It’s a good thing the Seattle Seahawks defense is as good as it’s ever been, because their overwhelming success at shutting down opponents is hiding the fact the offense simply cannot produce. Seattle scored one offensive touchdown against one of the NFL’s worst defensive units on Sunday and the D couldn’t make up the difference in a loss to New Orleans. That effort came on the heels of a two-field goal tie the previous week. The offense will get a chance to familiarize itself with the end zone when the Buffalo Bills visit the Link in Week 9 Monday night action.
This contest in Week 9 of the regular season will go down Monday, November 7, 2016, at 8:30 p.m. ET at CenturyLink Field.
NFL Odds at BookMaker.eu
Buffalo Bills +6.5
Seattle Seahawks -6.5
Over/Under 43.5
Odds Analysis
Spread wagering is fairly even but under bettors are flocking to this one at nearly 75 percent. The total opened at 44 and was quickly wagered down a half point. I wouldn’t be surprised to see the total drop even more before kickoff with a pair of struggling offenses. If the game does end up being low-scoring, taking the 6.5-points looks like the right play.
Injury Report
Lorenzo Alexander – The NFL leader in sacks went down with a leg injury Sunday and didn’t return. His loss would affect the Bills ability to get after Russell Wilson, who has been limited this season due to injuries.
LeSean McCoy – The Bills are also without several offensive play makers, including leading rusher McCoy, who is nursing a hamstring injury. The offense stalled Sunday in his absence, but it also didn’t help that Buffalo was missing its top receivers and lost Marquise Goodwin and Brandon Tate to concussions.
Key Stat
The Bills didn’t do much right in their loss to the Patriots on Sunday, but they did get after Tom Brady with the relentless style that has become a trademark of Rex Ryan and his defenses. Several defenders criticized Ryan’s scheme’s last season when the Bills managed just 21 sacks total for the year. Apparently the coach listened. Five different players recorded a sack of Brady and the Bills upped their total to a league-high 26 for the season, five more than they had all last season.
And the Bills were able to get after Brady without NFL sack leader Lorenzo Alexander chipping in. Alexander has 9.0 sacks and left the game with a hamstring injury. His loss was buffered by the play of Marcel Dareus, who logged a sack in his first game of the season, and Shaq Lawson, who got his first sack playing in his second game of the year. A gimpy Russell Wilson could be in for a long afternoon if the Bills continue to pressure the quarterback like they’ve been doing.
Free ATS Pick
Ryan conceded the AFC East after his Bills got torched by the Patriots and the road to that elusive playoff appearance is seemingly getting longer every week. The Bills will play Seattle because the schedule says they have to, but it won’t be with a full roster. Buffalo’s offense is depleted with McCoy and a host of receivers all on the shelf and going against Seattle’s defense with a pop gun isn’t going to be easy. In fact it’ll be downright impossible.
The Seahawks have problems of their own on offense which will likely keep this game closer than it should be. Russell Wilson hasn’t thrown or rushed for a touchdown in three straight games and the offense hasn’t done much of anything despite the team going 1-1-1 in that span. Seattle scored just one offensive touchdown against the Saints, who were giving up over 30 points per game coming in. Pete Carroll has no confidence in the run game and Wilson seems bothered by the injuries sustained earlier in the year. On the bright side, the Seahawks were one play away from escaping New Orleans with a victory even though they tried to give it away long before. A return home should get them back in the win column, but Seattle is in no shape to cover a 6.5-point spread.
NFL Odds: Seahawks 20, Bills 16
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