3 storylines heading into Seahawks versus Bills Week 8 matchup
By Luke Allen
Will Seattle's second-half run defense continue into Sunday against Buffalo?
In the first half of Sunday's win against Atlanta, Seattle was back to their old ways - getting gashed on the ground. Atlanta's Bijan Robinson was dicing Seattle's front seven, running through open gaps, bouncing off pathetic tackle attempts, and making a lot out of what should've been nothing. However, even after allowing the Atlanta rushing attack to rack up over 120 yards in the first half, Seattle ended the game on a strong note.
In the second half, the Atlanta offense only mustered 22 rushing yards on 11 rush attempts. Perhaps this was because the Falcons stopped trying to run as they trailed for the entirety of the second half, but there's more to it. Seattle's defensive line simply started fitting the run -- and finishing tackles. Dre'mont Jones, Byron Murphy II, and newly-acquired DT Roy Robertson-Harris led the charge in the second-half run defense, only allowing two yards per carry in the final 30 minutes of the game.
The Bills, who do have an explosive and high-powered passing attack, aren't exactly an efficient running team. While RB James Cook is a formidable runner and receiver out of the backfield, Buffalo has yet to have a player cross the 100-yard threshold for rushing yards in a single game this season. Although, rookie fourth-round running back out of Kentucky, Ray Davis, will figure to have a bulk of the carries following his efficient and explosive performances over the past two weeks.
Seattle will have zero chance on Sunday if they can't contain the run. Running the ball isn't even a strength of the Buffalo offense, so if the Seahawks defense is allowing chunk plays on the ground consistently, the Bills will light up the scoreboard. The key to Sunday's game is to stifle the run game, as they're supposed to, and simply try to contain Josh Allen and this Buffalo air raid attack.
Seahawks' newly-acquired linebacker Ernest Jones IV should be ready to go on Sunday for his second straight game against Buffalo. The thumping linebacker is stout against the run and should provide a spark at the linebacker position that Seattle has been missing in the first half of the season. Having played versus Buffalo last weekend as a member of the Tennessee Titans, Jones should have a pretty decent scouting report already memorized.