Writer: Alex James
Editor: Brandon Caputo
Photo Credit: AP Photo/Jeffrey T. Barnes
“He’s Back!”
Josh Allen is back! For most of Bills Mafia he never left, however some fans began to have some lingering doubts after his two performances this season alongside the big contract. Imagine the Bills winning 35-0 against the Dolphins and some still question whether Allen is what we really know him to be? Nonetheless, the Bills absolutely smacked Washington Football Team 43-21 improving to 2-1 on the season.
There were many positives to take from the Bills performance; Allen threw for over 350 yards, the team rushed over 100 yards, Beasley & Sanders both had over 90+ receiving yards, Poyer & Hyde each had an interception and Tre White forced a fumble which was recovered by Milano. All in all, a complete performance by every player on the Bills. After this week, the talk about them should be: “The Bills are proving to the NFL they’re real contenders”.
Video Credit: Buffalo Archives Now via FOX Sports
Photo Credit: AP Photo/Gary Weipert
The Houston Texans roll into town on Sunday for a 1 o’clock kickoff at Highmark Stadium. It’s expected to be a warm but rainy encounter which may have both teams instituting the rushing game more than normal (especially the Bills). In what would have been a welcoming homecoming for Tyrod Taylor, he is still not expected to play with the hamstring injury he picked up in Week 2.
This leads to the 3rd round pick David Mills getting his second career start against the Bills in what will likely be a tough test for him on the road in Orchard Park. Getting pressure on him early and making him uncomfortable in the pocket will likely be part of the Bills game plan, similar to how they played Heinicke.
The keys to the game for the Bills are simple; limit penalties, continue success in the red-zone, and stopping Brandin Cooks. The Bills were 5-30 in penalties/yards lost, however 2 more penalties took place that were declined.
Discipline is key going forward, all the penalties could’ve been avoided and in doing so make the Bills more dangerous on both sides of the ball going forward. Second, the Bills need to continue producing 6 points when entering the red-zone. The bills were 66% successful in the red-zone against the WFT, a % that will hopefully continue to improve going forward (an average in the mid-70s by the end of the season will have them likely atop the NFL).
The final key to success on Sunday is to limit the catches of playmaker Brandin Cooks, the real game-changer on the Texans offence. Cooks has produced 110+ yards in two of three games this season, creating big plays & big yardage on limited receptions. Stopping Cooks from his big play threat is going to be key, but with how the DB’s and secondary have been playing, that shouldn’t be an issue.
2021 Buffalo Bills Team Statistics - as of Week 3
Statistics Provided by NFL.com
As of the mid-week injury report, Hyde, Feliciano, and Taron Johnson have all been limited in practice, and there is uncertainty of their health going into Sunday.
The Texans are coming off two back-to-back losses, which likely lead to three after Sunday afternoon facing a Bills team that is more-rounded and explosive on both sides of the ball. The Bills could easily put up 50 points against the Texans and limit Houston’s offence to virtually no points as it did to Miami. If rain is a factor, it could be a lower scoring game but I expect another blowout in front of the home fans on Sunday.
Prediction
Bills: 41
Texans: 7
Circle the Wagons,
Alex James