Opponent Fits the Bill for Young Seahawks

The young but growing Seattle Seahawks still have trouble putting together two consistent efforts. It helped that they were playing the bumbling Buffalo Bills.

Despite allowing 372 total yards, the Seahawks hung on for a 23-20 victory Sunday.

“It was important to take the long trip across the country with the immaturity we show at times and win a game,” Coach Mike Holmgren said. “It was a great win to start the second half of the season. We played with a lot of intensity, which was missing a couple weeks ago.”

The Seahawks (5-4) strung together two victories for only the second time this season. More importantly, the win followed last weekend’s 34-27 victory over Oakland, Seattle’s most dominating performance of the season.

After an up-and-down start, the Seahawks might have something to build on.

“It’s a new season for us now,” quarterback Matt Hasselbeck said. “We just said, ‘Hey, start over, it’s an eight-game season, let’s win all our home games and at least half our road games, and we’re playoff bound.”’

The Seahawks won by getting an efficient all-around effort.

Hasselbeck completed 16 of 23 passes for 134 yards and one touchdown--a seven-yard completion to Koren Robinson.

Shaun Alexander rushed for 93 yards and scored the go-ahead touchdown, while Rian Lindell hit two fourth-quarter field goals, including a 51-yarder with 3:12 remaining to put the game out of reach.

The Seahawks’ defense stifled the Bills’ running attack and forced two key fumbles.

The Bills (1-8) are off to their worst start in 16 years. They’ve also lost seven in a row at home--their longest streak since dropping eight in a row in 1983-84.

Buffalo couldn’t even cash in on an emotional halftime tribute in which former quarterback Jim Kelly had his number retired and his name enshrined on Ralph Wilson Stadium’s Wall of Fame.

With the score 10-10, and the crowd of 60,000 energized, the Bills came out flat to start the third quarter.

The Seahawks went 70 yards in eight plays and Alexandercapped the drive with a one-yard plunge.