The (4-4) Buffalo Bills travel to the Northwest for a primetime matchup against the (4-3-1) Seattle Seahawks on Monday night. A game that was proclaimed by Bills head coach Rex Ryan as a must-win for his team. “We need to win this game. Whatever it takes, that’s what we have to come up with. Hopefully, we’ll get some players back. But, if not, we have to find a way to get it done anyway,” proclaimed Ryan.
A matchup between two teams that rely heavily on the defensive side of the ball. A Seahawks team that ranks in the top ten in ever major defensive category and a Bills squad that boasts the league leader in sacks in Lorenzo Alexander saw very little defense in this one early. Following a three and out on the Seahawks first offensive possession of the game, a blocked punt by Jerry Hughes of the Bills opened up the offensive fireworks for a game that was full of big plays. The blocked punt set up the Bills score on the very next play for a Tyrod Taylor three-yard run. As a common theme in this one, the lead did not last for long as the Seahawks led by off-injured quarterback Russell Wilson would bounce right back with a score of their own. A three-play fifty-eight yard drive was topped off with Wilson replicating the Taylor score with a three-yard touchdown run of his own.
Perhaps the most impressive drive of the entire Bills season was to follow. A lengthy drive to say the least as the Bills put together a seventeen play 75-yard drive that lasted a grand total of 10 minutes. Taylor’s second score of the night, a 5-yard pass to receiver Justin Hunter put the Bills up 14-7 early. As the theme for the night, whatever the Bills could do the Seahawks could do better. Another quick score, a six play, 68-yard drive lasting less than a 1:20 that saw tighten Jimmy Graham haul in the first of two scores on the night on a 17-yard pass from Wilson. The touchdown passes for Wilson were his first in three games. After a Bill’s field goal saw them go back up the Seahawks would go on a 14-0 to see them go up 28-17 at the half.
A moment of controversy occurring going into the half as the Bills kicker was noticeably run into by cornerback Richard Sherman causing him to go down in pain. A series of events saw Carpenter removed from the game for a play to only come back and miss a field goal going into the half.
Defense would make its first appearance coming out of the half as a stop was finally made on the Seahawks side of the ball. An interception of Tyrod Taylor by Richard Sherman would be the games first turnover on the Bills first drive of the half. The interception was Taylor’s first pick he has thrown in his last 190 throws. A scoreless third quarter for both sides as the offensive outburst had seemingly hit a wall. That was until the second play of the fourth quarter when Mike Gillislee ran it in from one yard out. A two-point conversion by Tyrod Taylor would make it a one score game at 28-25 in the Seahawks favor. With the score though the Bills suffered a big loss as their all-pro center Eric Wood suffered an ankle injury and was carted off the field.
Arguably the Bills most important drive of the season, down by 6-points the Bills marched down the field with under two minutes left into the Seahawks red-zone. As close as the Bills got at the end it was all for not as the Seahawks defense made the big plays when it mattered and forced a big turnover on downs. The Seahawks would hold on for a 31-25 victory. The Seahawks improved to (5-3-1) while the Bills downward spiral continued as they fall to (4-5) on the season.
The Bills newest offensive addition, Percy Harvin was a non-factor in this one not touching the ball once. Returning from injury however, LeSean McCoy led this team on the ground once again picking up over 80-yards rushing for a Bills team that ran for over 150-yards in this one. Another Bills who has faced his fair share of injuries, Robert Woods brought in 10 receptions for 162 yards to have a career night. As a team the Bills defense held the Seattle run game in check keeping them with under 40-yards rushing for the night.
