Stefon Diggs may have gotten the last laugh in Week 5 win over Bills

The anticipated matchup between the Buffalo Bills and Houston Texans took a focus on wide receiver Stefon Diggs, who was traded from the Bills to the Texans this past offseason after being with the Bills from 2020-2023. Diggs played a huge role in Josh Allen’s growth as a quarterback which included helping Allen finish second in the MVP voting in 2020 and helping the Bills reach the AFC Championship game against the Kansas City Chiefs in the same season.

Diggs set career highs in receptions (127) and receiving yards (1,535) in his first season with the Bills. The combo of him and Allen were unstoppable in their first three seasons together. This setup showed that Allen having a true number one receiver was important for the Bills to succeed.

Then the drama started between Allen and Diggs in the 2022-2023 divisional round game against the Cincinnati Bengals. After a completely rough outing by the Bills, Diggs was seen throwing his hands up in the air looking frustrated at Allen on the sideline. There was speculation that Diggs and Allen’s relationship had taken a hit and that it could affect the Bills’ 2023 season.

To start out last season, Diggs recorded 100+ receiving yards in five of the first six games as well as five touchdowns. Then from Week 7 and on, Diggs averaged just 51 yards per game and had only three touchdowns. In Week 11 and on, the Bills were under the play calling of Joe Brady after Ken Dorsey was fired and the Bills changed up their offensive scheme which basically did not include Diggs much at all. The writing was on the wall for Diggs and the Bills, which ultimately led to Diggs being traded.

Fast forward to this past Week 5 matchup where Diggs saw his old team for the first time since being traded, and he may have gotten the last laugh against them.

Stefon Diggs showed Buffalo Bills that a WR1 is important for success

Whether you think that Diggs is the Texans’ number one receiver or not, he played like it after Nico Collins left the game with a hamstring injury in the first quarter. Diggs led the Texans in targets (8) and yards (82). He tied for the most receptions with Dare Ogunbowale. 

Diggs had some crucial catches that helped Houston move the chains to keep Josh Allen the Buffalo offense off the field. Diggs’ presence allowed the Texans to run the ball in crucial moments and even helped players like Dalton Schultz and Tank Dell be important factors at various times in the game.

Say what you want about Diggs and his last season in Buffalo. The Bills could have used a player like him on offense. Someone that the defense has to pay attention to and ultimately allows others around him to succeed. The Bills didn’t have a true receiving threat at all in this game which threw Josh Allen off his game. 

This “everybody eats” mentality has taken a massive hit for the second consecutive week. While it is important to get multiple players involved and confuse the defense, there has to be that one player that defenses have to game plan outside of Allen.

More Bills Coverage: