Game week thread - Bills at Texans

[JP51]

If the Bills win 2 keys O and D

 

Protect Josh

Figure out a way to run at least a bit

 

Force the pass

Pass rush

 

pretty much this is every game, but really important here... Offense will struggle to score lots and lots of points, we cannot let them gash us on the ground like last year... Stroud if pressured can be a weakness and turn the ball over... we must pressure him relentlessly. 4 yards on 1st down on the ground is gonna be bad. 

 

Edited August 31 by JP51

[stlbills13]

Houston is nasty. I hope to see the screen game right out of the gate next weekend. Try to neutralize the pass rush. 

 

Houston's offense doesn't scare me but they do have some solid players on that side of the ball. Should be a nice test for Leonhard's defense. Definitely a QB you can pressure and force turnovers. 

[SCBills]

Another note for our Offense against their Defense…

 

Last year:

 

-Brown plays hurt multiples drives and then leaves the game

 

-Dawkins gets evaluated for a concussion. Clears. Plays the game.  Enters concussion protocol the next day. 
 

-No Kincaid. 
 

-No DJ Moore. 
 

So.. aside from JA & Cook, we basically played them without our two best weapons entering Week 1 in Kincaid and Moore, lost our premier RT early in the game and our LT probably played concussed.  

[HaldimandBills]

2 hours ago, eball said:

@HaldimandBills I think the Bills are going to score more than 21 simply because of how depleted we were last year by comparison, as you detailed in your post. We’ll go into this one healthy at WR, TE, and OL. We’ll also have tweaks Houston hasn’t seen from this offense.

 

I’ve said it in other threads. Houston is overrated, despite their elite defense. Their offense is a HUGE question mark and might be a mess. WR1 and not much else, plus a QB who was awful the last time he stepped on a football field for real.

 

The Bills have been overlooked this offseason by everyone except Vegas. This is a statement game and I’m expecting big things.

 

Sorry I meant if the Bills play a straight up game I don't see the Bills offense scoring more than 21 points. Turn overs and strong special teams you'd hope, could push that score higher. 

 

That Texans defense is next level. I watched them slaughter offenses all season. Montgomery is not elite but he's a productive back. I agree their OL is new and might take a few games to gel which is to Buffalo's advantage. 

Edited August 31 by HaldimandBills

[eball]

3 minutes ago, HaldimandBills said:

Sorry I meant if the Bills play a straight up game I don't see the Bills offense scoring more than 21 points. Turn overs and strong special teams you'd hope, could push that score higher. 

 

That Texans defense is next level. I watched them slaughter offenses all season. Montgomery is not elite but he's a productive back. I agree their OL is new and might take a few games to gel which is to Buffalo's advantage. 

 

I don’t know what it is — perhaps over-exuberance and homerism — but I have really high expectations for the Bills offense this season, and I think they have more ways to attack teams than ever before. Elite QB play — check. Elite RB play — check. Great TE room — check. Legit WR1 — check. Stability on OL — check.

 

I don’t care how good your defense is…who do you look at on the Bills offense and say “if we take away X player they will struggle?” This offense has the ability to shapeshift and come at you in a variety of ways. There is no question Brady and Carmichael will scheme it up to try and negate Houston’s vicious pass rush.

 

Josh has not had his best games in that stadium but that is also a function of the talent around him. He’s got more than ever before now.

 

[HaldimandBills]

9 minutes ago, eball said:

 

I don’t know what it is — perhaps over-exuberance and homerism — but I have really high expectations for the Bills offense this season, and I think they have more ways to attack teams than ever before. Elite QB play — check. Elite RB play — check. Great TE room — check. Legit WR1 — check. Stability on OL — check.

 

I don’t care how good your defense is…who do you look at on the Bills offense and say “if we take away X player they will struggle?” This offense has the ability to shapeshift and come at you in a variety of ways. There is no question Brady and Carmichael will scheme it up to try and negate Houston’s vicious pass rush.

 

Josh has not had his best games in that stadium but that is also a function of the talent around him. He’s got more than ever before now.

 

I agree Buffalo has the best offense in the AFC and maybe the NFL. I just happen to believe Houston has the best defense in the AFC and maybe the NFL. 

 

Still boggles my mind that the NFL put this game at 1pm in Week 1 to be lost in the Week 1 shuffle. That is another advantage for Buffalo.

 

I do believe Buffalo wins this game. I just wish it was going to be by a wider margin than it likely ends up being. Ravens Week 1 last year took years off of most our lives.

[Dillenger4]

This game is huge!

