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Rapid Reactions: Seahawks Fall Behind Early & Can't Recover In Week 8 Loss To Bills

Takeaways From The Seahawks’ Week 8 Loss To The Buffalo Bills

Oct 27, 2024 at 04:18 PM

John Boyle

Seahawks.com Senior Reporter

The Seahawks fell behind early in Sunday's game against the Bills, but had chances to get back in it despite the slow start thanks to multiple trips to the red zone. But instead of shifting the momentum, miscues caused the Seahawks to come up mostly empty in those situations, and the Bills capitalized, extending the lead on their way to a convincing 31-10 victory at Lumen Field.

Here are five rapid reactions to Sunday's loss, which dropped Seattle's record to 4-4:

The Seahawks had a hard time slowing Buffalo's offense.

The Seahawks came into the game knowing they were facing a tough challenge in the form of the Josh Allen-led Bills offense, and that unit was as advertised, and then some, getting the job done through the air and on the ground to lead Buffalo to a convincing victory.

The Bills started the day by driving 90 yards on 14 plays for a touchdown their opening possession, then they ended the first half with a 93-yard touchdown drive. Buffalo added three more scores to start the second half, a 69-yard drive that ended in a field goal, a 51-yard touchdown drive following a turnover, and a 73-yard drive for another touchdown, punting only once and committing one turnover before getting conservative late in the game and punting on its final two possessions.

For the game, the Bills gained 445 yards, the second most by a Seahawks opponent this year, had 29 first downs, the most by an opponent this season, went 8 for 14 on third down, and averaged 6.4 yards per play.

In addition to Allen passing for 283 yards and two touchdowns, the Bills also rushed for 164 yards, marking the fifth time this season an opponent has rushed for more than 150 yards against Seattle.

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Seahawks linebacker Ernest Jones IV (13) at the Week 8 matchup against the Buffalo Bills at Lumen Field on Sunday, October 27, 2024.

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Seahawks defensive tackle Byron Murphy II (91) at the Week 8 matchup against the Buffalo Bills at Lumen Field on Sunday, October 27, 2024.

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Seahawks cornerback Riq Woolen (27) at the Week 8 matchup against the Buffalo Bills at Lumen Field on Sunday, October 27, 2024.

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Seahawks cornerback Riq Woolen (27) at the Week 8 matchup against the Buffalo Bills at Lumen Field on Sunday, October 27, 2024.

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Seahawks cornerback Riq Woolen (27) at the Week 8 matchup against the Buffalo Bills at Lumen Field on Sunday, October 27, 2024.

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Seahawks cornerback Riq Woolen (27) at the Week 8 matchup against the Buffalo Bills at Lumen Field on Sunday, October 27, 2024.

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Seahawks running back Kenneth Walker III (9) at the Week 8 matchup against the Buffalo Bills at Lumen Field on Sunday, October 27, 2024.

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Seahawks running back Kenny McIntosh (25) and Seahawks free safety Jerrick Reed II (32) at the Week 8 matchup against the Buffalo Bills at Lumen Field on Sunday, October 27, 2024.

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Seahawks safety Julian Love (20) at the Week 8 matchup against the Buffalo Bills at Lumen Field on Sunday, October 27, 2024.

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Seahawks cornerback Riq Woolen (27) at the Week 8 matchup against the Buffalo Bills at Lumen Field on Sunday, October 27, 2024.

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Seahawks nose tackle Jarran Reed (90) at the Week 8 matchup against the Buffalo Bills at Lumen Field on Sunday, October 27, 2024.

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Seahawks linebacker Tyrel Dodson (0) at the Week 8 matchup against the Buffalo Bills at Lumen Field on Sunday, October 27, 2024.

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Seahawks nose tackle Jarran Reed (90) and Seahawks linebacker Ernest Jones IV (13) at the Week 8 matchup against the Buffalo Bills at Lumen Field on Sunday, October 27, 2024.

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Seahawks linebacker Ernest Jones IV (13) at the Week 8 matchup against the Buffalo Bills at Lumen Field on Sunday, October 27, 2024.

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Seahawks linebacker Tyrel Dodson (0) at the Week 8 matchup against the Buffalo Bills at Lumen Field on Sunday, October 27, 2024.

