Seattle Seahawks-Minnesota Vikings: Keys to Wildcard game and who will win

Seattle Seahawks (10-6) at Minnesota Vikings (11-5): NFC Wildcard game preview

Sunday, 1:05 p.m. ET, at TCF Bank Stadium, Minneapolis - TV: NBC

*TV announcers: Al Michaels, Cris Collinsworth, Michele Tafoya

*Keys to the game: Both teams are built to handle winter weather conditions, and that will be put to the test with the temperature expected to hover around 0 degrees - at best, and potentially dip significantly lower.

When these teams met on the same field on Dec. 6, Seattle focused on shutting down RB Adrian Peterson, jumped out to a 21-0 first half lead and completely took Minnesota out of its comfort zone. QB Teddy Bridgewater improved in pushing the ball vertically the rest of December, but struggled again with his downfield accuracy in last week's victory over Green Bay. The Vikings need to keep the score within reach and remain committed to Peterson, who managed 18 yards on only eight carries in the field meeting.

Minnesota is a far better run-blocking team, and Bridgewater was clearly rattled by the pass rush when forced into a one-dimensional attack the first time he faced Seattle.

The Seahawks are set to get RB Marshawn Lynch back in the lineup for the first time since he underwent abdomen surgery on Nov. 25, and they need his physical presence. Rookie Thomas Rawls, who is now on injured reserve, rushed for 101 yards on 19 carries against the Vikings last month. Minnesota's defense is far healthier for the rematch, but Seahawks QB Russell Wilson also enters playing extremely well over the past six weeks. He was 21-for-27 for 274 yards, three touchdowns and no interceptions in the first meeting.

With Wilson playing so well out of the offense that has been modified since Lynch last played, it will be interesting to see how well he acclimates back into the lineup.

*Matchup to watch - Seahawks OLB Bruce Irvin vs. Vikings RT T.J. Clemmings: Irvin racked up a sack, a QB hit, two tackles for loss and a forced fumble in the first meeting, and afterward claimed Bridgewater was "scared" of the Seahawks' pass rush. Meanwhile, rookie Frank Clark added a pair of sacks and two deflections. On an offensive line that struggles in projection, the rookie Clemmings is a prime target, as is RG Mike Harris working largely against DT Michael Bennett.

*Player spotlight - Vikings SS Andrew Sendejo: Sendejo missed the first meeting with a knee injury while FS Harrison Smith left the game early and Wilson proceeded to put on a passing clinic. Both starting safeties are healthy now, and Sendejo will also play a significant role in run defense.

*Fast facts: Only nine games in NFL history have been played where the temperature never rose above 0. The coldest recorded game in NFL history was the "Ice Bowl" between Dallas and Green Bay in 1967 where the teams played in minus-13 degrees with a wind chill that dipped as low as minus-48. The Vikings' coldest playoff game was played in 9 degrees in 1970 against San Francisco at Met Stadium.

WHO WILL WIN AND WHY

Don't expect a repeat of the Seahawks' 38-7 romp in Minnesota last month. The Vikings are healthier on defense and the first game simply snowballed on Minnesota. But this is still an excellent matchup for Seattle, which packs the league's top-ranked run defense that will eventually put Teddy Bridgewater into the pass-first mode he's not ready to handle in his first playoff game.

*Our pick: Seahawks 23-16.