If Seattle’s 31-25 win over the Buffalo Bills on Monday night was your initial glimpse at the Seahawks, your perception of the New England Patriots’ Week 10 opponent might be skewed.
This is a team that’s supposed to give the Patriots trouble, and they almost lost at home to the Bills?
The Seahawks entered the game with the NFL’s sixth-ranked defense and were gashed by the Bills despite the win. The Seahawks let up 425 yards to their own 278, and despite a raucous crowd and depleted Bills offense, were lucky to walk out alive.
The Seahawks came into Week 9 ranked fourth in yards per rush and seventh in rush yards per game but let up 162 yards on 38 carries with two touchdowns to the Bills. They dropped below the Patriots in points allowed per game after coming into the game ranked atop the NFL.
Poor officiating near the end the first half cost the Bills a field goal, and Buffalo was in the red zone to end the game. The Seahawks were fortunate the game didn’t at least go into overtime.
The Seahawks, who widely are considered the second- or third-best team in the NFL, can’t play as they did against the Bills and hope to contend with the Patriots, who are coming off a bye, on a short week while traveling 3,000 miles across the country.
They’re better than they showed in the national spotlight but still contain potentially fatal flaws.
Seahawks quarterback Russell Wilson looked healthier, completing 20 of 26 passes for 282 yards with two touchdowns, but still not up to full speed as he rushed just three times for 10 yards. Tight end Jimmy Graham is a legitimate red-zone threat, catching two touchdowns in an eight-catch, 103-yard performance.
But the Seahawks’ rushing attack has slowed to a crawl, as starting running back Christine Michael managed just 1 yard on five carries while backup C.J. Prosise ran for 9 yards on three carries. Wide receiver Tyler Lockett led the team in rushing yards on a 13-yard end around.
The Seahawks could get running back Thomas Rawls back against the Patriots, but with their anemic offensive line, which also allowed four sacks to the Bills’ defense, one has to wonder if it matters.
Perhaps fortunately — and unfortunately — for the Seahawks, the Patriots are not the Bills. The Patriots don’t have a running back on their 53-man roster who can run like LeSean McCoy, and Tom Brady won’t be taking off and scrambling eight times for 43 yards and a score as Bills QB Tyrod Taylor did. The Patriots’ pass rush also hasn’t shown the ability to get after the quarterback like the Bills’ front seven.
On the other hand, if the Seahawks’ pass defense allowed Taylor to go 27 of 38 for 289 yards with a banged-up receiving corps, what can they expect against Brady and full set of weapons? And despite some big names in Buffalo’s secondary, the Patriots’ pass defense has allowed less success through the air this season despite the lack of pressure. The Patriots also could elect to activate running back Dion Lewis, which could open up a whole new set of problems for Seattle’s defense.
Seahawks fans would have been smart to chalk up Week 10 as a loss coming into the season. They’re traveling across the country to play a well-rested Patriots team after playing on a Monday night as 9.5-point underdogs. The Seahawks were fortunate to come out of Week 9 with a 5-2-1 record. That two is likely turning into a three after Sunday night. The real battle could come if these two teams play in February on a neutral field at NRG Stadium.
Thumbnail photo via Kirby Lee/USA TODAY Sports Images
