Game week thread - Bills at Texans

[Dillenger4]

1 hour ago, BuffaloBillyG said:

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. 

Texans pass rush is much better than Pitt. Our O line better hold up next week or we are in for a smashing loss. This game will be very, very close. Hopefully our D is for real. If so, we might win.

[corta765]

I have three thoughts about the game at this point:

 

1. Week 1 is the most unpredictable and weird week of every NFL season. You learn very little from it good or bad and it can be overreaction central. Last year the Seahawks lost 17-13 to the 49ers, the Bears lost 27-24 to JJ & the Vikings, & the Patriots lost to the Raiders. There are always upsets, games that are completely weird in score in a way you don't expect, and for some contenders the rust is real. The Jets almost beat PIT in their 34-32 loss which was one of the best games of the weekend. Read that again and it tells you everything you need to know about week 1 NFL lol.

 

If the game ends 30-27 between BUF HOU I will just shrug my shoulders because of course it isn't 19-17 like everyone thinks haha.

 

2. From a Bills perspective they haven't seen you with this offense, play book, etc.. so honestly you try and push it a bit early try to get them by surprise. They will settle in where you have to play a more balance careful attack. If you can get up 10 points then you revert to a ball controlling offense to play boring but yard eating. Houston's offense has not demonstrated in years they can attack in bunches and with their injuries you can play rope a dope. If Buffalo wins I truly think it is like 24-14 or even 27-17 something where they get up and it is never really in doubt.

 

3. From a Texans perspective you want the Bills offense off balanced as quickly as possible. There is nothing to make you believe right now that you cannot attack like you did last year on defense and that your coverage won't hold up. Even with a healthy Bills line you attack and constantly make it third and long. On offense given the injuries at WR you use a heavy play action game and attack with Montgomery basically going 50/50 rush to pass. Sprinkle in a few deep plays as the Bills secondary could have opportunities right now as they mesh. TE Dalton Schultz is a person you absolutely attack with as the Bills inside LB corp has questions and could leave opportunity open early on. If Houston wins it probably is 21-17 something closer but allows their offense to just do enough while their defense keeps the Buffalo offense off script quickly so it is a game of catch up throughout.

[muppy]

https://www.espn.com/nfl/video/_/gameId/401872660

 

The thread title didn't give specifics.

 

Bills @ Texans 9/13 10am Pacific CBS

[BuffaloBillyG]

22 minutes ago, Dillenger4 said:

Texans pass rush is much better than Pitt. Our O line better hold up next week or we are in for a smashing loss. This game will be very, very close. Hopefully our D is for real. If so, we might win.

I disagree that the game will be close. And yes the Texans pass rush is good. But that happened to have their best game against us. The vaunted Texans pass rush still finished behind 6 other teams in sacks, including the Steelers. Heck, Denver finished with 21 more sacks than the Texans. 

 

Again, good pass rush. But aside from a couple big weeks (one being us) they weren't all that people here make them out to be. 

[WhitewalkerInPhilly]

Tank Dell being out is huge

[eball]

9 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.

 

I’d really like to know what @Coach Tuesday disagrees with in this post. Seriously. 
 

[AlCowlingsTaxiService]

Hopefully our starting OT’s hold up … haven’t looked stellar during preseason 🤷‍♂️

[947]

1 hour ago, WhitewalkerInPhilly said:

Tank Dell being out is huge

 

Dell will likely never be a good NFL player again, after that injury. He'll probably make it back onto the field at some point this season, but I'll be surprised if he's not toast.

[Scott7975]

4 hours ago, Dillenger4 said:

Texans pass rush is much better than Pitt. Our O line better hold up next week or we are in for a smashing loss. This game will be very, very close. Hopefully our D is for real. If so, we might win.

 

Nah. The Bills will make a statement and win by at least two scores.

[Coach Tuesday]

2 hours ago, eball said:

I’d really like to know what @Coach Tuesday disagrees with in this post. Seriously. 
 

I don’t expect them to score more than 21.  Would love to be wrong!

Edited August 31 by Coach Tuesday

[NoSaint]

4 hours ago, BuffaloBillyG said:

I disagree that the game will be close. And yes the Texans pass rush is good. But that happened to have their best game against us. The vaunted Texans pass rush still finished behind 6 other teams in sacks, including the Steelers. Heck, Denver finished with 21 more sacks than the Texans. 

 

Again, good pass rush. But aside from a couple big weeks (one being us) they weren't all that people here make them out to be. 

the problem is they have a front 7 that can run with Josh and back 7 that could single man cover all our receivers.

