The frigid temperatures in Minneapolis clearly affected the Seahawks in the first half against the Vikings.
In the second quarter, instead of having kicker Steven Hauschka attempt a 47-yard field goal, head coach Pete Carroll elected to go for it on fourth-and-13. The offense came up short and turned it over on downs. The Seahawks were shut out in the first half, trailing 3-0.
Carroll acknowledged during the week that the weather would affect the game in a couple of specific areas. One was the kicking game, and clearly he determined that Hauschka, who made all six of his attempts from 50-plus yards during the regular season, has a shorter limit Sunday.
The difference in the first half ended up being a low snap by Seahawks long-snapper Clint Gresham in the first quarter. Punter Jon Ryan couldn't handle the ball and instead took off to run. He was stopped short of the first down and the Vikings took over at the Seattle 29. Minnesota ended up kicking a field goal on its ensuing possession.
The Seahawks' offense, which was on fire during the second half of the season, couldn't get anything going. The best opportunity to score came late in the first half. Russell Wilson had Doug Baldwin open on a deep corner route on what looked like a potential touchdown, but the ball floated in the air and was incomplete.
Wilson was 6-for-11 for 39 yards in the first half. He completed one pass that went longer than 7 yards.
The Seahawks won the first meeting against the Vikings, 38-7, in Week 13. But it looks like this will be a grind-it-out affair that will be decided in the fourth quarter.
