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Bills vs. Seahawks Preview: Is Buffalo a Super Bowl Contender?

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The Buffalo Bills (5-2) are set for a long trip to the Pacific Northwest as they attempt to stretch their winning streak to three when they face the Seattle Seahawks (4-3) on Sunday.

Buffalo is coming off its most promising performance in weeks against the Tennessee Titans. Josh Allen threw for 323 yards and two touchdowns to vault himself back into the MVP conversation as the arrival of wide receiver Amari Cooper paid immediate dividends.

Meanwhile, Seattle just ended a three-game skid with a dominant road win over the Atlanta Falcons. The losing streak included a rare set of back-to-back losses at Lumen Field, so the ‘Hawks will be eager to re-establish their typically strong home-field advantage this weekend.

The Bills and Seahawks are scheduled for a 4:05 p.m. ET kickoff Sunday on FOX.

Bills-Seahawks Game Preview and Score Prediction (Week 8)

X-Factors

Bills: DE Greg Rousseau

Rousseau looked primed for a breakout season after recording three sacks in Buffalo’s season-opening win over the Arizona Cardinals. He proceeded to go five straight games without a quarterback takedown before recording a half-sack against the Titans.

The 24-year-old Florida native’s underlying numbers are solid—he ranks 15th in the NFL in ESPN’s edge pass-rush win rate—but the Bills need more consistency. That’s especially true while fellow edge-rusher Von Miller serves the rest of his four-game suspension. Miller is eligible for reinstatement after Sunday’s contest.

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Rousseau should have an opportunity for a high-impact outing in Week 8. Seahawks quarterback Geno Smith has been sacked 20 times, which is tied for the league’s third-highest total, and he’s been sacked at least once in every game so far this season.

The Bills have other players who can rush the passer, led by AJ Epenesa (four sacks this season), but Rousseau is the game-changer. He can completely take over a game, like he did in Week 1, and that makes life a lot easier on the rest of Buffalo’s defense.

The 2021 first-round pick should get back on track with a sack or two on Sunday.

Seahawks: TE Noah Fant

Fant is quietly putting together a strong season for Seattle. He’s recorded 24 catches for 263 yards through seven games. He only tallied 32 receptions in 17 appearances last season. The only thing missing from his résumé is a touchdown catch.

The 26-year-old University of Iowa product should have a golden opportunity to find the end zone against a banged-up Bills linebacker group. Matt Milano is sidelined until at least December with a bicep injury. Terrel Bernard (ankle/pectoral) and Dorian Williams (knee) both left last week’s game because of injuries and could be hindered if available against Seattle.

Buffalo has already struggled to slow down opposing tight ends this season, but Fant becomes a matchup nightmare if he gets a lot of snaps against reserves Baylon Spector and Joe Andreessen. The veteran tight end is already riding an impressive streak of 21 straight targets that turned into a catch.

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The Seahawks may also have some extra targets up for grabs following an injury to DK Metcalf. The star wideout suffered a Grade 1 MCL sprain and is considered week-to-week, per ESPN’s Adam Schefter. Head coach Mike Macdonald hasn’t ruled him out against the Bills, though. If he doesn’t play, that’s around nine targets that have to go elsewhere.

Fant’s numbers have been somewhat limited because of Seattle’s terrific WR corps. His impact could skyrocket with even a modest uptick in usage, and the Buffalo defense is a perfect chance to see that become reality.

Key Matchup

Bills WR Khalil Shakir vs. Seahawks CB Devon Witherspoon

Buffalo opened the season with an “everybody eats” mentality in its passing game. It worked quite well during the team’s 3-0 start. The offense started to stall out, however, and it showcased the need for a No. 1 target. In turn, it wasn’t a surprise Cooper’s arrival provided an immediate boost.

The Bills’ top three receivers posted these stat lines against Tennessee:

So, the ball is still being spread around, but the production is much higher across the board. While Buffalo’s James Cook-led running game has been effective, the aerial attack is still the most important factor if the team is going to emerge as a top-tier contender.

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Although the Bills are going to move their receivers around the formation, the best structure will probably be Cooper and Coleman on the outside with Shakir in the slot. If that’s the case Sunday, Shakir will match up frequently with Witherspoon.

Likewise, the Seahawks cornerback is capable of playing any corner spot, but shines as the nickel. The fifth overall pick in the 2023 draft’s performance in that role last year allowed him to earn a Pro Bowl selection as a rookie. He also finished fourth in Defensive Rookie of the Year voting.

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Shakir has typically been Allen’s go-to guy in key situations. So, while Cooper may get the most looks, keeping Shakir in check on third down is essential. Witherspoon is one of the handful of slot corners in the league capable of making that happen.

It’ll be the best battle on the field Sunday afternoon.

Final Score Prediction: 27-24 Bills

The Bills are still on the proving ground. Are they legitimate Super Bowl contenders? A step below the likes of the Kansas City Chiefs and Baltimore Ravens in the AFC? A fringe playoff team taking advantage of a weaker-than-expected division? The jury is still out.

Going to Seattle and beating a good Seahawks team in one of the league’s toughest road environments would be a strong statement. I’d also be a sign the offense is trending heavily in the right direction if the unit can approach or exceed 30 points.

Similarly, the Seahawks looked like potential world-beaters during their 3-0 start. While they couldn’t maintain that early momentum, they were competitive in every game. They’re still in the mix in an NFC that’s still wide open behind the Detroit Lions.

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The most important player on the field not already mentioned is the obvious one: Seattle running back Kenneth Walker III. The third-year rusher has racked up seven total touchdowns (six rushing and one receiving) in five appearances this season. Now he gets to face a Bills defense that ranks 29th in rushing yards allowed per attempt (5.1).

Bottom line: it’s a game that’ll come down to tempo. If Seattle can control the pace with Walker and limit Buffalo’s opportunities to get after Smith with Rousseau and Co., it should be in good shape. The closer the game moves to a shootout, however, the more it’ll favor the Bills.

All told, it’s a toss-up matchup that should go down to the wire. Perhaps resurgent kicker Tyler Bass can be the difference for Buffalo with a late-game-winning field goal.

Main Photo: Gregory Fisher-Imagn Images

The post Bills vs. Seahawks Preview: Is Buffalo a Super Bowl Contender? appeared first on Last Word on Pro Football.