 

normally Joshs legs are our man beater but they can solve that problem without losing man coverage. 
 

only so many teams can do that 

 

it’s why looking back the last 5-6 years you see the games where you worry about Josh surviving were Houston, a few years when Baltimore had the horses…. A few jets matchups at their defenses peak

10 hours ago, SCBills said:

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.  

that said, they will be physical and we may see guys in the tent. 

[SCBills]

14 minutes ago, NoSaint said:

the problem is they have a front 7 that can run with Josh and back 7 that could single man cover all our receivers.

 

normally Joshs legs are our man beater but they can solve that problem without losing man coverage. 
 

only so many teams can do that 

 

it’s why looking back the last 5-6 years you see the games where you worry about Josh surviving were Houston, a few years when Baltimore had the horses…. A few jets matchups at their defenses peak

that said, they will be physical and we may see guys in the tent. 

Agreed.  Last year we tried to spread them out with absolute trash for Allen to throw to.   Tackles played hurt, left game.  A mess. 
 

So can that look different with the OL healthy and Moore, Palmer, Shakir and Kincaid all guys who can win one on ones?… these will be one on ones against studs though.  
 

Or do we try to mash them.  Heavy sets, playaction, 12 personnel, protection ortiented etc.?

 

Very intrigued to see how Brady plays this knowing firsthand how last year went. 

[MasterStrategist]

Great litmus test for Week 1.  23-17 Bills

 

 

[NoSaint]

3 minutes ago, SCBills said:

Agreed.  Last year we tried to spread them out with absolute trash for Allen to throw to.   Tackles played hurt, left game.  A mess. 
 

So can that look different with the OL healthy and Moore, Palmer, Shakir and Kincaid all guys who can win one on ones?… these will be one on ones against studs though.  
 

Or do we try to mash them.  Heavy sets, playaction, 12 personnel, protection ortiented etc.?

 

Very intrigued to see how Brady plays this knowing firsthand how last year went. 

a healthy line buys a little time and Moore, knock on wood, can win a few matchups 1-1 without running slow developing mesh routes. Kincaid might force those linebackers not to fire in Josh as freely.
 

hopefully, also, sliding all the guys down the depth chart gets us Keon against CB4 instead of CB1, right? 
 

Even if we lose I’ll think we are a contender- but we will learn quickly if Moore is that guy or just a bandaid giving a little incremental help. 

Edited September 1 by NoSaint

[SCBills]

1 minute ago, NoSaint said:

a healthy line buys a little time and Moore, knock on wood, can win a few matchups 1-1 without running slow developing mesh routes. Kincaid might force those linebackers not to fire in Josh as freely.
 

hopefully, also, sliding all the guys down the depth chart gets us Keon against CB4 instead of CB1, right? 
 

Even if we lose I’ll think we are a contender- but we will learn quickly if Moore is that guy or just a bandaid giving a little incremental help. 

Yea.. when people correctly point out how Josh was bottled up many times last year, much of it is due to zero defenses respecting our receivers… which led to guys waiting to fire, and then firing immediately when Allen tried to escape. 
 

 

Edited September 1 by SCBills

[NewEra]

On 8/30/2026 at 5:04 PM, BillsFan619 said:

Pre-season games are over and the initial 53 is set.

 

We're on to the regular season and on to the Texans.

 

I know Houston's defense is really good, but the Texans just put WR Tank Dell on IR (designated to return) and Higgins (their WR2) is already on IR.

 

Lets go Buffalo, make a statement right out of the gate.

Go Bills!

 

 

 

Mind changing the title of this thread?  It’s going to hurt my eyes every time I see it.  I know you changed it already because the first title was bad, so I’m sorry for bringing this up, but I had to get this off my chest

 

“Game week one thread” is 💩  It’s the first game of the season and our weekly thread sucks.  Bad juju.  

 

Week 1: Bills @ Texans

or something that makes sense.

 

[oldmanfan]

Back in the day I recall the philosophy for dealing with great pass rushers was to run the ball right at them,  make them play the run, and wear them down.  That’s what I hope to see.  Bring in an extra O lineman, put Hawes in the backfield, and run it down their throat early.  

[TheWei44]

25 minutes ago, oldmanfan said:

Back in the day I recall the philosophy for dealing with great pass rushers was to run the ball right at them,  make them play the run, and wear them down.  That’s what I hope to see.  Bring in an extra O lineman, put Hawes in the backfield, and run it down their throat early.  

I agree, the more I think about, the more I like a run heavy, our big guys against theirs approach (similar to Pitt game last year) - BUT, mix in some well timed play action, screens, etc. for balance.

[Don Otreply]

GO BILLS!!’

[Royale with Cheese]

I'm going to be pretty upset with this defense if they give up more than 16 against a Tank Dell-less offense with CJ Stroud under center.

Stroud should give our defense multiple opportunities.