With a new era coming into play for the Buffalo Bills with Joe Brady leading as the head coach, a major test was dealt to the Bills early on in their schedule. For the first time since 2023, the Bills will be on the road to open up their season and will head down to Houston to take on the Texans.
When it comes to facing the Texans in Houston, the Bills have heavily struggled there. The sad part is that the games are usually close, but Buffalo just can’t close those games out. Brady got the head coaching job, now he will be given a massive test that Bills fans are hoping he will pass in Week 1.
With training camp officially being next month, we had the chance to talk with Clayton Anderson, Site Expert for Toro Times, covering the Houston Texans, and Anderson was able to give Bills fans some insights that they shouldn’t want to ignore leading up to training camp.
1.) What is one offseason move (free agency, trade, draft, etc.) that has Texans fans excited for this coming season and why?
"The most exciting thing that has many Texans fans buzzing ahead of the regular season is the impending return of WR Tank Dell. Even though names like IOL Keylan Rutledge and DT Kayden McDonald, RB David Montgomery and a litany of others have their own intrigue, Dell's playmaking potential and popularity in the city gives him the edge."
"Before he lost the last two seasons to major injuries, Dell was on a historic pace in terms of offensive production. Shifty, great hands, tough, a deep threat and a best friend to QB C.J. Stroud, Dell being able to return to any version of himself soon is like a major free agency addition."
2.) Training camp is the time to see who the best players are on the roster. Are there any underrated players that the Texans have that should have Bills fans potentially worried?
"Sneakily, I think that WR Jayden Higgins might become a thorn in the side of Buffalo. In last season's week 12 match-up, Higgins had four catches for 38 yards and 1 touchdown in Houston's 23-19 win."
"Additionally. Higgins was top three in receiving yards on the team (525) and actually tied for most receiving touchdowns on the team (6). With more of the attention of Pro Bowler Nico Collins and the aforementioned Dell, Higgins could be a huge beneficiary who accumulates gaudy numbers due to lack of defensive pressure."
3.) The Bills passed on DT Kayden McDonald, who went one spot later to the Texans in the second round. What are the immediate expectations for him in his rookie season?
"McDonald is expected to join an already solid rotation of veterans who understand the value of creating havoc along the interior while Houston All-Pro duo of edge rushers in Will Anderson Jr. and Danielle Hunter cause even more problems on the outside. He's a big-bodied specimen who could theoretically begin to draw double teams on occasion, thus allowing the rest of the defensive line to get home against whatever offense they face."
"The goal is for McDonald to be the cherry on top of an already ferocious defensive front, not be the cake itself. By his own admission though, he said that Defensive Rookie of the Year and a Super Bowl are within his own expectations for himself."
4.) How did Texans feel about getting to host the Bills in Week 1, since we know that Buffalo has heavily struggled in Houston for many years now.
"Being honest, I found myself being cautiously optimistic after the news came down of the meeting. While yes, the Texans have been the boogeyman to the Bills for essentially the entirety of Josh Allen's tenure as QB, it does also feel like Buffalo is due a win at some point. They've been close so many times against Houston, but they just couldn't slam the door shut."
"This time could be different. as the Texans will open the season still working on master the offense of OC Nick Caley, as well as integrating all of their new players into Sunday game planning. As much as I want to be a homer here, Houston will have to come out guns blazing in week one if they want to avoid a disappointing home opener in 2026."
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