The week of practice is over and the Vikings are nearly set for their Wild Card playoff game against the Seattle Seahawks on Sunday. Here's what we learned this week about the Vikings-Seahawks matchup.
Adrian Peterson has a scouting report on Marshawn Lynch
They say it takes one to know one. Adrian Peterson served that adage well on Thursday during his weekly meeting with reporters. Peterson just won his third NFL rushing title and is widely considered the best RB in the NFL. Seattle's Marshawn Lynch has missed several games this season, but he's expected to be in the lineup on Sunday and when he's healthy he's one of the League's best backs, too.
"I remember coming out (in the draft) with him. We trained together in Arizona. I knew he was going to be a force to be reckoned with. He's 'Beast Mode' for a reason. He's a physical runner. He plays fast. His lateral movement, his cuts, his vision is top of the line. I would say he's probably the second best back in the League. I'd give it to him hands down."
The competitive and joking nature of Peterson would never allow him to put another runner ahead of him on the list. But even through the smiles and chuckles, you could sense the respect Peterson has for Lynch.
"I think what I got on him is a little more speed," Peterson said. "His lateral movement and his ability to get away and power through guys is amazing."
Parcells and Zimmer conferred on prepping a team to play in the cold
Former NFL head coach Bill Parcells is a mentor to Vikings Head Coach Mike Zimmer. Earlier in the week, Parcells joined Dan Barreiro on KFAN 100.3-FM to talk about his relationship with Zimmer and some of the things the two friends speak about regularly.
Our own Eric Smith detailed the conversation between Parcells and Barreiro.
"I'm not looking with a critical eye," Parcells said. "We've had discussions about lots of things…usually things that aren't obvious to the layman.
"This week would be how to prepare your team to play in the elements."
Parcells coached teams in New York twice plus he was also head coach of the New England Patriots, so he's had his fair share of cold-weather games.
"It reduces the high-end fire power," Parcells said of the cold. "It injects too many variables into the high-powered offenses. The wind, the ball being cold, the players not being able to keep their bodies fully warm all the time, which cuts the speed down. Sometimes the footing may not be perfect because of the frost or wetness that exists on the field – ice or whatever it is. The elements are a great equalizer. The wind is a tremendous factor in games. "
Bevell impressed with Vikings defense's pressure schemes
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View photos of players and coaches who have suited up for both the Minnesota Vikings and the Seattle Seahawks.
Pete Carroll coached defensive backs for the Minnesota Vikings for 5 seasons (1985-89) under Bud Grant and Jerry Burns before being named defensive coordinator for the New York Jets.
Seahawks Head Coach Pete Carroll coached in the Pro Bowl as a member of the Minnesota Vikings staff following the 1987 season.
Carroll is the current head coach of the Seahawks and has led his team to back-to-back Super Bowl appearances, including winning Super Bowl XLVIII.
Seven-time All-Pro guard Steve Hutchinson was a 1st-round draft pick by the Seattle Seahawks in 2001 (17th overall).
Hutchinson signed with the Vikings in 2006 after a controversial contract situation between the Vikings and Seahawks. Hutchinson started 89 games in his 6 seasons in Minnesota and was named as one of the 50 Greatest Vikings.
In 1976, former 1st-round pick Ahmad Rashad went to Training Camp with Seattle in their expansion season but was traded to the Vikings days before the regular season started.
Darrell Bevell received his first offensive coordinator job with the Vikings in 2006. He remained with the club through 2010, a year guiding Brett Favre and the 5th-ranked Vikings offense in 2009.
Bevell took over as the Seahawks offensive coordinator in 2011, where he has served the past 5 seasons. Bevell's offense had the top-ranked rushing attack in the NFL in 2014.
Minnesota native John Carlson was drafted by the Seahawks in the 2nd round of 2008. Carlson scored 13 touchdowns in 3 seasons with the Seahawks, sitting out 2011 due to an injury.
Carlson signed with the Vikings as a free agent in 2012, spending 2 seasons with the club. Carlson retired prior to the start of the 2015 season.
Coleman signed with the Vikings as an undrafted free agent in 2012, becoming the first deaf player in the NFL. Coleman went to training camp with the Vikings before being released during roster cuts.
Coleman signed with the Seahawks in December of 2012 where he has remained on their roster. Coleman has 2 career NFL touchdowns, both receiving.
Pro Football Hall of Famer Eller was a 1st-round pick by the Vikings in 1964. Eller was a member of the historic Purple People Eaters before spending the final season in Seattle.
Heath Farwell signed with the Vikings as an undrafted free agent in 2005. He spent 6 seasons with the club, playing primarily on special teams.
Farwell signed with the Seahawks as a free agent following his time in Minnesota. Farwell was a key special teams player on the club's Super Bowl win following the 2013 season.
After a stop in Tennessee, Gray serves in the same role with the Vikings leading Minnesota's secondary.
Jerry Gray served as the Seahawks defensive backs coach during the 2010 season during their 7-9 campaign,
The Vikings selected Percy Harvin with the 22nd pick in 2009. In his first season in Minnesota, Harvin was named NFL Offensive Player of the Year.
Percy Harvin was traded to Seattle during the 2013 offseason. Harvin spent the entire 2013 season and part of the 2014 season with the Seahawks.
Hauschka's first NFL stint came as an undrafted free agent with the Vikings in 2008. Hauschka spent training camp and the preseason with the Vikings before being waived during roster cuts.
