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This Bills Rookie Should be in the Game plan Against Seattle

Buffalo should take advantage of a big Seattle weakness in Week 8. A promising Bills rookie could factor more into that strategy.
Buffalo Bills rookie running back Ray Davis

Like most teams, Buffalo usually relies on its bigger stars to lead them each week. However, in Week 8 against the Seattle Seahawks, a Bills rookie should be featured more in the team’s offensive attack. The Week 8 matchup with Seattle features two teams currently atop their respective divisions. The Seahawks lead a division full of teams in disarray. The Los Angeles Rams and San Francisco 49ers were both playoff hopefuls but have been decimated by injuries.

The Bills lead a division full of teams going through their own turmoils. The New England Patriots are in shambles and the New York Jets can’t get out of their own way. The Miami Dolphins have hedged their bets over the last few years with a successful yet injury-prone quarterback in Tua Tagovailoa.

Both teams are coming off blowouts in Week 7. The Bills trounced the Tennessee Titans 34-10. Seattle picked up a 20-point win (34-14) over the Atlanta Falcons. While Seattle handled business against the Falcons, their run defense gave up a big game to Bijan Robinson (21 carries, 103 yards, touchdown; 3 receptions, 40 yards).

After seven weeks this year, head coach Mike McDonald’s run defense is 28th in the league. The Bills rank 18th in the NFL on the ground but must take advantage of Seattle’s low-ranked run-stopping unit. That’s where Bills rookie running back Ray Davis comes into play.

This Bills Rookie Should be in the Game plan Against Seattle

James Cook is the unquestioned starter but missed Week 6 against the Jets. Davis took over starting duties for a week, putting up 97 yards on 20 carries. He caught three passes for 55 yards.

In one game, the Bills rookie showed he could handle the load, even if only for a week. Buffalo should hand the rookie more opportunities when Buffalo clashes with Seattle.

A Two-Headed Monster Approach

The Bills should try to control the game on the ground with both Cook and Davis. Cook will obviously get the lion’s share of snaps and carries, but Buffalo must consistently mix Davis in more than usual.

Cook is on the field for 45% of Buffalo’s offensive snaps. Ty Johnson is second at 26% but hasn’t been as productive as Davis. Davis’s share sits around 23% but should rival Cook’s touches in Week 8.

Buffalo hasn’t traditionally been known as a rushing team in Josh Allen’s tenure. The team has relied on his cannon arm to lead Buffalo to shootout wins since his drafting in 2018. When an opponent struggles greatly in one aspect of the game, however, the game plan has to change for at least one week.

Seattle will probably key in on stopping Amari Cooper since he added a new layer to Buffalo’s passing attack after his acquisition from the Clevland Browns last week. Proving they can stop an MVP candidate like Allen would help Seattle’s ego and chances of winning the NFC West.

To take advantage of the porous run defense, Offensive coordinator Joe Brady and Sean McDermott should rely on racking up as many yards on the ground as possible in Week 8.

Bills Rooke Making the Most of Opportunities

When Davis has been pushed into action, he’s produced. Johnson may have more experience but he’s bounced around the league during his career. Davis is only 5’8″ but is 22o pounds. He’s hard to take down and is a threat on the ground and in the air.

Mixing Davis in more than usual will help in a few ways. The first is that it will obviously spell the starting back, keeping him fresh all game and beyond. The second is that if Buffalo consistently pounds the ground, it could easily break Seattle’s will since it’s already one of the worst rush defenses in the NFL.

Giving more work to the Bills rookie will only pay off going forward. If Cook gets hurt again, Davis has shown he can be productive when thrust into a starting role. More work for the other backs should also keep Cook healthy for the rest of the year.

With more experience, Davis could add another wrinkle to a Bills offense that has needed to evolve in 2024. Seeing the capabilities against a weak rushing defense could provide Buffalo with another game plan they can utilize when the opponent/situation arises this year and beyond.

Main Photo: [Tina MacIntyre-Yee/Democrat and Chronicle] – USA Today Sports

Matt Serocki

Matt Serocki

Matt Serocki has been a life-long fan of the NFL and professional wrestling and writes about both. His favorite teams include the New England Patriots, Washington Commanders, and the San Francisco 49ers. He's been a sports journalist for over 10 years.

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