Seattle (6-1) at Buffalo (6-2)
When: Sunday, November 8th, 2020
Where: Bills Stadium,
Orchard Park, NY
Time: 1:00 ET | TV: FOX
Opening Odds: Seattle -1/55
Two division leaders square off on Sunday afternoon in Orchard Park, New York as the Buffalo Bills host the Seattle Seahawks on FOX. The Bills finally solved the New England Patriots with a 24-21 victory last weekend to maintain their 1.5-game lead over the Miami Dolphins in the AFC East. The win was sealed after backup defensive lineman Justin Zimmer forced Patriots quarterback Cam Newton to fumble at the Bills’ 13-yard line with 31 seconds remaining. Buffalo rushed for a season-high 190 yards, with Devin Singletary and rookie Zack Moss combining for 165 yards and two touchdowns. The Bills had been averaging 97 yards on the ground coming into last week. Buffalo ended a seven-game losing streak against the Patriots and beat them at home for the first time since 2011. The Seahawks received a much more spirited effort from their defense on Sunday, allowing just 117 yards and one score through three quarters of last weekend’s 37-27 victory against visiting San Francisco. The 49ers then put together some garbage drives late after the Seahawks had built a 23-point lead. Linebacker Bobby Wagner had 11 tackles, two sacks, four quarterback hits and three tackles for loss to earn NFC Defensive Player of the Week honors. All-Pro Safety Jamal Adams is expected to return Sunday after missing four games with a groin injury. Two-time Pro Bowl defensive end Carlos Dunlap will make his Seahawks debut after being acquired in a trade last week with Cincinnati.
The over is 4-0 in the Seahawks last four games against teams with a winning record and 6-1 in their last seven games in November. Seattle is 6-0-1 ATS in their past seven games in November and 7-1 ATS in their last eight games on the road against a team with a winning home record. The under is trending lately for Buffalo with the total not surpassing the posted number in each of their last four as a home dog. Buffalo is also hot in the month of November, going 6-1-1 ATS in their last eight games in this month. The teams last played almost four years ago to the day when Seattle won a 31-25 shootout in Buffalo.
Quarterback Russell Wilson is the MVP front runner after eight weeks and threw for 261 yards to go with four touchdowns and zero interceptions versus San Francisco. Most of that went to wide receiver DK Metcalf, who had 12 receptions for 161 yards and two touchdowns. Seattle currently has the third-ranked offense in the NFL this season but the downside has been their defense. Help is on the way as we mentioned above the unit that ranks 32nd overall – yes, even worse than the Dallas Cowboys. The Seahawks will look to run against Buffalo’s defense that is allowing 134.5 rushing yards per game – 26th in the NFL. Rookie running back DeeJay Dallas was forced into action because of injuries to Chris Carson (mid-foot sprain) and Carlos Hyde (hamstring) and scored two touchdowns. Carson and Hyde remain questionable for Sunday.
Josh Allen was looking like an MVP at the beginning of the season, but has regressed a bit. He threw for 154 yards with no touchdowns and one interception last week. Allen might be able to stretch the field with John Brown and Stefon Diggs against a Seattle defense that has given up seven 40+ yards plays this season – tied for most in the league. The defense is ranked 16th overall and 11th against the pass (223.6). Bills center Mitch Morse was knocked out against the Patriots and remains in the concussion protocol. Brown (knee), defensive end Jerry Hughes (foot) and cornerback Josh Norman (hamstring) have also missed practice time this week. Buffalo will be at Arizona next weekend before having their bye week.
I don’t really buy into this West Coast vs. East Coast thing anymore. Just look what Green Bay did to San Francisco on Thursday night. Seattle has already won two games on the East Coast and should have no problem containing Allen, who has looked bad the last several weeks. The Bills have won two in a row, but it was against the Jets and Patriots, two teams that will be missing the playoffs this year. Seahawks win big here.
Pick: Seahawks -3
Week 9 Staff Selections
