The Buffalo Bills were busy on Tuesday naming all their team captains, and of course Josh Allen was one of them, named for the eighth time. Terrel Bernard and Reid Ferguson were also named twice. The other players included Dawson Knox, Bradley Chubb, and Sam Franklin Jr., all newbies.
As they all deserve it, now is the time to get ready for their showdown against the Houston Texans on Sunday. It will be a tough road game, as it has been in past matchups. The team will have to be prepared for the many obstacles the Texans will bring. Let's take a look at three concerns the Bills must face head-on to beat them on the road.
3 hurdles Bills must overcome in Week 1 matchup
1.) Houston's wide receiving corps
As the Houston Texans traded for former New England Patriots wideout Kayshon Boutte, look for him to be a thorn in the Bills' side along with teammate Nico Collins. Boutte put up 551 yards on 33 receptions and six touchdowns. With Boutte now the No. 2 receiver opposite Collins, look for the teammates to split targets evenly, making it interesting to see how the team's dynamics will play out.
Collins last year tallied 1,117 yards on 71 catches and six touchdowns in 15 games. Look for him and Boutte to split those reps evenly.
Expect the Bills' cornerbacks to do their part in the game to slow both players down, as Christian Benford will mainly be responsible for containing Collins, while Maxwell Hairston will cover Boutte.
2.) Houston's defense
It's no surprise that, of all the defenses quarterback Josh Allen has had to face in his career, the one that gives him the most trouble is this tough Houston defense led by Will Anderson Jr. and Danielle Hunter.
Allen has been sacked a total of 11 times, including a body-crushing eight sacks in last year's matchup. This Houston defensive front includes Anderson Jr. and Hunter, both game-wrecking pass rushers who can quickly change a game.
The former MVP quarterback will have to try to release the ball from his hands more quickly with screen passes to Khalil Shakir, or try to connect on more quick-strike downfield passes to D.J. Moore.
3.) Head-to-Head match
The Texans lead the all-time series against the Bills 8-5. They have only been in the NFL since 2002, when they joined as an expansion franchise. Since 2009, the Texans are 7-2, and their only two losses have come in Buffalo at the old Highmark Stadium.
The Bills beat them in 2015 at home when Tyrod Taylor was the quarterback. But their only win with Allen at quarterback came in 2021, when the Bills shut out the Texans 40-0 at home.
The Bills are also looking for their first road win against the Houston Texans since Nov. 19, 2006, when quarterback J.P. Losman threw a rocket pass to wide receiver Pearless Price in the end zone with nine seconds left to give the Bills a huge road win, 24-21.
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