After multiple stints around the NFL, Hauschka landed in Seattle in 2011. In 2013, the Pro Football Writers Association named Hauschka to their All-Pro team.
Defensive lineman Bob Lurtsema spent 5 seasons with the Vikings, helping them to two Super Bowl appearances.
Lurtsema was traded to the Seahawks in exchange for WR Ahmad Rashad and spent 2 seasons in Seattle. A welcome back ceremony was held for Lurtsema in his first game back in Minnesota.
After a long stint with the Houston Oilers, Hall of Fame QB Warren Moon joined the Vikings in 1994. Spending three seasons in Minnesota, Moon was selected to the Pro Bowl in 1994 and 1995.
After being released by the Vikings, Moon signed as a free agent with the Seahawks where he played in 1997 and 1998.
Patera coached the Vikings' Purple People Eaters for six seasons and helped lead the team to 3 Super Bowl appearances. Patera coached Hall of Famers Carl Eller and Alan Page.
Following his success with the Vikings, Patera was named the first head coach in the history of the Seattle Seahawks. Patera served as Seattle's head coach until the middle of the 1982 season.
Pro Football Hall of Fame DT John Randle played the first 11 seasons of his career with the Vikings. Randle recorded 10-plus sacks in each of his final eight seasons in Minnesota.
Following his time with the Vikings, Randle signed with the Seahawks where he spent the final 3 seasons of his career. Randle earned Pro Bowl honors in Seattle in 2001.
Rice entered the NFL with the Vikings the same year as RB Adrian Peterson in 2007. In four seasons in Minnesota, Rice hauled in 22 touchdowns.
Rice signed with the Seahawks in 2011 where he spent the final 3 seasons of his career. Rice tore his ACL in the middle of the 2013 season, the year Seattle won the Super Bowl.
Tice played for the Vikings for 3 seasons before joining the coaching staff. In 2002, Tice was named the team's head coach after being the interim for one game in 2001.
Mike Tice was signed by Seattle as an undrafted free agent in 1981. Tice spent 10 total seasons with the Seahawks in two stints.
Tarvaris Jackson was selected by the Vikings in the 2nd round of the 2006 NFL Draft. Jackson started 20 games in his 5 seasons in purple.
Following his time with the Vikings, Jackson has had two stints with Seattle. After spending the 2011 season with the Seahawks, he returned in 2013 where he played since.
Williams signed with the Seahawks prior to the 2014 season. In 2014, Williams recorded 3.0 sacks and helped guide Seattle to a Super Bowl appearance.
The Vikings selected DT Kevin Williams out of Oklahoma State in the 1st round of the 2003 NFL Draft. Williams spent 11 seasons with the Vikings and recorded 60.0 sacks.
Blair Walsh made 133 field goals in five seasons as a Minnesota Viking.
The Seahawks signed former Vikings K Blair Walsh during the 2018 offseason.
Defensive tackle Shamar Stephen was a core member of the Vikings interior defensive line for four seasons after being drafted by the team in 2014.
Former Vikings defensive tackle Shamar Stephen joined the Seahawks during the 2018 offseason as a free agent. (AP Photo/Rick Scuteri)
Defensive tackle Tom Johnson returned to the Vikings during the 2018 season after spending the offseason and a few games with the Seahawks to begin the season.
Defensive tackle Sheldon Richardson spent one season with the Seahawks in 2017 after being trade to Seattle from the New York Jets. (AP Photo/Phelan M. Ebenhack)
Vikings defensive tackle Sheldon Richardson joined the team as a free agent during the 2018 offseason. (AP Photo/Bruce Kluckhohn, File)
**In a film study earlier this week, we used a handful of plays to illustrate the depth and creativity of Seattle Offensive Coordinator Darrell Bevell's offense. Turning the tables around, Bevell said he was impressed with some of the schemes the Vikings defense runs under head coach Mike Zimmer.
"I think the thing that makes it challenging is his pressure package," Bevell said of Zimmer. "He does a great job with it. He walks guys up in the A gap, brings guys off of each side and just presents you with issues. They can play all different types of coverages out of it."
Coaches insist the game is won by players on the field, and that will be true on Sunday. But the Xs and Os chess match between Zimmer and Bevell will be a fun part of the game, too.
Vikings are underdogs at home this weekend
The Vikings are coming off a huge division title win last week and are the higher seed playing at home, but the outside world is expecting the Seattle Seahawks to come to Minnesota and win on Wild Card Weekend.
As detailed by our weekly "Experts' Picks" article, only a brave few are prognosticating a Vikings win. At Bleacher Report, 8 of 8 experts picked the Seahawks. It was 7 of 8 on the Seattle's side at CBS Sports and another 7 of 8 at FOX Sports.
To get the full run down, check out this week’s article.
The Vikings 2015 draft class was really good
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**Vikings fans have been pleased with what they've seen from their 2015 draft class. But they aren't the only ones. As vikings.com's Craig Peters wrote, Daniel Jeremiah of NFL Network was impressed, too.
"Eric Kendricks and Danielle Hunter were major contributors on defense, and Stefon Diggs looks like a future No. 1 receiver," Jeremiah wrote.
Kendricks led the Vikings defense in tackles (105) and 1st-rounder Trae Waynes led the team in special teams tackles (14). Diggs, whose 52 catches were third-most by a Vikings rookie, was the first Vikings rookie to lead the team in catches.
Our own Lindsey Young wrote more about the contribution the Vikings 2015 draft class had in helping the team reach the playoffs.
