Game week thread - Bills at Texans TNF

[Richard Noggin]

32 minutes ago, Lionel Hutz said:

Benching what was basically your first round pick for 2 straight games in his second season when he is healthy is a bad look for this organization. Either he is being benched as punishment for behavior or because they don’t think he’s good enough. 

 

I hear all the time when he is criticized for poor coaching that McD is a great leader of men. Well how come he can’t handle Coleman? This coming after how Elam was handled by McD. McD doesn’t want to win at any cost, he wants to win on his terms.  
 

Beane also deserves blame for picking these guys and not admitting he made mistakes.

 

Benching a 2nd round pick for repeatedly exhibiting bad football character does NOT reflect poorly on anyone but Keon Coleman. Sure, the very high day two pick appears to have been spent on an immature player who isn't taking his job seriously enough. But the draft is in the past. This is the present, and the kid needs a wakeup call and/or to simply step aside for guys who ARE putting in the work and seeing the results. Simple as that. I commend McD for holding Coleman accountable. 

[That's No Moon]

22 minutes ago, EmotionallyUnstable said:

If Houston as a top 3 rush defense is good enough in your opinion to be considered a really good defensive front, wouldn’t the number one rushing attack in the NFL be also considered a really good offensive line?  

It depends. How does one do against the other? That was the point of my post.  If the line can't open holes and Josh is under a lot of pressure against a really good front then that probably means our line isn't of the same caliber.  This is the sort of game that if you actually have a top notch line you need them to show it.  

 

They didn't run well last week but they pass blocked pretty well after the first two series. Against Miami they didn't have great success running and Allen was sacked 3 times and hit 7 more times.  Against Atlanta Cook ran for 4, 2, 2, 0, 2, 6, 14, 2, 8, 7, 3, 12, 7, 9, 1, 6, 0, 4 and Allen was sacked 4 times and hit 6 more times. Lots of failed runs with a couple long ones to make the average look better but they struggled to move the ball that night. They also struggled to move the ball against New England with a lot of short runs and a bunch of hits on Allen.

 

The way people talk about the line sometimes you'd think they were the mid 90's Cowboys.  Sure, they've dominated some teams and ran over Carolina, etc. but they've not been very good several other times this season.  Maybe I'm a strict grader but for me to consider a line to be that top notch level they are more consistent than that. If they can't open holes or block for Allen this week I don't really want hear "Gee whiz, Beav. Houston has a really strong defense."  it just give more evidence to them being overrated.

[Casey D]

5 minutes ago, Richard Noggin said:

 

Benching a 2nd round pick for repeatedly exhibiting bad football character does NOT reflect poorly on anyone but Keon Coleman. Sure, the very high day two pick appears to have been spent on an immature player who isn't taking his job seriously enough. But the draft is in the past. This is the present, and the kid needs a wakeup call and/or to simply step aside for guys who ARE putting in the work and seeing the results. Simple as that. I commend McD for holding Coleman accountable. 

And with a short week, no need to force the issue now.  I don't think Coleman is done yet, too much draft capital in him.  But he needs to get better in all respects fairly quickly, especially his work ethic.

[EmotionallyUnstable]

10 minutes ago, That's No Moon said:

This is the sort of game that if you actually have a top notch line you need them to show it

We are in agreement here! Time will tell. 

[Richard Noggin]

16 minutes ago, That's No Moon said:

It depends. How does one do against the other? That was the point of my post.  If the line can't open holes and Josh is under a lot of pressure against a really good front then that probably means our line isn't of the same caliber.  This is the sort of game that if you actually have a top notch line you need them to show it.  

 

They didn't run well last week but they pass blocked pretty well after the first two series. Against Miami they didn't have great success running and Allen was sacked 3 times and hit 7 more times.  Against Atlanta Cook ran for 4, 2, 2, 0, 2, 6, 14, 2, 8, 7, 3, 12, 7, 9, 1, 6, 0, 4 and Allen was sacked 4 times and hit 6 more times. Lots of failed runs with a couple long ones to make the average look better but they struggled to move the ball that night. They also struggled to move the ball against New England with a lot of short runs and a bunch of hits on Allen.

 

The way people talk about the line sometimes you'd think they were the mid 90's Cowboys.  Sure, they've dominated some teams and ran over Carolina, etc. but they've not been very good several other times this season.  Maybe I'm a strict grader but for me to consider a line to be that top notch level they are more consistent than that. If they can't open holes or block for Allen this week I don't really want hear "Gee whiz, Beav. Houston has a really strong defense."  it just give more evidence to them being overrated.

