The Buffalo Bills will turn to the next page of their 2024 NFL regular season.
Following a 34-10 win over the Tennessee Titans in Week 7, the Bills (5-2) will travel to Seattle to take on the Seahawks (4-3) at Lumen Field.
But before we even get to kickoff, there will be a lot of Bills-related discussions and conversations to be had throughout the coming days.
Here are five storylines to watch for during the lead-up to Bills vs. Seahawks:
Allen’s first trip to Seattle
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It’s a little weird to think that Josh Allen still hasn’t played in some stadiums around the NFL given that he’s been in the league since 2018. But, the Bills haven’t traveled to Seattle since 2016. This will be a new experience for the Bills’ QB1.
To this point in his career, Allen is an impressive 21-6 against the NFC. He’ll be looking for win number 22 in a foreign land.
DK Metcalf’s knee injury
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Seahawks Pro-Bowl wide receiver DK Metcalf has been dealing with a knee injury that popped up in Week 7. It’s been ruled a “minor MCL sprain” and his status for Sunday’s game vs. the Bills is up in the air.
“You guys know DK… he’s going to probably do anything humanly possible to be able to play in this game,” said head coach Mike Macdonald this week.
Metcalf is currently third in the NFL in receiving yards with 568 through seven games. His ability to stretch the field for Seattle’s pass-heavy approach would be sorely missed if he can’t go.
Cooper with a full week of practice
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Wide receiver Amari Cooper amazingly put on a show in Week 7 given his limited opportunities. He put up 66 yards and a touchdown after being on the team for just a few days. And he did it while being on the field for just 35% of snaps.
By just being himself, Cooper can elevate his teammates’ play around him. Now, with Cooper getting a full week in with his new team, it will be interesting to see how the offense looks as a whole with Cooper getting more snaps.
A test for Bills defense
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No matter which way you slice it, the Seahawks have the eighth-best offense in the NFL. They currently rank eighth in both yards per game (368.3) and points per game (25.7).
Their specialty on offense under play caller Shane Waldron is passing the ball. They average the most passing yards per game in the NFL (270.9) and quarterback Geno Smith has attempted the most passes in the NFL (279) by a pretty large margin. And, although they don’t run it much, they are effective when they do. This will be a test for the Bills’ defense, especially on the road.
Running back usage
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Having multiple productive running backs is a great problem to have for an offense, and that’s what the Bills have right now. Lead-back James Cook has been good for the Bills, and rookie Ray Davis has come on as of late as well.
Over the last two games, Davis is averaging 5.5 yards per rush and made a big play in the passing game to boot. How the Bills handle the snaps and usage of these two will be something to keep an eye on.