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Seahawks linebacker Tyrel Dodson (0) at the Week 8 matchup against the Buffalo Bills at Lumen Field on Sunday, October 27, 2024.

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Seahawks players at the Week 8 matchup against the Buffalo Bills at Lumen Field on Sunday, October 27, 2024.

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Seahawks quarterback Geno Smith (7) at the Week 8 matchup against the Buffalo Bills at Lumen Field on Sunday, October 27, 2024.

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Seahawks quarterback Geno Smith (7) and Seahawks wide receiver Laviska Shenault Jr. (1) at the Week 8 matchup against the Buffalo Bills at Lumen Field on Sunday, October 27, 2024.

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Seahawks running back Kenneth Walker III (9) at the Week 8 matchup against the Buffalo Bills at Lumen Field on Sunday, October 27, 2024.

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Seahawks running back Kenneth Walker III (9) at the Week 8 matchup against the Buffalo Bills at Lumen Field on Sunday, October 27, 2024.

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Seahawks quarterback Geno Smith (7) and Seahawks wide receiver Jake Bobo (19) at the Week 8 matchup against the Buffalo Bills at Lumen Field on Sunday, October 27, 2024.

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Seahawks tight end AJ Barner (88) at the Week 8 matchup against the Buffalo Bills at Lumen Field on Sunday, October 27, 2024.

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Seahawks kicker Jason Myers (5) and Seahawks punter Michael Dickson (4) at the Week 8 matchup against the Buffalo Bills at Lumen Field on Sunday, October 27, 2024.

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Seahawks cornerback Josh Jobe (29) at the Week 8 matchup against the Buffalo Bills at Lumen Field on Sunday, October 27, 2024.

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Seahawks cornerback Josh Jobe (29) at the Week 8 matchup against the Buffalo Bills at Lumen Field on Sunday, October 27, 2024.

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Seahawks wide receiver Jaxon Smith-Njigba (11) at the Week 8 matchup against the Buffalo Bills at Lumen Field on Sunday, October 27, 2024.

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Seahawks running back Kenneth Walker III (9) at the Week 8 matchup against the Buffalo Bills at Lumen Field on Sunday, October 27, 2024.

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Seahawks wide receiver Jaxon Smith-Njigba (11) at the Week 8 matchup against the Buffalo Bills at Lumen Field on Sunday, October 27, 2024.

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Seahawks linebacker Boye Mafe (53) at the Week 8 matchup against the Buffalo Bills at Lumen Field on Sunday, October 27, 2024.

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Seahawks running back Zach Charbonnet (26) at the Week 8 matchup against the Buffalo Bills at Lumen Field on Sunday, October 27, 2024.

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Seahawks running back Zach Charbonnet (26) at the Week 8 matchup against the Buffalo Bills at Lumen Field on Sunday, October 27, 2024.

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Seahawks linebacker Boye Mafe (53) and Seahawks cornerback Devon Witherspoon (21) at the Week 8 matchup against the Buffalo Bills at Lumen Field on Sunday, October 27, 2024.

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Seahawks quarterback Geno Smith (7) at the Week 8 matchup against the Buffalo Bills at Lumen Field on Sunday, October 27, 2024.

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Seahawks tackle Michael Jerrell (65) at the Week 8 matchup against the Buffalo Bills at Lumen Field on Sunday, October 27, 2024.

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Seahawks running back Kenneth Walker III (9) at the Week 8 matchup against the Buffalo Bills at Lumen Field on Sunday, October 27, 2024.

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Seahawks cornerback Devon Witherspoon (21) and Seahawks cornerback Josh Jobe (29) at the Week 8 matchup against the Buffalo Bills at Lumen Field on Sunday, October 27, 2024.

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Seahawks wide receiver Laviska Shenault Jr. (1) at the Week 8 matchup against the Buffalo Bills at Lumen Field on Sunday, October 27, 2024.

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Seahawks wide receiver Jaxon Smith-Njigba (11) at the Week 8 matchup against the Buffalo Bills at Lumen Field on Sunday, October 27, 2024.

