Some Week 1 Discussion: How Good is Houston's Defense?

[MPL]

Available WRs/TEs vs Texans in 2024: Rookie Keon Coleman, Curtis Samuel, Mack Hollins, Dalton Kincaid, Dawson Knox, Quinton Morris. 

Bills lost by 3 with a chance to win late.

Available WRs/TEs vs. Texans in 2025: Khalil Shakir, Gabe Davis, Post-Inury Josh Palmer, Elijah Moore, Tyrell Shavers, Dawson Knox, Jackson Hawes, Kylen Latu. (Keon was inactive). 

Bills lost by 4 with a chance to win late. 

The Bills need to make it to week 1 with a healthy DJ Moore, Dalton Kincaid, and Khalil Shakir. 

 

[Shaw66]

Seems to me that it's pretty obvious how to prepare for this game.

 

There's a really good book by now on how DeMarco Ryans' defense works and what its tendencies are. Granted it will have changes and wrinkles this season, but Brady should have a pretty decent idea of how to prepare for that defense. 

 

On defense, I think the Bills will have a big advantage. Why? Because the Texans will have spent their whole summer practicing against their defense. If I'm Leonhard, I'm installing a lot of looks that match the Texans' look on defense, and on the snap I'm sending defenders in directions that the Texans normally don't go. Stroud will think he knows what to expect, and he'll be getting something different, over and over. And he will be getting exotic pass rushes. 

 

Bills may struggle with the Texans defense, because pretty much every team does. But the Bills offense will make some plays. I think the Bills defense will smother Stroud and that offense.

[BillsPride12]

Seems like most people are in agreement this Defense is in that 2013 Seahawks/ 2015 Broncos caliber. The Seahawks had a pretty good Offense that year too with Russel Wilson playing the best football of his career and a prime Marshawn Lynch pounding the rock. Denver's Offense in 2015 had really fallen from what it was in 2013 but they were still led by Peyton Manning. For as good as the all-time dominant Defenses are you still some need some support from your Offense to win a championship. Everything about Houston's Offense is just so pedestrian. I think that will prevent them from being a Super Bowl team ultimately.

 

Does this Texans Defense go down as the best Defense to not win a championship if they can't get it done? I was pretty young back then but wasn't it similar to the Early 90s Eagles with Buddy Ryan? I know they had a dominant Defensive Line and even had a good QB with Randall Cunningham but they never went anywhere in the playoffs.  Any other candidates for great Defenses that were held back from being a Super Bowl contender by how bad their Offense was?

[Gregg]

5 minutes ago, BillsPride12 said:

Seems like most people are in agreement this Defense is in that 2013 Seahawks/ 2015 Broncos caliber. The Seahawks had a pretty good Offense that year too with Russel Wilson playing the best football of his career and a prime Marshawn Lynch pounding the rock. Denver's Offense in 2015 had really fallen from what it was in 2013 but they were still led by Peyton Manning. For as good as the all-time dominant Defenses are you still some need some support from your Offense to win a championship. Everything about Houston's Offense is just so pedestrian. I think that will prevent them from being a Super Bowl team ultimately.

 

Does this Texans Defense go down as the best Defense to not win a championship if they can't get it done? I was pretty young back then but wasn't it similar to the Early 90s Eagles with Buddy Ryan? I know they had a dominant Defensive Line and even had a good QB with Randall Cunningham but they never went anywhere in the playoffs.  Any other candidates for great Defenses that were held back from being a Super Bowl contender by how bad their Offense was?

 

I don't know if they were held back by their offense, but the Houston Oilers had some really good teams when Campbell was there. If it wasn't for the Steelers, then the Oilers probably would have played in a Super Bowl and possibly won a Lombardi or two.

[BillsPride12]

Just now, Gregg said:

 

I don't know if they were held back by their offense, but the Houston Oilers had some really good teams when Campbell was there. If it wasn't for the Steelers, then the Oilers probably would have played in a Super Bowl and possibly won a Lombardi or two.

They were before my time but I am pretty well versed in NFL history and I don't ever recall them being brought up in the conversation for all-time great Defenses.

Have heard they could have went to some Super Bowls if not for the Steelers but I thought that was more because of the overall team than being carried by their Defense.

