With a big night from Jimmy Graham, a defense that overcame a slow start and a little help from the officials not properly enforcing the rules late in the first half, the Seahawks held on to beat the Bills Monday night, 31-25.
The Bills held an early 14-7 lead and had their chances late. Graham and quarterback Russell Wilson got going to spark the Seahawks, who got stops in big moments including one in the final minute to preserve the win.
The sequence everyone will be talking about Tuesday morning occurred late in the first half when Seahawks cornerback Richard Sherman jumped offsides on a field goal and hit the knee of Bills kicker Dan Carpenter. The officials only flagged him for offsides, not for unnecessary roughness. After Carpenter had to leave for a play by rule because he was treated for an injury, the Bills were forced into a delay of game call and Carpenter then missed a 54-yard field goal.
It’s not ideal when the NFL’s vice president of officiating is tweeting during games that the officials mishandled a situation in a key moment. Blandino later said on NFL Network that the play clock should have been reset before the delay of game was called.
Considering the Bills ended up losing by six and ended the game in field goal range, the Bills understandably aren’t happy. Bills Coach Rex Ryan after the game called the situation “ridiculous.”
The Bills also weren’t happy with at least one potential pass interference penalty that wasn’t called on the final drive.
Graham caught eight passes for 103 yards and two touchdowns. Graham had six catches for 94 yards in the first half as the Seahawks built a 28-17 halftime lead and posted the 13th multiple touchdown game of his career, his first with the Seahawks.
The game started with a blocked punt and had much more offense than most probably expected, but some big stops by the Seahawks saved it. Bills quarterback Tyrod Taylor threw for 289 yards but was sacked five times. Sherman had the game’s only interception in what became a scoreless third quarter.
The Bills lost center Eric Wood to an ankle injury early in the fourth quarter, and the Seahawks turned up the pass rush from there.
Wilson had not thrown a touchdown pass in the previous three games. He finished with 282 yards and the Seahawks needed every one as they only got 10 yards rushing on eight carries from their running backs.
The Seahawks are 5-2-1. The Bills slip to 4-5.