Walsh miss sees Seahawks beat Vikings

Blair Walsh missed a 27-yard field goal with 26 seconds remaining as the Seattle Seahawks somehow escaped freezing conditions to win 10-9 at the Minnesota Vikings in Sunday's NFC wildcard play-off.

The Seahawks, whose bid to make a third consecutive Super Bowl continues, trailed 9-0 going into the fourth quarter, before Russell Wilson's touchdown pass to Doug Baldwin and an Adrian Peterson fumble had helped them into a late lead.

But in a remarkable finish, the Vikings were in prime position to win after a last-gasp drive, only for Walsh to hit his kick wide to the left having earlier made three attempts, including two from a longer distance.

The result sends Seattle through to a mouth-watering divisional round clash against the Carolina Panthers, who are number one seeds in the NFC after a 15-1 record in the regular season.

Minnesota, meanwhile, go a sixth straight season without a play-off win after a heart-breaking defeat in a match that was played at an astonishing temperature of -21C – the third-coldest in NFL history.

A calamitous first drive from the Seahawks saw a botched snap result in punter Jon Ryan being brought down at his own 29-yard line, with the Vikings eventually having to settle for a 22-yard Walsh field goal in what proved to be the only score of the opening half.

The conditions were significant as Pete Carroll's side turned down the chance to kick what would have been a 47-yard field goal in the second quarter by going for it on 4th and 13 from the Minnesota 30-yard line and failing to convert.

That ensured the home side had a three-point lead at the interval and Seattle did not fare any better early in the third quarter as another failed fourth down effort – this time from 4th and 3 at the Minnesota 40 - resulted in Wilson throwing an interception to Trae Waynes.

That mishap allowed Bridgewater to set up a 43-yard attempt for Walsh, who converted to double Minnesota's lead before striking from 47 to have the Vikings nine points up going into the fourth quarter, when the game was completely turned on its head.

First, a crucial broken play saw Wilson fumble after another snap mishap but recover to make a 35-yard completion to Tyler Lockett, setting up a three-yard touchdown through the air to Baldwin.

With their lead reduced to two points, the Vikings' next drive ended after two plays when Kam Chancellor forced Peterson to fumble, allowing Steven Hauschka to kick them into a 10-9 lead from 46 yards.

But the hosts looked set to recover when Bridgewater led them on a six-play, 52-yard drive down to the Seattle nine-yard line, only for Walsh to miss his kick in an astonishing finale.