Go Figure: Lynch's power, Wilson's poise could cause Vikings' D fits

As the Vikings prepare for Sunday's Week 9 game with Seattle at Century Link Field, here's a look at a handful of eye-opening figures and facts ...

4.8

Yards per carry this season for Seattle running back Marshawn Lynch, who is coming off a 12-carry, 105-yard effort in Sunday's loss at Detroit. Lynch has rushed for at least 85 yards in seven of the Seahawks' eight games. Last week's outburst included a 77-yard touchdown run

4.7

Yards per rushing attempt allowed by Vikings in their past three games. Thanks to the dazzling skills of quarterback Robert Griffin III, the Redskins piled up 183 yards on the ground in 32 attempts. Griffin had 138 of those yards on 13 rushes. Then, the past two weeks, the Vikings once proud run D was gashed even more Arizona's LaRod Stephens Howling (20 carries, 104 yards) and Tampa Bay's Doug Martin (29 carries, 135 yards). Suddenly, the Vikings have dropped to 16^th in the NFL in rushing defense, allowing 107.6 yards per game.

3

Games this year in which rookie quarterback Russell Wilson has led the Seahawks on a fourth quarter game-winning or go-ahead drive. The latest came Sunday in Detroit when Wilson led a 12-play, 87-yard march that ended with a 16-yard TD strike to tight end Zach Miller. That score gave Seattle a 24-21 lead with 5:27 left. (Detroit responded with its own 80-yard TD stampede to win the game.) But that doesn't diminish what Wilson has done in the clutch this season. In Week 6, his 46-yard TD strike to Sidney Rice with 1:18 left produced a 24-23 upset of New England. Twenty days earlier, Wilson threw a last-second 24-yard touchdown pass to Golden Tate that punctuated a wild 14-12 upset of the Packers. You may have seen the replay of that Wilson-to-Tate score a few times. Just guessing.

Turnovers caused by the Vikings in their five victories so far this season. In those wins, the Vikings are plus-2 in turnover differential.

1

Turnovers caused by the Vikings in their three losses. In those stumbles, the Vikings are minus-6 in turnover differential.

4

Touchdowns allowed by the Seahawks defense in three home games this season. Seattle's stingy defense has been particularly tough at CenturyLink Field, allowing an average of 346 yards and 14 points per game. Led by defensive end Chris Clemons, linebacker K.J. Wright and cornerback Richard Sherman, Seattle has six takeaways in their three home wins and have done a nice job limiting standout quarterbacks Aaron Rodgers, Tom Brady and Tony Romo. Brady threw for 395 yards against the Seahawks but needed 58 passing attempts to do so.

Third down conversions allowed by Seattle in Sunday's loss in Detroit. The Lions were 12-for-16 on third down and converted plays of third-and-5, third-and-10 and third-and-1 on their game-winning touchdown drive in the final 5 minutes.

775

Rushing yards for Adrian Peterson through eight weeks, most in the NFL. Peterson's 15-carry, 123-yard outburst in last Thursday night's loss to Tampa Bay was his second consecutive 100-yard game and the 30^th of his Vikings career, a new franchise record. He holds an 18-yard advantage atop the rushing charts over Lynch.

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