It's been a long time coming for veteran running back Fred Jackson.
The 34-year-old former Buffalo Bills star, a nine-year veteran and currently the NFL's oldest running back, will be making his NFL playoff debut for the Seattle Seahawks today. They're in Minneapolis, set to take on the NFC North champion Minnesota Vikings.
Seattle, who has represented the NFC in back-to-back Super Bowl games (winning the first, losing the second), enters this year's playoff race as the sixth seed in the conference, having finished with a 10-6 record. They won six of their last seven games to enter the postseason on a hot streak.
Minnesota, meanwhile, won their division with a 20-13 win in Lambeau Field last Sunday evening. Led by a solid young defense and 30-year-old, all-world running back Adrian Peterson, the Vikings hope a bit of home-field advantage will give them a leg up against one of the league's hottest teams; there's an expected high temperature of three (3) degrees in Minneapolis today, with wind chills making it feel like it's in the negative-20s. Here's to hoping that the game's outcome is a good payoff for those planning to sit outside for several hours in that weather.
Jackson isn't the only ex-Bill involved in this one, by the way; although Marshawn Lynch is sidelined and Tarvaris Jackson is a backup, you'll probably see a lot of Bryce Brown in the backfield for the Seahawks, as well. Jackson's role is small, but Brown splits reps with Seattle's current starting running back, Christine Michael.
This is your open thread to discuss today's Vikings-Seahawks game. Who are you rooting for?