Not perfect, but Bills get a decisive away win in Seattle

SEATTLE – In the second quarter of the Buffalo Bills' Week 8 game against the Seattle Seahawks, there was potential for quarterback Josh Allen's first interception of the season to give the home team its first lead of the game.

Seahawks cornerback Josh Jobe, who was called up from the practice squad for the game, got his first career interception when Bills wide receiver Amari Cooper slipped on the wet turf. Jobe returned the ball to Buffalo's 7-yard line, where Allen ran back to make the tackle.

The Bills defense then stopped the fourth-and-goal from the 1-yard line, keeping the score at 7-3 Buffalo.

“I think that was the biggest drive,” Bills cornerback Rasul Douglas said. “…We walked on the field and said, 'Offense, we got all of you,' and we thought, 'Brother, if anything, they get three (points). You already have three. So we keep I think when that happened all the momentum was just gone and from there we just took the energy out.”

The Bills' offense responded to the attempt with a 12-play, 93-yard touchdown drive that resulted in a 14-3 halftime lead. From there, the Bills took care of business, earning a commanding 31-10 victory to improve to 5-2. It was the Bills' fourth 20-point win of the season and the first in franchise history in eight games – while also handing the Seahawks the team's worst home loss since 2017.

This victory is a stepping stone for what lies ahead. The Bills now have a four-game lead in the AFC East before hosting the Miami Dolphins next Sunday (1 p.m. ET, CBS). The Bills' win over Seattle showed what this team is capable of – when it takes an early lead – and how it is improving in areas that were causing the Bills problems before this win, with the lines on both sides leading the way.

Allen didn't have a perfect game – he fumbled the ball twice but didn't lose it and was able to intercept it – but he led the offense the way he needed to, converting crucial third downs (8 of 15) and going 4-of-1 -6 in the red zone.

Amari Cooper finished his second game with the team with just three receiving yards, his fewest in a game since 2019. Cooper was on the field for 35 snaps, an increase from last week (19), with receiver Mack Hollins playing fewer (33) . While Cooper's numbers didn't skyrocket, the rest of the receiving core kept the offense going. The healthier Khalil Shakir posted his first 100-yard receiving game of the season, while rookie Keon Coleman's continued growth was evident with five catches for 70 yards, including a pair of impressive grabs.

“Our staff got (Coleman) going. They know what he does,” Allen said. “If he knows what he's doing when he's running, he's a damn good football player. He continues to play for us. And that's what you like to see in the young man. And he’s only getting better.”

The Bills used pre-snap motion (75%) on 52 of their 69 plays on Sunday, slightly more than their season average of 67%, to aid the rushing attack, and gained 135 yards on 22 attempts using motion. The team is now averaging 68% of plays with pre-snap motion, up from 50% last year.

“I wouldn’t say we’re overly complicated in what we do,” Allen said. “I know we have some requests and changes but again people need to learn and understand it, but when you go out and act at a high level everyone knows their place and once you do that you have a dangerous team .”

On the other side of the ball, the defense did its job even without starting midfielder Terrel Bernard. The defense limited the Seahawks to their longest play of just 20 yards. It's the first time since 2017 that the Seahawks couldn't play for more than 20 yards. The unit also limited Seattle's rushing attack to just 32 yards.

“We knew they were going to challenge the line of scrimmage and they did, early on,” McDermott said. “And we were able to tone it down a little bit there, which helps make them more one-dimensional. We’re also collecting points and you’re more likely to get into a drop-back game like we did.”

There were ugly moments on a slippery field and missed and missed opportunities. Seattle and Buffalo conceded the most penalties in an NFL game this season (24, including 13 against Buffalo – the team's most penalties in a game since 2018).

This crucial road win boosts the Bills' confidence as they face teams with winning records on the road – a quality they need heading into the second half of the season.

“It feels good that we dominated,” Douglas said.