[Gregg]

Just now, BillsPride12 said:

They were before my time but I am pretty well versed in NFL history and I don't ever recall them being brought up in the conversation for all-time great Defenses.

Have heard they could have went to some Super Bowls if not for the Steelers but I thought that was more because of the overall team than being carried by their Defense.

 

It's more like Bills - Chiefs vibe with how the Bills haven't gotten past the Chiefs in the playoffs during the Allen era. The Oilers had the same problem with the Steelers. 

[corta765]

16 minutes ago, BillsPride12 said:

Seems like most people are in agreement this Defense is in that 2013 Seahawks/ 2015 Broncos caliber. The Seahawks had a pretty good Offense that year too with Russel Wilson playing the best football of his career and a prime Marshawn Lynch pounding the rock. Denver's Offense in 2015 had really fallen from what it was in 2013 but they were still led by Peyton Manning. For as good as the all-time dominant Defenses are you still some need some support from your Offense to win a championship. Everything about Houston's Offense is just so pedestrian. I think that will prevent them from being a Super Bowl team ultimately.

 

Does this Texans Defense go down as the best Defense to not win a championship if they can't get it done? I was pretty young back then but wasn't it similar to the Early 90s Eagles with Buddy Ryan? I know they had a dominant Defensive Line and even had a good QB with Randall Cunningham but they never went anywhere in the playoffs.  Any other candidates for great Defenses that were held back from being a Super Bowl contender by how bad their Offense was?

Bears 2005 sticks out pretty soundly. Incredible unit... offense was led by Rex Grossman yikes

[machine gun kelly]

This is the best case we could have as it’s week 1, our offense I hope is green light, and they won’t be together yet.  I worry about them in the playoffs.  My prayer is our defense gets it together in the back half of the year.

 

Brady has to be all gas all the time on this offense.  That’s how we beat them.

[Sojourner]

22 minutes ago, machine gun kelly said:

This is the best case we could have as it’s week 1, our offense I hope is green light, and they won’t be together yet.  I worry about them in the playoffs.  My prayer is our defense gets it together in the back half of the year.

 

Brady has to be all gas all the time on this offense.  That’s how we beat them.

The defense has been the concern for too many years. Hopefully this regime under Leonhard remedies the passive play and just becomes aggressive. Teams are going to score but more often than not they shouldn’t be scoring as much as Josh and the gang… 

[Sierra Foothills]

I think we'll win by more but the current line is Bills minus 1.5.

 

[BillsPride12]

2 hours ago, corta765 said:

Bears 2005 sticks out pretty soundly. Incredible unit... offense was led by Rex Grossman yikes

I remember that Bears team. Definitely one of the more forgotten teams to reach a Super Bowl. I remember the Defense being good, Tommie Harris was a monster at that time but I don't think they were ever as dominant as the Texans current Defense but I can see the comparison

[HappyDays]

Yes they really are that good. I would put them in the class of 2015 Denver, although not quite the class of 2000 Baltimore. I said this last year - you don't beat Houston with great offense. Their defense is too good. Your offense has to just survive while your defense smothers them. For the most part that's how teams beat them last year. They have one weapon you have to worry about and Stroud can be forced into dumb mistakes. So you can't, for example, score a kickoff return TD and then immediately give up a long clock draining TD to end the 1st half. Hypothetically speaking of course. They're maybe the only team in the NFL where I don't want the game to end with the ball in Allen's hands. I want to end the game with Stroud seeing ghosts and let him choke in a big moment.

[HappyDays]

8 hours ago, Miyagi-Do Karate said:

We have to be smart. Same thing I said before they lost to them last year. Just need to play sound field position, take points when you can get them, no sacks and turnovers. Let them make the mistakes, not us. 
 

This is a team you have to beat like 17-10. 
 

it will only be a tough game because the offense will want to come out and try to play big. They will need to resist that urge.

 

Yes I am big on the offense being more aggressive this year, but week 1 is the exception. A punt against Houston is a good play. Nobody wants to hear that but for that opponent it needs to be the mindset of the team. Run the ball, kick FGs on 4th and 1, if Anderson wins off the snap just go down and let him tap you. If you do all of that you will probably win the game as long as your defense can hold down a middling at best offense.

