Seahawks
Capsule preview: Buffalo at Seattle

JOHN LOK / THE SEATTLE TIMES Seattle's Chad Brown (returning the ball after a fumble against Miami) will not play today against the Buffalo Bills.

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Last game

Seahawks: The Seahawks almost lost a game they needed to win, but Michael Boulware's interception and 63-yard return for a touchdown saved the day last Sunday against Miami. Boulware's score gave the Seahawks a 24-17 win, and Chad Brown's fumble recovery on the Dolphins' next offensive series sealed the win.

Trent Dilfer started at quarterback in place of the injured Matt Hasselbeck and promptly led a touchdown drive. Dilfer hit Jerry Rice for a 21-yard touchdown pass on the opening possession, and he also led two other scoring drives to give the Seahawks a 17-7 lead at halftime.

Bills: Buffalo trailed 10-0 at home against the St. Louis Rams, then scored 37 points in the second and third quarters on their way to a 37-17 victory.

Tight end Mark Campbell caught three touchdown passes from quarterback Drew Bledsoe, and Nate Clements returned a punt 86 yards for a touchdown. Former Seahawk Rian Lindell kicked three field goals.

The Bills had a good day on defense. They limited the Rams' Marshall Faulk to 19 yards, six rushing. They sacked quarterback Marc Bulger six times, three by former University of Washington safety Lawyer Milloy. Linebacker Takeo Spikes and defensive tackle Sam Adams, a former Seahawk, intercepted passes.

The last time

The Seahawks won 23-20 on Nov. 18, 2001, at Ralph Wilson Stadium in New York. Seattle took a 10-0 lead in the second quarter after a Lindell field goal and a touchdown pass from Hasselbeck to Koren Robinson. The Bills came back to tie the score before halftime.

With the Seahawks leading 20-13 in the fourth quarter, Chad Brown sacked Alex Van Pelt and forced a fumble, which was recovered by Antonio Cochran at the Buffalo 33. Lindell hit a 51-yard field goal for Seattle with three minutes left.
 
What to expect

This should be a tight game in which points could be hard to come by for the Seahawks. Buffalo's defense is stout against both the run and pass, and the Bills' offense is coming off a big game. The Seahawks' offense has struggled and has to find a way to generate consistency. Seattle will be missing two key players: linebacker Chad Brown because of injury and wide receiver Koren Robinson due to suspension.

Notable

Seattle: According to Stats, Inc., a win last Sunday increased the Seahawks' chances of making the playoffs. Since 1978, 61.8 percent of NFL teams that have started the season 6-4 have made the postseason. Only 23.8 percent of teams with 5-5 records have made the playoffs. ... TE Jerramy Stevens needs 14 more receiving yards for a career high. He had 252 in 2002 as a rookie. ... The Seahawks lead the NFC in interceptions, with 14.

Buffalo: When last the Seahawks and Bills met, the Bills retired Hall of Fame quarterback Jim Kelly's number 12. ... Van Pelt is now the analyst on the Bills' radio network. ... Bledsoe is 7-3 as a starter vs. the NFC, with 17 touchdowns and four interceptions. He needs two touchdown passes to pass John Brodie for 18th in NFL history. ... Campbell is the first Bills player to catch three touchdowns in a game since Andre Reed in 1993.

Injury report

Seattle: WR Darrell Jackson (ankle), DT Rashad Moore (shoulder) and DE Chike Okeafor (ankle) are probable. CB Bobby Taylor (knee) and QB Matt Hasselbeck (thigh) are questionable. LB Chad Brown (knee) and LB Tracy White (hamstring) are out.

Buffalo: WR Josh Reed (knee) is questionable. CB Troy Vincent (knee) is doubtful.

Jose Miguel Romero

Who has the advantage?
		QB	RB	WR	OL	DL	LB	DB	ST
	Buffalo	×				×	×	×	×
	Seattle	×	×	×	×			×