Tag: Lumen Field

3 keys to a Bills victory vs. the Seahawks in Week 8

3 keys to a Bills victory vs. the Seahawks in Week 8

The Buffalo Bills will play the Seattle Seahawks on the road in Week 8 at Lumen Field.

The Bills (5-2) are looking to build on a dominant second half in last week’s blowout win over the Tennessee Titans. The Seahawks (4-3) are coming off of a blowout win of their own as they beat the Atlanta Falcons by 20.

It’s a close matchup between two good football teams and Las Vegas agrees. The Bills are favored by a field goal on the road. They’ll need to execute their game plan to gain their sixth win of the year.

Here are three keys to a Bills win in Week 8:

Balanced offensive attack

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The Bills’ passing game finally got on track during the second half of last week’s win. Allen had his first 300-yard passing game since Week 18 of last year. But, Seattle has been giving up chunks on the ground.

They allow 146 rushing yards per game, which ranks fourth-worst in the NFL. This is the type of defense that you must keep guessing and the Bills should get their stable of running backs going.

Control the line of scrimmage on offense

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Perhaps the best matchup to watch will be the Bills’ offensive line against Seattle’s defensive line. The Bills’ O-line ranks seventh in the NFL according to Pro Football Focus, but they will have their hands full.

The Seahawks have talent and depth across the line. They rank 13th in the NFL per PFF. Last week they sacked Kirk Cousins three times and hit him nine times as he threw two interceptions. They are capable of getting after the quarterback and making a difference. If the Bills minimize what the Seahawks can do up front, then it will open up a lot for the offense.

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The Seahawks love to air it out on offense. They have the most passing yards in the league and they’ve attempted the most passes, too. Quarterback Geno Smith has attempted the most passes of 10-plus yards downfield among all QBs. The Bills will be tested in coverage.

Safeties Taylor Rapp and Damar Hamlin have a lot on their plate. If they can make a few plays on the ball and limit the deep passing, then it will bode well for the Bills in this one. What makes things difficult for the Bills is that linebacker Terrel Bernard won’t be there in the middle of the field.

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Slow-starting Bills hope to get it going early in Week 8

Slow-starting Bills hope to get it going early in Week 8

Despite the Buffalo Bills jumping out to an impressive 5-2 record to start the 2024 NFL season, there has been one thing that they have constantly had to overcome.

We know what you’re thinking. They’ve had to overcome a bunch of injuries. But that is something you can’t control. What you can control, however, is how fast you start games, and the Bills have been starting slow for much of the season.

Through seven weeks, the first-half Bills and second-half Bills have looked like totally different teams. They have a +6 point differential in the first half and a plus-57 point differential in the second half. Although it is mostly the defense struggling out of the gate, the offense has started slowly in games as well.

“In all but maybe one or two games we really haven’t clicked early on,” said quarterback Josh Allen after practice this week. “It’s taken us a couple drives to feel out what the defense is doing and getting into a rhythm. Getting off to a fast start is the utmost important thing going forward.”

On the other side of the ball, opposing teams have scored 95 first-half points against the Bills and just 41 second-half points. The team has allowed just three second-half touchdowns all year.

The adjustments by the defense are paying off later in games, but still, it is taking time to settle in.

“Once you get settled in and get that feeling, it just starts to be in flow mode,” said defensive end A.J. Epenesa via WKBW-TV. “We definitely have the capability of hitting that sooner, it’s just a matter of being disciplined.”

Head coach Sean McDermott, even with the great start to the year, knows there is always room to improve.

“There’s always something to work on, even when you’re winning,” he said. “We gotta get back to the process… make sure we’re dotting the i’s and crossing the t’s and ready to execute.”

The Bills will need to be mindful of how they start the game in Week 8. The Seattle Seahawks (4-3) have the type of pass-heavy offense and crowd environment that can run you out of the building if you can’t get it going quickly enough. The Bills face a difficult task on the road.

What would really help the Bills is a fast start that helps take the air out of the crowd early on at Lumen Field.

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Bills at Seahawks: 3 key matchups to watch in Week 8

Bills at Seahawks: 3 key matchups to watch in Week 8

The Buffalo Bills (5-2) will visit the Seattle Seahawks (4-3) in their upcoming Week 8 matchup.

In this cross-conference and cross-country matchup, the games within the game will make all the difference.

Here are three key matchups to watch during Sunday’s Bills-Seahawks contest:

Amari Cooper/Keon Coleman vs. Seattle corners

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Last week against the Tennessee Titans, Bills wide receivers Amari Cooper and second-round rookie Keon Coleman had their way against their matchups. This week, they face tougher cornerback matchups. On the outside for Seattle will be Riq Woolen, who ranks 18th-best among corners according to PFF.

They also have cornerback Devon Witherspoon who was the fifth overall pick in the 2023 NFL Draft. Witherspoon is used both on the outside and in the slot. He may shadow Cooper, but either way, the Bills’ wide receivers need to be prepared to win some tougher matchups to help out Josh Allen and the offense. A couple of big plays from Coleman or Cooper could be the difference in the game.