Josh has had nightmare games in that stadium. (Last year and the playoff game). I hope he is mentally ready - and I think he will be.

Our O on paper looks better than last season, so I hope it turns out true.

If our D can play the way we all think they will, we will win this tough battle of a game.

It's the NFL. This will be a close fought game. By the 4th Q we will all be stressed -  but I sense the Bills will pull it out and win a close one.

[Mat68]

Protect Josh. Can’t put Dawkins and Brown on islands like they did last time for much of the game.  I think spreading them out is the way to attack. 
 

Defensively, a good early test.  Their Oline is still suspect.  Stop the run and explosive pass game and they should be able to have a good showing.  
 

Allen wants to beat them pretty badly with his poor showings the last few meetings.  I think the offense wants to make a statement.  If they can put up points HOU will struggle to keep pace. 

Edited August 31 by Mat68

[Sierra Foothills]

The oddsmakers have the Bills as 1.5 point favorites.

 

I think we'll win by more than that.

 

Last year was a perfect storm for Houston and yes, Mills starting over Stroud was advantageous to the outcome.

 

This year the Bills will be healthy and the Texans won't know what to expect from our revamped defense and re-tweaked offense.

 

Their O-line and WR corps are in disarray.

 

I think we win by a two score margin.

 

Edited August 31 by Sierra Foothills

[Jauronimo]

2 hours ago, JP51 said:

If the Bills win 2 keys O and D

 

Protect Josh

Figure out a way to run at least a bit

 

Force the pass

Pass rush

 

pretty much this is every game, but really important here... Offense will struggle to score lots and lots of points, we cannot let them gash us on the ground like last year... Stroud if pressured can be a weakness and turn the ball over... we must pressure him relentlessly. 4 yards on 1st down on the ground is gonna be bad. 

 

Josh and the offense need to limit turnovers, play field position, and know that punting is just fine against this defense.  Josh cannot have another game of holding the ball forever and letting the Texans pass rush unload on him.

[eball]

Just now, Jauronimo said:

Josh and the offense need to limit turnovers, play field position, and know that punting is just fine against this defense.  Josh cannot have another game of holding the ball forever and letting the Texans pass rush unload on him.

 

I feel pretty strongly that the Bills are going into this game looking to attack Houston’s defense, without being stupid in doing so. We get our first look at Joe Brady’s “put the ball down” mentality.

 

[JP51]

Just now, Jauronimo said:

Josh and the offense need to limit turnovers, play field position, and know that punting is just fine against this defense.  Josh cannot have another game of holding the ball forever and letting the Texans pass rush unload on him.

Amen to this. 

[corta765]

13 hours ago, Bookie Man said:

Don't think we drop 3 in a row to Houston. Like us in this spot. 

Bills haven't won in Houston since 2006 and have lost 6 in a row.... soooo it could just be our time!

[Coach Tuesday]

My concern is the readiness of our o-line.  Week 1 is often like an extra preseason game for the starters, who don’t play much in the preseason and are still getting in shape into September.  This is often especially true for offensive linemen.  You rarely see crisp blocking and snap-timing execution during Week 1 but that’s what we’ll need, on the road, against a formidable front 7.  

[BillsFan130]

19 minutes ago, corta765 said:

Bills haven't won in Houston since 2006 and have lost 6 in a row.... soooo it could just be our time!

Was that the JP Losman/ Lee Evans game where they connected on like 2, 85+ yard bombs in the same quarter? Haha

[nuklz2594]

texans QB is...cj stroud. the bills just need to play smart football. CJ is nobody to sweat about

[Logic]

As long as the offense doesn't commit turnovers, I like our chances.

This is a classic "don't beat yourself" game.

As much as I expect their defense to give our offense headaches, I also don't trust their offense to put up a ton of points on the Bills defense.

Avoid turning the ball over and eek out of a win. Get the hell back to Orchard Park for a stadium opener party!

[BuffaloBillyG]

What a lot of people don't remember z is after playing Houston last year we played Pittsburgh who also has a good pass rush. And we played them WITHOUT Brown or Dawkins...and gave up zero sacks. 

 

I think they have more of a game plan like that game. I think the focus for Buffalo will be to run the ball, when we do pass we use max protection. Shorter routes. 

[corta765]

6 minutes ago, BillsFan130 said:

Was that the JP Losman/ Lee Evans game where they connected on like 2, 85+ yard bombs in the same quarter? Haha

Yep what a time!

[Ray Stonada]

Would love to see a scripted first two drives with:

 

Counter rushes

Screen passes

Swing passes

1st and 10 deep shot 

 

Use their aggressiveness against them