Bills dominate Seahawks, expand big lead in AFC East
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SEATTLE (WROC) — The NFL season isn't even halfway over, but the Buffalo Bills are firmly in the driver's seat to win their fifth-straight AFC East title.
The Bills dominated the Seahawks on Sunday to win 31-10 and improve to 6-2 on the season. With losses by the Dolphins and Jets earlier in the day, the Bills have a four-game lead in the division after just eight weeks in the season.
Josh Allen completed 24 of 34 attempts for 283 yards, throwing two touchdowns and one interception. He also had 25 rushing yards.
Khalil Shakir had nine receptions, the most in a game in his career. He had 107 receiving yards. James Cook carried the ball 17 times for 111 yards and two touchdowns.
The Bills led 14-3 at the half, overcoming miscues and penalties and benefitting by mistakes by Seattle.
After forcing a three-and-out, the Bills capped off a 14-play, 90-yard drive with a 2-yard touchdown pass to Keon Coleman. The rookie wide receiver made an impressive one-handed catch on a fade route, the exclamation point on his most impressive game as a pro.
Coleman finished with five catches for 70 yards and a touchdown and was also a presence in the blocking game. This comes after Coleman had his first 100-yard game of his career last week against the Titans.
Seattle had two golden opportunities to score a touchdown in the first half. Early in the second quarter, they drove into the red zone and had first and goal from the 2-yard line. On second down, a high snap flew over Geno Smith's head for a 19-yard loss. They kicked a field goal to make it 7-3.
On the ensuing possession, Josh Allen threw an interception to Josh Jobe, the first of the season for the Bills quarterback. Jobe returned it to Buffalo's 4-yard line, but Seattle turned the ball over on downs. On fourth down, Smith tripped over his lineman's feet for an aborted play.
The Bills then marched down the field to score a touchdown before halftime, benefitting from a careless roughing the passer penalty on Seattle that extended the drive. Allen threw his second touchdown of the first half, extending the play and finding Dalton Kincaid for a 12-yard score.
Playing without starting middle linebacker and captain Terrel Bernard, the Bills held Seattle running back Kenneth Walker to just 12 yards on 9 carries.
Geno Smith had an efficient day completing 21 of 29 attempts, but only had 212 yards, no touchdowns, and an interception. With receiver DK Metcalf out with an injury, Jaxon Smith-Njigba led the Seahawks with 69 receiving yards.
The Bills scored on their first three drives of the second half, building a 31-3 lead to put the game away. James Cook had two touchdowns in the second half. The Bills' first touchdown of the second half was set up by the first career interception by defensive tackle Austin Johnson.
Zach Charbonnet had a one-yard rushing touchdown in garbage time for Seattle's only touchdown.
The Bills will return home next week to host the Miami Dolphins, who lost to the Cardinals on a game-winning field goal at the buzzer. The Bills beat the Dolphins 31-10 in Miami in Week 2.