Setting the scene from sub-zero Minnesota before Seahawks-Vikings
Jan 10, 2016, 9:35 AM | Updated: 9:40 am
The temperature at TCF Bank Stadium is expected to rise to minus-5 by kickoff. (AP)
(AP)
BY
Former Seattle Sports Lead Editor
MINNEAPOLIS – Greetings from TCF Bank Stadium, where it’s every bit as c-c-c-cold outside as advertised.
Actually, it might even be colder. The current temperature about an hour from kickoff is minus-6 degrees with a feel of minus-24 factoring in the wind-chill. The latest forecast, according to Weather.com, calls for it to warm up all the way to minus-5 by the time the Seahawks and Vikings kick off their wild-card playoff game.
The Seahawks began making their way onto the field for early warmups a little less than three hours before kickoff, which is 12:05 p.m. Central Time and 10:05 a.m. back in Seattle. A couple players even warmed up wearing cut-off T-shirts, though their bundled-up faces – and everyone else’s – made it hard to identify them.
Expect quite a few Seahawks to be wearing those thermal masks under their helmets as protection from the wind, which is cold enough to make your face hurt.
Based on what they’re wearing in warmups, it’s about a 75-25 split between players who are and aren’t wearing long sleeves under their road white jerseys. Quarterback Russell Wilson falls into the former category. He also has a hand-warming pouch that he’s using between snaps during pregame warmups, as you’d expect. As promised, linebacker Bruce Irvin and running back Fred Jackson are bare-armed.
On the subject of game-day attire, the Seahawks are wearing their blue pants on top of their white jerseys. They’re 6-4 in that uniform combination since switching to their new design in 2012, with one of those victories being Super Bowl XLVIII.
Notice the sun on the far (north) sideline. Vikings chose that side when they moved here knowing it'd be warmer. pic.twitter.com/0Tg1Co6XBG
— Brady Henderson (@BradyHenderson) January 10, 2016
Notice in the picture above how the sun is shining on the far sideline. That’s the one the Vikings have occupied since moving here last season, knowing that the sun pattern would make the north side of the stadium several degrees warmer during games. The University of Minnesota, which is the permanent tenant at TCF Bank Stadium, uses the near sideline.
Here’s the list of players the Seahawks declared inactive.