Jaxon Smith Njigba vs. Taron Johnson

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With DK Metcalf ruled doubtful for Week 8, a lot more targets may fall on the shoulders of second-year receiver Jaxon Smith-Njigba. The bad news for Smith-Njigba is that All-Pro Taron Johnson will occupy the area of the field where he likes to work.

Smith-Njigba has had a hot and cold season, with games of 12 catches and games of two or three catches. His usage has been mainly matchup-dependent, but if Metcalf can’t play then his usage would have to go up. The Bills’ All-Pro nickel corner going against the first WR taken in the 2023 Draft is a great matchup in the slot.

Bills offensive line vs. Seahawks pass rush

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How the Bills offensive line holds up against a talented Seattle front will determine the level of success the team can have on the road. We know it can get loud at Lumen Field, and if Josh Allen is constantly under pressure then it will make things a lot more difficult.

The Seahawks rank eighth in the NFL in sack percentage and are tenth in sacks per game. They rank fourth in the league in pressure rate while not blitzing much. And, they just got Byron Murphy back from injury, who was their first round pick in April. It’s a tall task to keep them out of the backfield all game, but the Bills will need to limit how often they get back there. Running the ball will help keep the defense honest.

Ernest Jones IV facing the Bills in back-to-back weeks after trade

Ernest Jones IV facing the Bills in back-to-back weeks after trade

The Buffalo Bills will have the rare chance to face the same player in back-to-back weeks as the team heads to Seattle to face the Seahawks in Week 8.

After a trade between the Seahawks and Tennessee Titans following Week 7, the Bills will go against linebacker Ernest Jones IV again after facing him against the Titans last week.

According to NFL Network’s Tom Pelissero, the Seahawks traded LB Jerome Baker and a fourth-round draft pick to the Titans for Jones.

In last week’s loss to the Bills, Jones posted five tackles and a pass defended. He appeared on the Bills’ “mic’d up” video of Josh Allen, as he and Allen were bickering back and forth after he made a touchdown-saving tackle on Allen.

Allen will see him again on Sunday. Seahawks head coach Mike Macdonald said Jones will see plenty of action against the Bills and that he will fill the middle linebacker role for Seattle, pushing former Bills linebacker Tyrel Dodson from middle to weakside linebacker.

So, Allen will be familiar with both of Seattle’s linebackers in Week 8. One he faced just last game and the other he went against in practice before this year.

Just last week, a similar situation took place in the NFL. Davante Adams lost to the Pittsburgh Steelers in Week 6 as a member of the Las Vegas Raiders, and then after being traded to the New York Jets, he lost again to the Steelers in Week 7.

Allen and the Bills are trying to provide Jones with a similar experience.

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Broncos HC Sean Payton discusses QB Bo Nix and crowd noise at Lumen Field

Broncos HC Sean Payton discusses QB Bo Nix and crowd noise at Lumen Field

The Seattle Seahawks are hosting the Denver Broncos in Week 1 once again, and the 12th Man will surely be there to let the Broncos hear it. With a reputation as perhaps the loudest fanbase in all of sports, the 12th Man has a handy knack for making their presence felt just with their screams. It can be quite jarring for teams who have not played at Lumen before.

However, one person in the Broncos organization is acutely aware of the challenges the 12’s present: Denver head coach Sean Payton. For years before becoming the Broncos top man, Payton was of course the head coach of the New Orleans Saints. During his tenure in the Big Easy, Payton had plenty of run-ins with the Seahawks in Seattle. Although he won his last two showdowns, Seattle was a verifiable House of Horrors for Payton’s Saints.

Payton’s Saints have lost two playoff games at Lumen, including the iconic Beast Mode game where the 7-9 Seahawks upset the defending world champion Saints. Payton also was blown out of the water 37-7 on Monday Night Football in 2013 when New Orleans was 9-2. Needless to say, Payton is well aware of the challenges Lumen Field presents.

Speaking to the media, Payton made discussed the kind of environment his team – and specifically, his rookie quarterback – will face on Sunday:

“It’s going to be loud,” Payton said. “I would imagine there will be some similarities to when Oregon goes to Washington and they’re playing in front of however many thousand people. That’s another loud stadium an hour down the road. So we’ll deal with the crowd noise this week. This won’t be the first game we paly where it’s loud.” 

Bo Nix may be a rookie quarterback, but he at least has a great frame of reference for how rabid the Seattle faithful can be. Nix’ Ducks played the Huskies in Seattle this year, and while Oregon did lose, Nix threw for over 300 yards.

It’s going to take another incredible performance from the 12th Man to rattle this Broncos team. Fortunately, I have all the confidence in the world they are more than up to the task.

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Week 10 final betting lines for Commanders vs. Seahawks

The Seahawks remain a touchdown favorite over the Commanders for Week 10.

