Tonight’s game between the Seattle Seahawks and the Buffalo Bills was a serious slugfest. It took a fourth down pass breakup by Seattle free safety EARL THOMAS with thirteen seconds to go in the game just to preserve a 31-25 victory for the Seahawks at CenturyLink Field.
This was one of those type of games where emotion, good but not great defense, and some offensive heroics and firepower were needed for a team to win this game.
The Seahawks (5-2-1) took care of business in the passing game and made just enough big plays on defense to wrestle this win from a tough Bills (4-5) squad, that challenged the Seahawks for the balance of this game.
Seahawks quarterback RUSSELL WILSON (20 of 26 for 282 yards and 2 scoring tosses) was his usual magician and big play self, as he kept a lot of drives alive with his improvisational talents. He distributed his passes to seven different offensive players with tight end JIMMY GRAHAM leading that pack with a marvelous game of his own. Graham caught 8 passes for 103 yards and 2 scores tonight in what was a big-contract affirming (in 2015 he signed a four-year contract with Seattle for $40 million with $20.9 million of it guaranteed) game for him. 
Off the heels of a blocked punt by Bills outside linebacker JERRY HUGHES, Taylor took advantage of that big special teams play to scramble 3 yards into the end zone on the next play. With around 13:30 left in the first quarter the Bills took a 7-0 lead.
But just over a minute later, the Seahawks got a big special teams play of their own that set up a touchdown for them. Second-year return specialist and wide receiver TYLER LOCKETT, took a Buffalo kickoff 43 yards to the SEA 42-yard line. That play set up a 3-yard touchdown run to the right side of the end zone by Wilson. Wilson’s 13th touchdown run of his career tied the score at 7-7 with 12:21 to go in the first quarter.
Bills receiver JUSTIN HUNTER really made his team’s effort on their next scoring drive worth it. The Bills engaged in a 17-play, 75 yard drive late in the first quarter that elapsed 10 long-minutes off the game clock. And that marathon drive culminated with a 5-yard touchdown reception by Hunter right at the beginning of the end zone. With 2:21 left in the first quarter the Bills took the lead again at 14-7.
Graham tied the game, when he got behind the Bills defense for a top of the end zone 17-yard touchdown catch versus tight coverage from Bills strong safety ROBERT BLANTON. That was Graham’s first scoring catch since Week 3 of this season, a 37-18 win over San Francisco. With just six seconds elapsed off the clock in the second quarter, the score was knotted at 14-14.
A sack by Seattle defensive end FRANK CLARK (his 6.5th sack of the season), forced the Bills to settle for a field goal by DAN CARPENTER. Carpenter made the kick from 31 yards which gave the Bills the lead again at 17-14 with 9:32 left in the first half.
But not too long after that Carpenter kick, the Seahawks were in the mood for answering. Running back CHRISTINE MICHAEL took a Wilson handoff and then sped to near the right corner of the end zone from 3 yards out to give his team a 21-17 with lead with 4:29 left in the first half.
Graham received his second touchdown of the game when he——-he beat double/bracketed coverage from Bills defensive backs——-latched onto an 18-yard scoring play near the tail end of the first half. With one minute left in the second quarter the Seahawks took a 28-17 lead.
The Bills finally got on the board after a two quarter absence, when running back MIKE GILLISLEE followed his fullback into the end zone for a 1-yard scoring run. That play and Taylor’s subsequent two-point conversion run cut the Seahawks’ lead to 28-25 at the 14:26 mark of the fourth period.
The Bills saw their hopes to try to win this game die, when Thomas broke up Taylor’s last gasp 4th and goal pass that was intended for receiver ROBERT WOODS (10 catches for 162 yards and no score) in the end zone.