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Seahawks tight end AJ Barner (88) at the Week 8 matchup against the Buffalo Bills at Lumen Field on Sunday, October 27, 2024.

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Seahawks running back Zach Charbonnet (26) at the Week 8 matchup against the Buffalo Bills at Lumen Field on Sunday, October 27, 2024.

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Seahawks running back Zach Charbonnet (26) at the Week 8 matchup against the Buffalo Bills at Lumen Field on Sunday, October 27, 2024.

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Seahawks cornerback Dee Williams (33) at the Week 8 matchup against the Buffalo Bills at Lumen Field on Sunday, October 27, 2024.

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Seahawks quarterback Geno Smith (7) at the Week 8 matchup against the Buffalo Bills at Lumen Field on Sunday, October 27, 2024.

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Seahawks punter Michael Dickson (4) at the Week 8 matchup against the Buffalo Bills at Lumen Field on Sunday, October 27, 2024.

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Seahawks linebacker Boye Mafe (53) at the Week 8 matchup against the Buffalo Bills at Lumen Field on Sunday, October 27, 2024.

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Red zone miscues were very costly.

After starting the game with two three-and-outs, the Seahawks offense got going early in the second quarter, quicky driving down the field on the strength of Geno Smith completions, but after a 10-yard pass to Jaxon Smith-Njigba set up first-and-goal from the 2-yard line, the next play was a 1-yard loss after Kenneth Walker III lost his footing, and on second-and-goal, center Conor Williams fired a snap well over the head of Geno Smith, resulting in a 19-yard loss. The Seahawks then took a delay-of-game penalty to make it third-and-27, and had to settle for a field goal instead of tying the game with a touchdown.

The next time the Seahawks got deep into the red zone, this time thanks to a Josh Jobe interception and 33-yard return, disaster struck again. This time, with the Seahawks going for it on fourth-and-goal from the 1, Smith was tripped up by Williams while taking the snap, resulting in a 6-yard loss and a turnover on downs.

So despite having first-and-goal inside the 10-yard line twice in the second quarter, the Seahawks managed just a single field goal from those promising opportunities.

Penalties made a bad day even worse.

The Bills were a handful on Sunday regardless of anything the Seahawks might have done to hurt themselves, but on a day where very little went right, the Seahawks also managed to make things a lot worse with 13 penalties for 85 yards.

Whether it was a Boye Mafe sack erased by an illegal contact penalty, or Derick Hall hitting Josh Allen late for a roughing the passer call on third down to extend a drive that ended in a touchdown, or a sequence in the third quarter that saw the Seahawks flagged for holding, a false start, taunting and illegal formation on four straight plays, the Seahawks found plenty of ways to get in their own way while also battling a very good opponent.

Josh Jobe got his first career interception, and the Seahawks ended another streak.

Josh Jobe started at cornerback for the second straight week after being elevated from the practice squad, and after a strong performance in last week's win in Atlanta, Jobe was able to snag his first career interception against the Bills, jumping a slant route to intercept Bills quarterback Josh Allen. Jobe returned the pick 33 yards to the Bills 7-yard line, but the Seahawks were unable to covert in the red zone. It was still a nice moment for Jobe, however, and the play also marked the third time in as many seasons when the Seahawks have ended a long interception-free streak for opposing quarterbacks.

Back in 2022, Tampa Bay's Tom Brady needed just three more pass attempts without an interception to break Aaron Rodgers' record of 402 consecutive passes without a pick, but Cody Barton ended the streak just short of the record with an interception in Munich. Last season, Last season, Detroit's Jared Goff was approaching that same record, with his streak reaching 383 attempts without an interception before Tre Brown intercepted him and returned it 40 yards for a score. Allen, meanwhile, had not thrown an interception this season, and had gone 301 attempts, going back to last season, without throwing one before Jobe picked him off.

Michael Dickson was one of the few bright spots.

While there aren't generally a lot of silver linings in a 21-point loss at home, it's worth highlighting the performance of punter Michael Dickson, who had another great game in a career full of them. Dickson's first two punts were more than 60-yards long, and both pinned Buffalo inside its 20, including a 68-yard punt, and he finished the game averaging 61.3 yards on four punts.