The Seattle Seahawks (5-3) have never beaten the Washington NFL franchise — currently known as the Commanders (4-5) — in a regular-season game at Lumen Field. Considering Seattle’s dominance on its home field over the years, that’s a stunning fact.

Washington is 4-0 at Lumen Field since it opened in 2002. However, the Seahawks did host the then-Redskins in two playoff games, winning both in 2005 and 2007, respectively.

The time is right for the Seahawks to end this streak in Week 10. Seattle is tied for first place in the NFC West, while the Commanders have yet to defeat a winning team in 2023.

The Seahawks opened as favorites over the Commanders and remain a six-point favorite as of Sunday morning, per BetMGM. Seattle initially opened as a 6.5-point favorite last week.

Here are the final betting lines for Washington’s Week 10 game at Seattle:

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Moneyline (ML)

  • Commanders +220
  • Seahawks -275

Against the spread (ATS)

  • Commanders +6.5 (-110)
  • Seahawks -6.5 (-110)

Over/Under (O/U)

  • 44.5 (O: -110 U: -110)

Sam Howell says Virginia Tech’s Lane Stadium is the loudest place in which he has ever played

Sam Howell said Virginia Tech’s Lane Stadium is the loudest place in which he’s ever played. This Sunday, Howell and the Commanders play at Lumen Field in Seattle.

Washington Commanders quarterback Sam Howell has started 10 NFL games. Before his time in the NFL, Howell was a three-year starter at North Carolina.

Howell is coming off consecutive 300-yard performances as he and the Commanders face a tough Seattle Seahawks team on the road in Week 10. Sunday’s game against the Seahawks will be a difficult one as Seattle is not only the co-leader in the NFC West but also has, arguably, the best home-field advantage in the NFL.

Lumen Field in Seattle is a difficult place to play. Howell was asked Wednesday about playing in Seattle.

“I mean, obviously, road games are different from home games, and especially when you go to Seattle, it’s going to be really loud, and it’s an exciting environment that we’re excited to play in,” Howell said.

“We’ll be in our silent cadences; you won’t be able to use the cadence. I truly don’t know how loud it’s going to be, so I really don’t know how to prepare for it. I try to prepare for it, kind of how I did the other road games, but most of the other road games it’s really only loud on third down. I don’t know if Seattle’s the same way or not.”

Howell said as far as NFL stadiums in which he has played, Denver’s Empower Field at Mile High has been the loudest.

“Probably Denver,” Howell said. “Denver was probably the loudest in the NFL, but I think some stadiums I played in in college were louder.”

Which college stadium?

That would be Lane Stadium in Blacksburg, Va., home of the Virginia Tech Hokies.

“Virginia Tech, for sure,” Howell said about the loudest stadium. 

Howell was 0-2 at Lane Stadium during his college career.

Three of Howell’s teammates (TE Logan Thomas, CB Kendall Fuller and K Joey Slye) should be happy to hear their quarterback praise the Hokies’ home field.

Look: Lumen Field will be in throwback mode this week too

Seattle’s stadium will also be getting a makeover for this week’s game.

The Seahawks will finally debut their throwback uniforms this week when they host the Browns at Lumen Field on Sunday afternoon. Speaking of their home field, Seattle’s stadium will also be getting a makeover for this week’s game.

Yesterday on Twitter the team shared a preview of what the field will look like this week, throwing back to an earlier era.

Beautiful stuff.

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TV broadcast map for Week 3 matchup between Seahawks, Panthers

The game will be broadcast on CBS in the blue areas on the map below.

This week the Seahawks will be hosting the Panthers on Sunday at Lumen Field. If you’re unable to make it to beautiful south Seattle for the game, it will be on TV.

This week’s game will be broadcast on CBS in the blue areas on the map below.

via 506Sports

Ian Eagle and Charles Davis are on the call. As of right now, the Seahawks are 4.5 point home favorites.

Seattle leads the all-time series, 10-5. However, the Panthers managed to upset the Seahawks at home last December, 30-24.

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Lumen Field voted as the No. 1 stadium in the NFL

According to USA TODAY’s @10Best readers choice, the home of the Seahawks is the best in the league!

Now there’s a headline! Lumen Field, the home of the Seattle Seahawks, has been voted as the best stadium in the NFL. According to USA TODAY’s 10Best Reader’s Choice Awards, fans across the country have granted top honors to one of the most iconic venues in all of sports.

The full list can be read in the link, but Lumen beat out Arrowhead, Lambeau Field, and the space age SoFi Stadium.

Of course, the 12th Man has known for years Lumen Field is the best. Lumen has been the site of some of the league’s most iconic moments, such as the Beast Quake, Richard Sherman’s tip against Michael Crabtree, and the epic comeback against the Packers in the NFC Championship.

Lumen first opened its doors in 2002, and God willing, it’ll be around for a lot longer. Fans will walk through the gates this season proudly knowing they have the best stadium in the entire league.

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