prove in the preseason with so many veterans on the team. While there are questions at running back and the offensive line, quarterback Russell Wilson and the cadre of defensive stars could play sparingly. The Vikings are in the same boat, with a solid core which has proven itself and doesn’t need a bunch of extra preseason reps.
QUARTERBACK ROTATION
Seahawks starting quarterback Russell Wilson will likely get the start again this week against the Vikings but should only play sparingly again. WIlson completed three of six passes for 34 yards with one interception in Seattle’s 17-16 win over Kansas City last week.
Backups Trevone Boykin and Jake Heaps are currently competing for the second-string position behind Wilson and should split time again this week. Boykin was impressive against the Chiefs, completing 16-of-26 passes for 188 yards while leading the Seahawks on a game-winning 88-yard touchdown drive in the final minute of the game. He capped it with a 37-yard touchdown pass to Tanner McEvoy. Heaps completed three-of-10 passes for 33 yards against Kansas City.
Vikings starting quarterback Teddy Bridgewater also saw limited time in his first preseason game this season against Cincinnati. He completed six-of-seven passes for 92 yards with one touchdown. His performance was highlighted by a 46-yard touchdown pass to Charles Johnson, a nice indication that his deep ball is coming along. Backup Shaun Hill also competed six-of-seven passes against the Bengals, accumulating 52 passing yards on the night. Third-stringer Joel Stave completed eight-of-13 passes for 76 yards with one interception.
COACHING HISTORY
Seahawks coach Pete Carroll has a career preseason record of 15-9. After starting under .500 over his first two seasons, Carroll went a perfect 4-0 in 2012 and 2013. He is 4-4 the past two seasons.
Viking coach Mike Zimmer is an impressive 9-1 in the preseason. He went undefeated in 2014 and 4-1 last year before starting out with to begin 2016. He will aim to keep up the hot streak in this matchup against the Seahawks.
QUICK PICK
The last time these two teams faced off is a game Vikings kicker Blair Walsh would like to forget. With 22 seconds remaining and Minnesota trailing by a point, the veteran kicker booted wide left on an easy, 27-yard field goal and the Vikings went on to lose 10-9. Although there is far less on the line Thursday, it could stir up some salty memories for Walsh. The 26-year had a much better showing in Minnesota’s first preseason game last week, his first appearance since last year’s bitter ending. He went two-for-two on extra points and also hit a 51-yard field goal in the Vikings 17-16 victory over Cincinnati. C.J. Ham scored the only rushing touchdown of the contest against the Bengals and finished the night with 12 carries for 35 yards.
Seattle also won its Week 1 preseason game last week and by the same score, defeating Kansas City 17-16. Steven Hauschka went three-for-three on field goals, capturing nine points. Hauschka’s long of the night was from 52 yards out. This could be a close one, but the Vikings could have a little bit more motivation and squeak out a road win in NFL wagering.
NFL Odds: Vikings 20, Seahawks 16
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