Good afternoon, 12s.
Here's a look at what's "out there" for today - Monday, Jan. 4 - about your Seahawks (10-6), one day after the team's 36-6 win over the NFC West champion Arizona Cardinals (13-3) at Glendale's University of Phoenix Stadium. Seattle, the No. 6 seed in the NFC playoff picture, now readies for a wild-card matchup with the NFC North champion and No.3-seeded Minnesota Vikings, a game set to take place at 10:05 a.m. PT on Sunday, Jan. 10 at University of Minnesota's TCF Bank Stadium.
The Local Press
Here at Seahawks.com, digital reporter John Boyle shares five key takeaways from Sunday's win that saw Seattle "get right" before the playoffs and shares reaction from a Seahawks team that's "incredibly proud" to lead the NFL in scoring defense for a fourth consecutive season.
On his Monday morning radio show, Pete Carroll said running back Marshawn Lynch (abdomen) has returned to the club after missing the past seven games while recovering from surgery.
Quarterback Russell Wilson closed an impressive regular season by setting a pair of Seahawks franchise records.
With the conclusion of the 2015 regular season, the Seahawks now know which teams they'll face at home and on the road in the 2016 regular season.
Bob Condotta at the Seattle Times gives 'A' grades across the board to Seattle's offense, defense, and special teams after Sunday's win at Arizona.
Matt Calkins at the Seattle Times says yesterday's win shows the Seahawks are primed for a playoff run.
Dave Boling at the Tacoma News Tribune says in Sunday's win at Arizona the Seahawks looked like the team that beat the Denver Broncos 43-8 in Super Bowl XLVIII. Boling also comments on the play of Seattle's offensive line that was without starting left tackle Russell Okung and right guard J.R. Sweezy on Sunday.
John McGrath at the Tacoma News Tribune says the Seahawks have what it takes to win on the road in the postseason.
Gregg Bell at the Tacoma News Tribune recaps postgame comments from defensive end Michael Bennett.
And SportsPressNW.com takes its first look at the Vikings, the Seahawks' wild-card opponent.
The National Buzz
Even though the Seahawks hold the sixth and final playoff seed in the NFC, Mike Sando at ESPN.com still thinks they're the best team in the postseason (Insider), ranking Seattle No. 1 on his list of NFL playoff teams. Sando writes, "No team can match Seattle's combination of playoff pedigree and current performance level. That and running back Marshawn Lynch's expected return from injury are why the Seahawks top this list even though other teams had better regular seasons overall."
Bill Barnwell at ESPN.com calls yesterday's Seahawks win at Arizona the most impressive victory of the year in the NFL, "Beating a team this good on the road by this much just doesn't happen very frequently" and names Seattle quarterback Russell Wilson his offensive player of the year, "It just seemed as though there should be a place to honor Wilson, who has been remarkably good over the second half of the season. He has 25 touchdowns against two picks!"
Sheil Kapadia at ESPN.com breaks down five numbers behind quarterback Russell Wilson's historic seven-game stretch to close the season and says the Seahawks are in position to return to the Super Bowl for a third straight year.
Jose Romero at ESPN.com writes about wideout Tyler Lockett's big day at punt returner that has him up for Rookie of Week 17 at NFL.com.
John Breech at CBSSports.com gives the Seahawks an 'A-plus' for their Week 17 performance, writing, "The Seahawks might need to give Russell Wilson another raise. When this game mattered, Wilson was almost perfect. The Seahawks quarterback threw for 155 yards and three touchdowns in the first half, which put the game so far out of reach that the Cardinals decided to bench Carson Palmer in the second half."
Gregg Rosenthal at NFL.com shares three things to watch for in Sunday's wild-card game between the Seahawks and Vikings.
Chris Wesseling at NFL.com outlines six things you need to know from the Seahawks' 'statement' win at Arizona.
Will Brinson at CBSSports.com takes the Seahawks to win next weekend's wild-card matchup.
Don Banks at SI.com says Sunday's Seahawks win can't help but boost the team's playoff hopes.
Doug Farrar at SI.com previews Sunday's wild-card matchup between the Seahawks and Vikings.
And Peter King at TheMMQB.com has his 'Monday Morning Quarterback' column reviewing Week 17 around the NFL.
From The Coach
From The Players
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