Los Angeles (AFP)

The Seattle Seahawks, who won the Philadelphia Eagles (17-9) and Minnesota Vikings, winners of the New Orleans Saints (26-20) after extra time, qualified for the second round of the League play-offs on Sunday national American Football (NFL).

The posters for the second round, which will take place next weekend, are now known: in the national conference, Minnesota will move to the San Francisco 49ers and Seattle will play in Green Bay.

In the American conference, the Tennessee Titans, who created the big surprise of this round of "Wild Card" by eliminating (20-13) the New England Patriots and the legend Tom Brady, defending champions, will challenge the Baltimore Ravens, better team of the regular season. The Houston Texans, defeated the Buffalo Bills after extra time (22-19), will face the Kansas City Chiefs.

The Seahawks scored two touchdowns. The first by Marshawn Lynch to race to gain the advantage (10-3) just before half time. The second by DK Metcalf on receipt of an impressive 53-yard throw succeeded by Russell Wilson to increase the advantage at 17-6.

"I really wanted this touchdown. When he announced the system, I knew the ball would come to me," said Metclaf after the game.

- Brees out, as Brady -

On the Eagles side, the ammunition was all the more lacking as quarterback Carson Wentz had to leave the field after a helmet-to-helmet collision with Seattle defender Jadeveon Clowney.

His replacement, Josh McCown, who had briefly retired this summer after 17 years in the NFL, before re-stacking with the Eagles, failed to meet the challenge for his first play-off match at 40.

Earlier Sunday Minnesota needed an extension to dismiss New Orleans, thanks to the timely awakening of its quarterback Kirk Cousins ​​who made two decisive shots. First one of 43 yards which found Adam Thielen 4 yards from in-goal, then another in the penultimate attempt for the touchdown of Kyle Rudolph.

Thus was sealed the victory of the Vikings, led ten points to the last quarter, thanks to two touchdowns in the race of the running back Dalvin Cook.

Moment chosen by veteran Drew Brees to show, almost 41 years old, that he had beautiful remains and a steel mind, after having been intercepted a few minutes earlier. His throw towards Tayson Hill allowed the Saints to reduce the gap to three points, before 4 seconds before the end the boot of Wil Lutz won the vain overtime.

© 2020 AFP