Seahawks gameday capsule

Olympian News Services • Published September 06, 2008

Seattle Seahawks at Buffalo Bills

•Kickoff: 10 a.m. today at Ralph Wilson Stadium in Orchard Park, N.Y.

•TV: Fox (Channel 13). Radio: 1240-AM, 1030-AM

•Line: Bills by 1

•Series: Seahawks lead series 6-4

•Last meeting: Buffalo won 38-9 on Nov. 28, 2004, in Seattle.

Notes

•Seahawks: Coach Mike Holmgren opens 17th season as head coach and 10th in Seattle. This will be Holmgren's last season with team after choosing to fulfill final year of his contract. DB coach Jim Mora is signed to take over next season. ... With 170 wins (including playoffs), Holmgren has most victories among active coaches and ranks tied for 11th with Paul Brown on all-time list; he's one victory from matching Joe Gibbs for 10th. ... Seahawks seeking sixth consecutive playoff berth and to win NFC West for fifth straight season. ... RB tandem of Maurice Morris and Julius Jones, who makes his debut since signing with Seahawks, takes over following Shaun Alexander's release. ... Injuries to starting WR Bobby Engram (shoulder) and Deion Branch (knee) make Nate Burleson most experienced receiver. ... DE Patrick Kerney led NFC with 14 1/2 sacks last season.

•Bills: Bills seeking to end eight-season playoff drought, longest in franchise history. ... Bills have had one winning season since 1999, 9-7 in 2004. ... Bills coach Dick Jauron was DB coach at Green Bay in early 1990s under Holmgren. ... QB Trent Edwards opens first season as starter after 2007 third-round pick went 5-5 while winning No. 1 job ahead of J.P. Losman last year. ... DT Marcus Stroud (acquired in trade with Jacksonville) and LB Kawika Mitchell (free agent) most notable additions to make debut with Bills. ... LT Langston Walker set to make first start there since 2003 with Oakland. Walker replaced Pro Bowl selection Jason Peters, who's holding out.

Breaking down the game

Seattle is without WR Deion Branch (knee), and RT Sean Locklear (knee) is unlikely to play — which is not a good sign for the Seahawks because QB Matt Hasselbeck played little in exhibitions because of a bad back and needs all the protection he can get. Buffalo should have a solid defense and the offense is led by QB Trent Edwards, who emerged last season, as well as second-year RB Marshawn Lynch.

•Pick: Bills 20, Seahawks 17