Jimmy Graham’s 2 TDs helps Seahawks beat Bills 31-25
Nov 7, 2016, 9:03 PM | Updated: 9:44 pm
Jimmy Graham made a pair of one-handed touchdown catches in Seattle's 31-25 win over Buffalo. (AP)
(AP)
For two weeks, Seattle’s offense seemed in danger of sinking the Seahawks season. On Monday night against Buffalo, that offense is what kept Seattle afloat.
Seattle’s defense? Well, it did enough. Just. Barely. Enough.
Buffalo had four plays from inside the Seattle 20 in the final 1:09, but a 3-yard run by LeSean McCoy, two sacks and one final incomplete pass let Seattle escape with a victory. Barely.
Seattle 31, Buffalo 25, and there’s going to be plenty of complaining after this one from the goofy sequence that occurred at the end of the first half, undermining a Buffalo field-goal attempt, to the fact that Seattle won despite having just 41 yards of total offense in the second half.
Four first-half touchdowns turned out to be all Seattle needed. Two of them were the result of one-handed catches by tight end Jimmy Graham as the Seahawks won a game for just a second time in the Russell Wilson-era when the opponent scored 25 or more points.
FIRST QUARTER
The Bills began the game with the quickest scoring drive the Seahawks have given up this year. After blocking Jon Ryan’s punt, Buffalo took over at the Seattle 3 and the Bills scored on a 3-yard keeper from quarterback Tyrod Taylor. One play, 4 seconds and Buffalo led 7-0. The next time the Bills scored, it was the longest possession against Seattle this season both in terms of plays (17) and time of possession (10:00). The Bills scored on a 5-yard pass to Justin Hunter on third-and-goal, the fifth third down the Bills converted on the drive.
Sandwiched in between those pair of Buffalo scores: Seattle’s touchdown, which was keyed by a 50-yard pass to Doug Baldwin. It was Seattle’s third-longest play from scrimmage this season. Quarterback Russell Wilson scored on a 3-yard touchdown
Buf – Tyrod Taylor 3 run (Dan Carpenter kick) at 13:32 (Drive: 1 play, 3 yards, 0:04). Score: Buffalo 7, Seattle 0.
Sea – Russell Wilson 3 run (Steven Hauschka kick) at 12:21 (Drive: 3 plays, 58 yards, 1:11). Score: Buffalo 7, Seattle 7.
Buf – Justin Hunter 5 pass from Taylor (Dan Carpenter kick) at 2:21 (Drive: 17 plays, 75 yards, 10:00). Score: Buffalo 14, Seattle 7.
SECOND QUARTER
Seattle rushed for 19 yards in the first half, 13 of those coming from receiver Tyler Lockett on a fly sweep. The Seahawks held the ball for only 10:17 in the first half and none of their four touchdown drives consumed more than 2:30.
Welcome to the Seahawks’ 2016 offense, and Monday was a marked improvement in that department. Seattle’s offense had scored 19 points in the previous two games, reaching the end zone just once in what amounted to nine quarters of play between the overtime tie in Arizona and the Week 8 loss in New Orleans.
Seattle scored four touchdowns in the span of five possessions, two resulting from one-handed catches by Jimmy Graham. That ended Wilson’s streak of three consecutive regular-season games without a touchdown pass, the longest drought in his career.
Sea – Jimmy Graham 17 pass from Wilson (Hauschka kick) at 14:54 (Drive: 5 plays, 65 yards, 2:27). Score: Buffalo 14, Seattle 14.
Buf – Carpenter 31 field goal at 9:32 (Drive: 12 plays, 62 yards, 5:22). Score: Buffalo 17, Seattle 14.
Sea – Christine Michael 3 run at 4:29 (Hauschka kick) at 4:29 (Drive: 3 plays, 40 yards, 1:42). Score: Seattle 21, Buffalo 17.
Sea – Graham 18 pass from Wilson (Hauschka kick) at 1:00 (Drive: 6 plays, 68 yards, 1:19). Score: Seattle 28, Buffalo 17.
THIRD QUARTER
No scoring despite the fact that Seattle was outgained 136 yards to 18 by Buffalo. The closest the Bills came to scoring was the Seattle 27 only to have a receiver miscommunication unplug the whole thing. Richard Sherman intercepted a pass in the end zone, returned it out of the end zone and then stared at Bills coach Rex Ryan.
FOURTH QUARTER
The Bills final possession came up 10 yards short. Well, actually it was 15 by the time the Bills got to their final play. After having first-and-goal at the Seattle 10 with 1:09 to play, the Bills were facing fourth-and-goal from the 15 after Cliff Avril’s third-down sack, which might have been the play of the game for Seattle. Taylor’s final pass was intended for Robert Woods, but fell incomplete.
Buf – Mike Gillislee 1 run (Taylor run) at 14:26 (Drive: 13 plays, 82 yards, 6:49). Score: Seattle 28, Buffalo 25.
Sea – Hauschka 49 field goal at 9:49 (Drive: 8 plays, 44 yards, 4:37). Score: Seattle 31, Buffalo 25.
