The Seattle Seahawks acquired veteran defensive lineman Roy Robertson-Harris and linebacker Ernest Jones IV in separate trades over the past two weeks. The idea was to help improve a struggling defense, particularly in the run game. That hope did not come to fruition in Sunday’s embarrassing 31-10 Week 8 blowout defeat to the Buffalo Bills.
Bills starting running back James Cook rushed for 111 yards and two touchdowns via seven carries. He averaged an explosive 6.5 yards per carry, routinely gashing Mike Macdonald’s defense on the ground. Backup running back Ray Davis, a fourth-round rookie, averaged 4.8 yards per carry. Dual-threat Bills quarterback Josh Allen added 25 rushing yards to Buffalo’s offensive totals.
No play sums up the #Seahawks run defense problems better than James Cook’s final touchdown. Look at the push the interior o-line gets out of 12 personnel grouping… and then the finish by Cook at the goal line de-helmeting Ernest Jones. pic.twitter.com/1Aj6sX9Ngb
— Corbin K. Smith (@CorbinSmithNFL) October 28, 2024
All in all, the Bills accumulated 445 total yards of offense, out-gaining the Seahawks 164-32 on the ground. An effective and efficient rushing attack kept the Bills in favorable down-and-distance situations, leading to their offense converting better than 50 percent (8-15) on third downs. Cook scored two second-half rushing touchdowns to put the game out of Seattle’s reach.
The Seahawks are now the league’s 29th-ranked run defense, allowing 148.4 rushing yards per outing. Jones recorded a team-high 15 tackles on Sunday, but he also got bowled over by Cook at the goal line. Robertson-Harris played a more anonymous game. Both Jones and Robertson-Harris will improve Seattle’s defense, but Sunday’s showing was a struggle, proving the Seahawks’ issues are larger than one or two players.
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