Jimmy Graham scored two touchdowns, including a one-handed catch as the Seattle Seahawks beat the Buffalo Bills 31-25. The Bills put up a worthy fight, and could have won the game were it not for two big defensive plays in the final seconds.
Seattle quarterback Russell Wilson looked healthy after struggling through the first half of the season, but it was Graham who stole the show with two scores and a first-half hurdle over Stephon Gilmore.
In 140 characters...
Incredible 1st half sets up tight finish as Seahawks hold on. Jimmy Graham showed impressive athleticism and Wilson looks back to his best.
MVP
Jimmy Graham showed the sort of form that made him the league's most valuable tight end in his time at New Orleans. Graham averaged 13 yards a carry from eight targets, adding two touchdowns and a highlight reel of big game moments.
Game-changer
With a minute left to play, the Bills were 10 yards from stealing the game. In a big defensive spot, K.J Wright and then Cliff Avril registered back-to-back sacks on quarterback Tyrod Taylor, forcing Buffalo back.
With no timeouts left, Taylor was forced to rush his fourth down, 17-yard attempt, resulting in an incomplete pass and a fifth win of the season for Seattle.
Stat of the night
12 - Russell Wilson has thrown 12 passing touchdowns without an interception when playing on Monday nights. Two of those, as well as a rushing TD, came against the Bills. Incidentally, the Seahawks are 6-0 in that stretch.
The game
Buffalo exploded out of the blocks, containing the Seahawks to a three and out before blocking their punt attempt and rushing in a three-yard touchdown on the very next play.
Within a minute Seattle were right back in it, Tyler Lockett returning Dan Carpenter's kick for 43 yards before Wilson found Doug Baldwin on a 50-yard pass deep down the middle. Wilson took the ball the extra three yards to grab his first rushing score of the season, having been hampered by injury throughout the first half of the season.
The Bills retook the lead on an 17 play, 10-minute drive completed by Justin Hunter, before Seattle pegged the visitors back early in the second quarter. Wilson utilised Lockett before firing to tight end Graham for a 17-yard, one-handed touchdown.
Buffalo responded with a field goal, but it was Seattle who struck twice to end the half 28-17 ahead. Following a 22-yard punt return from Lockett, Buffalo committed two consecutive penalties to move the ball 39 yards and allow running back Christine Michael a one-yard score.
On their next drive, with just two minutes remaining Wilson led a 68-yard drive, finding Graham down the middle for his second touchdown of the night.
Buffalo tried to get a field goal with seconds remaining in the half, but the officials failed to call a 'roughing the passer' penalty on Richard Sherman, resulting in the Bills using an extra time-out and forcing Carpenter off the field for a mandatory play on the sideline.
Head coach Rex Ryan elected to spike the ball, wasting a play but getting his kicker back on the field, before the Bills mismanaged the clock and then missed the 54-yard attempt.
It wasn't until the fourth quarter that Buffalo got the next points, Taylor leading at 82-yard drive to set up running back Mike Gilislee for a one-yard rush. Seattle responded with a 49-yard field goal, and managed to hang on despite sustained pressure from Taylor and the Bills attack.
The result moves Seattle two games clear of the Arizona Cardinals in the NFC West, with a trip to New England up next. The Bills slip to 4-5 on the season, the same amount of wins as Miami despite playing a game more. This is their third consecutive loss as the team head into their bye week.