Buffalo Bills Vs. Seattle Seahawks: Bold Predictions For Week 9 Of 2016 NFL Season

The Buffalo Bills and Seattle Seahawks will close out Week 9 of the 2016 NFL season by taking the field against one another on Monday night. Let’s set the stage.

The Bills have lost back-to-back games and are 4-4 on the year. Meanwhile, the Seahawks — if you can believe it — are coming off of a tie and a loss. They hold a 4-2-1 record. Seattle comes in at No. 4 in ESPN‘s power rankings. Buffalo is ranked No. 18 in the same poll.

While both teams have been shaky (especially the Bills) in the last couple of weeks, it is the Seahawks who are a perfect 3-0 at home in 2016, and this game will be played in Seattle. You have been warned, Rex Ryan & Co.

If the Bills plan on making a playoff push, although there is still plenty of football that needs to be played, then they have to start winning football games — it is really that simple. Of course, before a current two-game losing streak, Buffalo was riding a four-game winning streak, so the team is more than capable of racking up the wins.

Seattle might not be the most fierce team in the NFL on the offensive side of the ball, but it appears that this squad is still a top team in the league, and that is especially the case when it is playing at home. Therefore, good luck, Buffalo. Now, bring on the bold predictions.

Buffalo Fails To Rack Up 100 Yards On The Ground

This prediction has bold written all over it when you take into account how good the Bills’ rushing attack has been this season. For example, Buffalo is second in the league with 154.1 rushing yards per game. LeSean McCoy, the team’s leading rusher, is seventh in the NFL with 598 rushing yards.

With that said, Seattle is extremely stingy on the defensive side of the ball. Look no further than these stats to figure that one out: The Seahawks are only allowing 15.6 points per game (second in the NFL), 319.4 yards per game (sixth), and 89.7 rushing yards per game (seventh).

Basically, the Seahawks have an elite defense, and that has been the case for quite some time. If any team can contain the Bills’ rushing attack, it is Seattle.

Christine Michael Runs Wild For 100-Plus Yards

Christine Michael hasn’t exactly been a top fantasy football option in 2016, but he certainly isn’t the worst running back. So far, the Seahawk has racked up 446 rushing yards and five rushing touchdowns.

He could be in store for a monster day on Monday. After all, the Bills are giving up 118.4 rushing yards per game, which is 25th-best in the league (reminder, there are 32 teams total).

If Seattle’s offense was just a little bit better (okay, way better), then this team would likely be at the top of the food chain. The Seahawks are still a very good team, and no one should be surprised if they win another Super Bowl, but their offense doesn’t exactly scare opposing teams, which is why players like Michael need to step up when a golden opportunity is handed to them.

For the record, Seattle is only putting up 18.7 points per game. In comparison, Buffalo is averaging 26.5 points per contest. Nonetheless, if Michael is going to go off for 100-plus yards in the rushing department, it might as well be against the Bills.

First Team To 20 Wins This Battle

Seattle might not be the best offensive team in the NFL, but it is clearly where it needs to be on the defensive side of the ball. Add that to the fact that this game will be played at CenturyLink Field (the Seahawks’ home), it wouldn’t be a surprise if this game ended up being a low-scoring affair, which is where this prediction comes into play.

Assuming a team even gets to 20 points, don’t be taken aback when the first team to 20 captures the victory on Monday night.

[Featured Image by Sean Gardner/Getty Images]