The Seahawks already knew they were headed to the playoffs, and with the Minnesota Vikings 20-13 win over the Green Bay Packers on Sunday Night Football to close out the 2015 regular season, Seattle now knows where, when, and against which team it will be playing to open the first round.
The No. 6-seeded Seahawks (10-6) will travel to Minnesota for a wild-card matchup with the NFC North champion and No. 3-seeded Vikings (11-5). Kickoff is set for 10:05 a.m. PT on Sunday, Jan. 10 with national television coverage on NBC (channel 5 in Seattle).
The Seahawks already topped the Vikings once this season, winning 38-7 in Week 13 behind a three-touchdown day from quarterback Russell Wilson and a dominating defensive effort that held Minnesota's Adrian Peterson, the NFL's leading rusher, to 18 yards on eight carries.
The Vikings' win Sunday gave the Seahawks the No. 6 seed in the NFC playoff picture because the Packers, who also finished with a 10-6 record, hold the head-to-head tiebreaker over Seattle and claimed the No. 5 wild-card spot as a result. That means that after hosting the NFC Championship in each of the past two seasons, the Seahawks will play every playoff game away from home this year and would have to win three straight road games to reach Super Bowl 50 in Santa Clara, Calif. Since the playoffs expanded in 1990, just two teams have won the Super Bowl as the No. 6 seed - the Pittsburgh Steelers, who beat the Seahawks in Super Bowl XL in 2005, and the Packers, who beat the Steelers in Super Bowl XLV in 2010.
If the Seahawks beat the Vikings next weekend, they'll head to Carolina for a divisional-round matchup against the NFC South champion and No. 1-seeded Panthers (15-1). That game would kick off at 10:05 a.m. PT on Sunday, Jan. 17 with national television coverage on FOX. Seattle has won a road game at Carolina in each of the past three seasons and topped the Panthers in the divisional-round of last year's playoffs, but the Panthers won 27-23 at CenturyLink Field earlier this season.
Should the Seahawks beat the Vikings and the Panthers to advance to the conference title game, Seattle would face either the Packers, Washington Redskins, or Arizona Cardinals on the road. The NFC Championship will kick off at 3:40 p.m. PT on Sunday, Jan. 24 with national television coverage on FOX.
The Seahawks are 2-9 all-time in road playoff games, with wins coming against the Miami Dolphins in 1983 and against the Redskins in 2012, Wilson's first season in the NFL.
The Seahawks play their 11th wild-card game in franchise history this Sunday against the Minnesota Vikings. This gallery throws you back to each of the Seahawks' previous 10 wild-card games, including their first-ever playoff game in 1983 facing the Denver Broncos and their most recent in 2012 versus the Washington Redskins.
FILE - In this Jan. 9, 2000, file photo, Seattle Seahawks quarterback Jon Kitna (7) scrambles away from Miami Dolphins linebacker Zach Thomas (54) during the third quarter of their AFC wild card playoff game in Seattle. Lincoln High School in Tacoma, Wash., has called a news conference Thursday, Jan. 26, 2012, to introduce Kitna as the school's new football coach. Kitna is a graduate of the school who was recently hired as a math teacher after his 15-year career as an NFL quarterback. (AP Photo/John Froschauer, File)
Miami Dolphins J.J. Johnson (32) dives between Seattle Seahawks Jay Bellamy (20) and Cortez Kennedy to score the game-winning touchdown on a two-yard run during the fouth quarter of the AFC wild card playoff game Sunday, Jan. 9, 2000. Miami won 20-17. (AP Photo/Elaine Thompson)
Miami Dolphins quarterback Dan Marino looks for a receiver downfield a toss against the Seattle Seahawks in their AFC wild card playoff game Sunday, Jan. 9, 2000 in Seattle. Marino, who was 17-of-30 for 196 yards and one touchdown pass, led the Dolphins to a 20-17. win (AP Photo/Matt Wallis)
Seattle Seahawks wide receiver Koren Robinson (81) runs a pass pattern as Green Bay Packers defensive back Mike McKenzie (34) in pass coverage during a Wild Card NFL Football Playoff game at Lambeau Field in Green Bay, Wisconsin on January 4, 2004. The Packers defeated the Seahawks 33-27 in overtime. (AP Photo/Scott Boehm)
Seattle Seahawks players tackle a Green Bay Packer Player during a Wild Card NFL Football Playoff game between the Seattle Seahawks against the Green Bay Packers at Lambeau Field in Green Bay, Wisconsin on January 4, 2004. The Packers defeated the Seahawks 33-27 in overtime. (AP Photo/Scott Boehm)
Green Bay Packers running back Ahman Green (30) runs with the football during a Wild Card NFL Football Playoff game against the Seattle Seahawks at Lambeau Field in Green Bay, Wisconsin on January 4, 2004. The Packers defeated the Seahawks 33-27 in overtime. (AP Photo/Scott Boehm)
Seahawks defensive end Michael Bennett and his daughters, Blake, 6, and Peyton, 10, sign copies of a children's book authored by Bennett and his wife Pele titled 'Three Little Monsters Have a Wild Day'
Seahawks defensive end Michael Bennett and his daughters, Blake, 6, and Ollie, 3, sign copies of a children's book authored by Bennett and his wife Pele titled 'Three Little Monsters Have a Wild Day'
Seahawks defensive tackle Nazair Jones works with youth at Michael Bennett's youth camp in Hawaii.
Seahawks defensive tackle Nazair Jones works with youth at Michael Bennett's youth camp in Hawaii.
San Francisco 49ers defensive lineman Ronald Blair works with youth at Michael Bennett's youth camp in Hawaii.
Seahawks defensive tackle Nazair Jones works with youth at Michael Bennett's youth camp in Hawaii.
Seahawks defensive tackle Nazair Jones works with youth at Michael Bennett's youth camp in Hawaii.
