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Week 1: Bills vs. Seahawks
The season is finally here and the Bills face a tough NFC opponent to start the season as the Seattle Seahawks invade Orchard Park for opening day. The Seahawks are perennial favorites in their division and the Bills have high hopes for breaking what is tied for their longest playoff drought in team history. This will be a good first test for both teams.
FACTS AND FIGURES
| Matchup: |
Buffalo (0-0) vs. Seattle (0-0) |
| Place: |
Ralph Wilson Stadium |
| Television: |
FOX |
| Announcers: |
Ron Pitts, Tony Boselli, and Charissa Thompson |
| Spread: |
Even |
| Series: |
Seahawks lead 6-4 |
| Streak: |
Bills Won 1 |
| Last Meeting: |
Bills 38-9 in Seattle (2004) |
| Seahawks Off (Final 2007): |
Rush (20th); Pass (8th); overall (9th) |
| Seahawks Def (Final 2007): |
Rush (12th); Pass (19th); overall (15th) |
| Bills Off: (Final 2007) |
Rush (15th); Pass (30th); overall (30th) |
| Bills Def: (Final 2007) |
Rush (25th); Pass (29th); overall (31st) |
INJURY UPDATE
Matt Murphy and Derek Fine will definitely miss the opener with shoulder and thumb injuries respectively. The other banged up players are all practicing and will play. They include John DiGiorgio, Derek Schouman, and Jon Corto. Rookie Alvin Bowen has been placed on injured reserve.
The Seahawks come into the opener much more banged up. They are missing two of their top wide receivers as both Bobby Engram and Deion Branch are out. Another wide receiver is also out as Ben Obamanu has been placed on IR. DT Rocky Bernard and CB Jordan Babineaux are suspended.
 Bills Daily Injury Page
KEY MATCHUPS
LT Langston Walker vs. DE Darryl Tapp:
Walker takes over the left tackle spot, a position he isn't built for. He's a big man who doesn't matchup great with the speed rushers that are usually on that side. This will be an early test how much the team will miss Jason Peters.
WR Lee Evans vs. CB Kelly Jennings:
If offensive coordinator Turk Schonert follows through on his desire to move Evans around than he will also face CB Marcus Trufant. For the most part he'll lineup opposite Jennings. Evans is still looking for the big contract and a big year usually starts with opening day.
RB Marshawn Lynch vs. MLB Lofa Tatupu:
When Lynch is running the ball he will have to take on Tatupu a lot who led the team in tackles last season. If Lynch has some success than the team may be able to move the ball offensively against a solid opponent.
RT Kirk Chambers vs. DE Patrick Kearney:
Chambers mans the right side with Walker on the left side. He faces the veteran Kearney who had 14 sacks in his first year in Seattle last season. If Kearney gets pressure on Trent Edwards it can cause a huge problem for the offense.
DE Aaron Schobel vs. LT Walter Jones:
This is a big battle of two all-pro veterans. Schobel is looking to rebound from a low sack season last year. Jones is tough to get by but Schobel at least needs to get pressure on Matt Hasselbeck to keep the high powered passing game at bay.
LB Paul Posluszny and DT Marcus Stroud vs. RBs Maurice Morris and Julius Jones:
Posluszny will be shot out of a canon after missing most of last season. Morris will likely split time with Jones. Stroud was traded for to clog up the middle and help shutdown the running game. This will be their first test.
GAME PLAN
When The Bills Have The Ball: The Bills will try to use a short passing game with quick release from Edwards to get rid of the ball fast with the questions on the offensive line thanks to the continued holdout of Peters. They will try to get the ball into Lynch's hands anyway possible including short swing passes out of the backfield to complement his running game.
When The Seahawks Have The Ball: Seattle is a passing team first and will try to challenge the Bills secondary especially nickel back Ashton Youboty who is still a question mark despite a solid preseason.
BILLS DAILY PREDICTION
Opening days are always tough to call. This is one of the tougher opponents the Bills will play early in the season. The Bills have a lot of confidence heading into the season and they know the value of getting off to a fast start. The Seahawks are a perennial playoff contender and despite being banged up and having two players suspended they will be ready to play. On paper Seattle is slightly better than Buffalo but the enthusiasm and optimism along with the home field advantage should give the Bills the lift they need to get a victory:
Bills 17, Seahawks 13
Season Prediction Record: (0-0)
Season Record Against The Spread: (0-0)
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