ORCHARD PARK, N.Y. -- At 4-4, have the Buffalo Bills reached must-win territory as they fly to play the Seattle Seahawks on "Monday Night Football"? Rex Ryan believes so.
"That’s what we’re looking at it as," the Bills' coach said Monday. "We need to win this game. Whatever it takes, that’s what we have to come up with. Hopefully we’ll get some players back. But, if not, we have to find a way to get it done anyway."
It remains to be seen whether running back LeSean McCoy will be able to play after sitting out last Sunday's loss to New England because of a hamstring injury. NFL sacks leader Lorenzo Alexander could also be questionable because of a hamstring injury that forced him from Sunday's game.
Still, it's debatable whether Ryan is on point with calling Monday night's cross-country contest a must-win. Yes, the Bills would be in a deep hole if they entered their bye week with a 4-5 record, and three consecutive losses would stain a four-game winning streak that rocketed the Bills into the national discussion by mid-October.
But given the Bills' 1-4 conference record, their most important games of the season -- and true must-wins -- will come after their bye week, against AFC opponents. With Ryan already effectively conceding the AFC East to the 7-1 Patriots, the Bills must improve their conference record if they want to have a chance to win tiebreakers for a wild-card playoff spot by season's end. Winning against Seattle won't do that.
Here are six players to watch in Monday night's game, courtesy of ESPN Seahawks reporter Sheil Kapadia:
OFFENSE
QB Russell Wilson: He’s battled through three injuries in the first eight weeks of the season: a right high ankle sprain, a sprained MCL in his left knee and a strained right pectoral. Pete Carroll said this week he’s confident that Wilson is close to turning the corner and getting healthy. But the fifth-year quarterback has not accounted for a TD in the past three games, and the Seahawks’ struggling offense has reached the end zone just once in its past 23 possessions. The Seahawks need a healthy Wilson to make a run in the NFC in the final nine weeks.
TE Jimmy Graham: He was quiet last week against his former team (three catches for 34 yards), but Graham has had a very good season. His 442 receiving yards are third-most among tight ends, behind only Carolina’s Greg Olsen and New England’s Rob Gronkowski. Wilson trusts Graham to make catches even if he’s not necessarily open. He’s shown he can still make contested grabs and has been a matchup problem for opposing defenses.
WR Doug Baldwin: When discussing what the Seahawks need to do to turn their offense around, one thing Carroll mentioned was getting Baldwin more involved. He has 151 receiving yards in his past three games, and many of his targets have occurred late when the Seahawks have been in hurry-up mode. Baldwin is a great route-runner from the slot and has consistently made plays when the ball is in his hands. It will be no surprise if he is a big part of the game plan against the Bills.
DEFENSE:
DE Cliff Avril: He’s been on fire with 6.5 sacks in his past four games. Avril has 7.5 sacks, tied for third-most in the NFL. And the numbers don’t tell the whole story. Avril consistently creates pressure and is a master at stripping the football (three forced fumbles) on his way to the quarterback. He usually lines up at left defensive end and has been one of the defense’s most dependable players this season.
S Earl Thomas: He got off to a slow start this season, but has been fantastic the past three games. Thomas has eight pass-breakups and two interceptions this season. Last week, he recovered a fumble and returned it for a touchdown. Thomas most often patrols the deep middle of the field, but he’s good coming downhill against the run and will also cover the slot.
LB Bobby Wagner: He’s the Seahawks’ leading tackler (72) and a big reason why the defense has been so good against the run. Wagner and K.J. Wright are true three-down linebackers who have been playing at a high level. They will be responsible for keeping Bills QB Tyrod Taylor in check -- specifically when he takes off and runs.