[BillsPride12]

46 minutes ago, HappyDays said:

 

Yes I am big on the offense being more aggressive this year, but week 1 is the exception. A punt against Houston is a good play. Nobody wants to hear that but for that opponent it needs to be the mindset of the team. Run the ball, kick FGs on 4th and 1, if Anderson wins off the snap just go down and let him tap you. If you do all of that you will probably win the game as long as your defense can hold down a middling at best offense.

I agree with this. Going back to last year's matchup for as much as their Defense clobbered us the final score was only 23-19. Points are going to be a premium for this game including taking the field goals when you have a chance. I do expect Brady to be more aggressive in nature than McDermott in some ways but I don't expect this will be the game to showcase that. Another thing I remember about the game last year was for as much trouble as they were giving our Offense, their Offense was equally having a hard time taking advantage of the turnovers and getting points on the board. 

[DaBillsFanSince1973]

Week 1 Discussion...How  time manages to get away. Certainly can be a Good thing, football, almost here already. for me, another year closer, instead of, far away.

 

GO BILLS!!!

[billsfan89]

10 hours ago, stlbills13 said:

Best defense in the league with a good defensive coach. Won't be easy.

 

Stroud will hold them back from a Super Bowl

Not only Stroud but a suspect Oline, a skill position set that is anchored by one very good player and not much else. I don’t think Stroud is a bad QB probably a slightly above average starter. But he can’t be surrounded by way below average offensive talent to have success.

[machine gun kelly]

16 hours ago, Gregg said:

This will be a tough game. This is probably the toughest defense the Bills will play all year. I do like the fact that the Bills play them week 1 as opposed to later in the year when they are in midseason form. 

Agreed, but the only fortune is it is week 1 before their defense is fully gelling.  Josh will have to be on his A game from the beginning of the game.  My hope is Brady breaks from the deferring to start the game, and takes the ball if we win the toss.  March right down and nail 7pts. In the first couple of minutes.

[AlCowlingsTaxiService]

“These guys are good … scary good” ~ Rick Jennerett on the Houston defense 

[eball]

Yes, Houston has a very, very good defense…perhaps elite. But I went back to look at last year and noticed a few things:

• No Kincaid. We know he makes a difference.
• WRs were Shakir, a gimpy Palmer, Gabe Davis, and Elijah Moore. Yuck.
• Cook still rushed for 116 yards

Now, on the other side of the ball we were playing Davis Mills and not CJ Stroud…but Stroud looked like a$$ at the end of last year so who knows what guy shows up in W1?

 

I guess the bottom line is that in spite of the above, the Bills still had 326 yards (and a ST touchdown) against Houston’s defense, and I think we’d all agree the offense looks a bit more “loaded” going into the season.

 

[Nihilarian]

I don't know If i'd call them elite this year, as the Patriots scored 28 on them in that playoff game. Granted, they were playing in NE and in 35-degree weather. CJ Stroud threw 4 INTs, and they had 5 turnovers in that game. Stroud went 20 of 47 for 212 yards, 1 TD, 4 INTs, and 3 sacks. That Houston defense did sack Maye 5x and caused 4x fumbles: he lost 2 and threw an INT. 3 turnovers for NE. 

 

Houston finished that season #2 in points allowed, #1 in yards allowed. They were 7th in sacks in 2025 with 47. Their biggest claim to fame was their #2 point differential. Meaning #2 in turnovers, only behind Chicago. Something that is usually not sustainable year after year.

While their defense was #1 overall, their offense was 18th in yards, 13th in points scored, and in the 20s in rushing yards and rushing TDs. 

 

The Texans do have a new RB in David Montgomery, who, as we know, was in Chicago and then Detroit. Should be better than Woody Marks. 

 

The best thing Buffalo has going forward is that, because it's so early in the season, so far no major injuries to date.🤞 Ed Oliver should be a wrecking ball by himself. The drawback is that the Houston Texans heat is expected to be 88-90 and humid. 

 

The biggest question is whether that Buffalo offensive line and RBs will be as good without O-line coach Aaron Kromer, who retired.  Last season, 8 sacks on Josh...Yikes!