 

To the bolded: you do realize that in 17 rushes (according to PFR it's 17 for 87...you have an extra 2 yard run listed), Cook gained 4 or more yards 10 times and more than 5 yards 8 times? And of the 7 unsuccessful runs, 4 went for 2 or 3 yards? So it wasn't really that bad AT ALL. 5.1 Y/A. It was more about not running Cook often enough in that game, if I'm recalling the postgame critiques accurately. Atlanta's pass rush/pressure packages is what was working most against the Bills, who should have run more often and/or simply better diagnosed and attacked some of the blitzes (tougher to do on the road and in a dome). 

 

The Patriots did effectively shut down Cook for 3.3 Y/A. No doubt. When that happens and the Bills fail to counter, I think play-calling and Allen's inconsistencies in diagnosing pre-snap looks (shared blame here with his coaches and what they're expecting and preparing for) are more to blame than the quality of the Bills OL personnel. Even above average blockers can look bad when repeatedly put in bad positions by predictable play calls, a lack of self-scouting, poor game planning, etc. And maybe Vrabel's boys up front just bullied our guys more than I'd like to admit...

[pennstate10]

1 hour ago, Shortchaz said:

There has to be something here. I mean you draft a guy and never play him (Elam) then you draft a guy and over-play him at a position he’s not suited for (Coleman) 
 

this is purely competitive ego (as stated by others) McDermott vs beane.  
 

McDermott is a bit of a c word in my opinion. He’s too clever for his own good and misses the big picture frequently.
 

If not for josh Allen he’s probably coaching a top 12 defense somewhere. 

[Billsatlastin2018]

Either he is being benched as punishment for behavior or because they don’t think he’s good enough. 
 

“I’ll take BOTH, Alec!

BOTH, FINAL ANSWER!”

 

 

[Scott7975]

 

[Brianmoorman4jesus]

Cmon man it’s 12:04 where’s that gameday? We are 8 years clear of the drought. Our old selves would be sickened by it not being up at 12:01 and we sucked then

[Scott7975]

Both Chiefs fans and Ravens fans are rooting for the Bills today lol. Houston is in front of both of them. They also have a tie breaker over the Ravens.

[Pete]

2 hours ago, Brianmoorman4jesus said:

Cmon man it’s 12:04 where’s that gameday? We are 8 years clear of the drought. Our old selves would be sickened by it not being up at 12:01 and we sucked then

Lori wrote the most thorough Bills gamedays

[Pete]

On 11/17/2025 at 12:41 PM, BuffaloBillyG said:

Mills has won the last 2 games for the Texans. He's not incapable. Gonna be a challenge either way IMO.

Pitre is one of the top slot DBs in the NFL.  He hits, covers, and reacts great.  Big loss for Texans

[Kelly to Allen]

Maybe it's just receny bias but I got a great feeling about our offense tonight. I know the Texans defense is really good but I think something unlocked against Tampa. Just a gut feeling 

 

 

Let's go Buffalo!!

[Scott7975]

 

[Kelly to Allen]

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Buffalo vs Houston 1989

 

Kelly to Reed in ot

 

 

 

 

 

 

[notpolian]

Throw to the RBs!  Houston will go heavy man so our WRs may have some issues.  It worked well last week.  Keep it going.

 

That and try to get Mills to give you some turnovers.

[finn]

3 hours ago, Pete said:

Pitre is one of the top slot DBs in the NFL.  He hits, covers, and reacts great.  Big loss for Texans

I wanted Beane to draft Pitre instead of Elam. (Subtext: I should be Bills GM, clearly.)

[Whites Bay]

4 hours ago, Pete said:

Lori wrote the most thorough Bills gamedays

She had an excellent writing style.  Makes me miss some of the old posters.

[PaattMaann]

16 hours ago, BearNorth said:

PFF Interior Defender top 10 through week 11

Cam Heyward

Jeffrey Simmons

Quinnen Williams

Poona Ford

Moro Ojomo

Teair Tart

Derrick Brown

Daquan Jones

Sheldon Rankins

Calais Campbell

 

The Texans also have former Bill Tim Settle graded at #18 who I am sure will be amped for this meeting.

 

PFF lol. Gothca, thanks. 

 

I like Rankins, he is a good penetration style DT. Calling him elite is an absolute stretch by anyone's definition. 

Edited 11 minutes ago by PaattMaann

[Coffeesforclosers]

Random thought that's been rolling around in the NFL part of my brain.

 

I wonder if the Bills are mulling over whether to accept that Josh is going to have a short, brilliant career as a multi-threat QB. Or whether they'll keep him in the pocket and try to morph him into a "Dice them up with football IQ" type guy who plays until he's 38-40.

 

My heart wants them to cut him loose and let him play however he wants, knowing he may well be toast by 32 or 33.

 

My head says our window is his career, so his career should be as long as they can make it.