The Hawks open the regular season in Buffalo, and will have to make up for more than the loss of our “12th Man”. The suspensions to Rocky Bernard and Jordan Babineaux for conduct detrimental to the league, combined with injuries to Bobby Engram, Deion Branch, Ben Obamnu and the fact the fact Patrick Kerney and Lofa Tatupu are hurting have to be giving the upstart Buffalo Bills confidence going into Sunday’s game.
Opponent Overview
The Bills have a much improved defense adding Marcus Stroud and Kawika Mitchell, and are finally healthy, having Paul Poluszny and Ko Simpson back from injury will help their overall defense especially against the run. The Bills will have to prove better against the pass if they hope to realize their playoff goals. Last season they finished 29th in the league against the pass and although they finished 12th after the pre-season expect teams to try to exploit them here as both starting corners: Jabari Greer, Terrence Mcgee, from that 29th ranked defense return this season as starters. The Bills offense is a question mark, we know they can run the ball led by Marshawn Lynch and late season practice roster breakout Fred Jackson, the Bills will likely average 100 plus yards a game placing them near the upper echelon teams in terms of running the ball. But can they pass with any consistency? they unveiled a new offense this pre-season that promised to throw down field more often but still finished the pre-season 30th in passing yards.
Keys To Victory
OFFENSE
1. The Hawks will have run the ball effectively to set up play action, to often last year we became one dimensional and threw every down, it did win games but week 1 we are missing 3 of our top 4 recievers in Deion Branch, Bobby Engram and Ben Obmanu.
2. Protect the Ball, the Bills defense created a lot of turnovers in pre-season, if we turn it over it will give them confidence, and their offense points. That said at times in the secondary this aggressiveness can be used against them.
3. Receivers, all but Nate Burleson would not have seen much playing time in this game if not for injuries, Logan Payne and Jordan Kent will have to step up for the Hawks to win, I’d like to see them both get involved early.
DEFENSE
1. Stop the Run, without the huge presence of Rocky Bernard at defensive tackle to keep blockers off of Lofa Tatupu the linebackers are going to have to be extra good to keep Marshawn Lynch under the century mark rushing.
2. Pressure Trent Edwards, the Bills quarterback did not see a lot of pre-season game action, pressure combined with inexperience and a little rust should equal turnovers.
Key Matchups
Marshawn Lynch vs Lofa Tatupu: The man to pace the Bills offense against the man charged to stop him, if the Bills Rush for more than 115 yards they will win this game.
Langston Walker Vs Lawrence Jackson and Julian Peterson: Left Tackle Langston Walker, is replacing Pro-Bowl holdout Jason Peters. Langston is very strong but nowhere nears as mobile, speed rushes by rookie defensive end Lawrence Jackson, and linebacker Julian Peterson will trouble him but the Bills can not afford to double here as Patrick Kerney is on the other side.
Julius Jones vs Himself: Julius comes on as the Hawks apparent starter and with injuries on the passing game needs to be effective for the Hawks to win, he has had a very public chip on his shoulder about losing the job just before the playoffs with the Cowboys last season; now it’s put up or shut up time.
Matt Hasselback vs The Bills secondary, Matt will look to expose the Bills weakness, the Bills are young and aggressive and Matt is calm and collected, Hawks win it Matt goes over 250 passing yards with completions to 5 different recievers.
The Line
Right now Vegas likes the Bills, the spread is close at the Bills plus a point, with the Bills favored to outright win slightly at -110, and the over/under at 39.5
Myself I see the Hawks taking this one in a close game 21-17 the Hawks win, Bills don’t cover the spread and the game stays under.
The Long and Short of it
The Bills defense is improved but not enough to handle the pre-season’s top ranked offense the Hawks will be able to sustain drives and the experience of Matt Hasselback will be the difference. Matt will be able to convert on those 3 down and 6-9 yard plays against the Bills suspect secondary. The Bills will be able to run the ball on us and may break the century mark but our defense will bend and not break those same 3 and longish plays will prove to much for the Bills young QB.
In short this game is won on third downs, Third down conversion percentage will be the key stat which ever team wins there, wins Sunday.
For more on our week one match up visit www.sportstalkbuzz.com Bills blogger: Tim Anderson
Please check back with Hawk Talk after the game, for all your Seahawk news and analysis until then this Hawk Talk.
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Last post (s) by Terry Shilton
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Tags: Buffalo Bills, preview, Seattle Seahawks, Week one
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13 Responses to “Hawk Talk: Week 1 Preview - The Buffalo Bills”
Posted: 09/01/08 at 4:22 pm
I’m not really sure, this is one of the most difficult games in the first week to predict.
I think the Hawks probably will take it, but I certainly wouldn’t want to wager any money on it.
Posted: 09/01/08 at 4:35 pm
Very nice piece Terry! Seahawks and Cards should battle it out for the division crown in the NFC West. What a great first week match-up though, not much seperates the two teams.
Posted: 09/01/08 at 7:12 pm
[...] game. However, if you have a severe itch you need to scratch now, check out Seattle blogger Terry Shilton’s preview. In the [...]
Posted: 09/01/08 at 8:23 pm
I agree Buffalo is no doubt better than people give them credit for, and have improved on defense a lot since last season the real question mark is at QB, I believe Trent Edwards will be the eventual answer for them just not in week one.
Posted: 09/01/08 at 8:28 pm
Interesting match-up indeed Buffalo can run Seattle is a very good run stoppage team. We have a great passing offense the Bills have question marks at secondary.
To me it’s to close to call between their offense and our D so it holds, while our strength on offense is their weakness on D that’s the difference.
Kevin I know you have ties to Zona but I don’t see the Cards as ready, Kurt Warner is not the decision maker he was and the team has one diva reciever to deal with.
Posted: 09/01/08 at 10:11 pm
Solid OL in Zona and a Breaston and Urban will be nice 3rd and 4th receivers, with Doucet out of LSU being the 5th guy. I like this offense as the OL will give Warner the time needed to throw. Although I dont see Warner getting past week 6, I just see Leinhart getting his chance once again.
The Cards have possibly their best defense in years too!
Posted: 09/02/08 at 5:30 am
I agree that it will come down to 3rd down conversions, something Buffalo was awful at last year, both offensively and defensively. I agree that if I had to bet, I would be going with Seattle (as much as that pains me to say), but if Buffalo can slow down the running game, the Seattle passing game will be forced to make plays without their money guys. I like a close, low scoring affair as well. Nice blog!
Good luck!
Posted: 09/02/08 at 9:03 am
Thanks Tim, I feel like the Bills need a turnover or a big play in the passing game early to win this game if they get it, the lift they get from that should push them past the Hawks…
Posted: 09/02/08 at 10:38 am
I got Julius Jones and Branch but will only play Jones this week, Hope he has a steller game !
Posted: 09/02/08 at 10:57 am
Going into Sunday He feel’s he has something to prove which maybe a good thing for your fanatasy team.
Posted: 09/02/08 at 1:13 pm
Quick update here is the Hawks practice team roster as of today, Seahawks (one vacancy): S Jamar Adams, CB Marquis Floyd, DT Kevin Brown, WR Michael Bumpus, TE Joe Newton, G Pat Murray, T Kyle Williams.
Posted: 09/03/08 at 3:58 am
I can agree with that. If they get the big play, it will come from the special teams.
Posted: 09/07/08 at 10:59 pm
[...] from my preview [...]