Friday, December 14, 2012

Return game pivotal in Bills' matchup with Seahawks

BY NICK ST. DENIS

Special teams will be at a premium when the Buffalo Bills take on the Seattle Seahawks Sunday.

Buffalo leads the NFL in punt returning, averaging 17.2 yards a pop, with Leodis McKelvin gaining a league-best 18.7 yards a return and having already taken back two for touchdowns. (photo: Matt Britt, Flickr)

McKelvin is also gaining 28.3 yards per kick return, which ranks fifth in the NFL.

“We’ve got our hands full this week for sure," Seahawks special-teamer Heath Farwell, who leads Seattle in coverage tackles, said, via Seahawks.com.

McKelvin and the Bills' return squad will be up against no slouch, either.

The Seahawks are allowing just 9 yards a return on punts and 21.7 per kickoff, and they haven't surrendered a return of any kind longer than 40 yards.

“It’s just something we hang our hat on and we’re proud of it, the way we play," Farwell said. "The effort is just unbelievable, and it’s not one guy. It’s a group effort.”

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