‘If Wallace can’t play Saturday he’ll be replaced in the lineup by Kevin Johnson, who has platooned with him at right cornerback through the second half of the regular season.’
Archives for January 2020
3 key matchups to follow for Bills at Texans | Scouting Report Wild Card edition
‘Hopkins had five receptions for 63 yards and a perfectly executed back-shoulder touchdown the last time White and Hopkins squared off. And it will take air tight execution if Watson and Hopkins are going to beat White again as he’s playing the best ball of his career.’
What they’re saying: NFL analysts are optimistic about the Bills chances in the playoffs
‘If you’re in the “defense wins championships” crowd, you probably consider the Bills a legitimate contender. They entered Week 17 ranked No. 5 in defensive DVOA and No. 2 in points allowed. They have an active front, multiple playmakers in the back end and make opponents work for everything. This is a team built to stifle opponents and hope that the offense can find a way to score enough to win.’
Bills Today | Tre’Davious White earns All-Pro recognition from these media outlets
‘If a Buffalo Bills opponent wants to score six points, it shouldn’t target cornerback Tre’Davious White. According to Pro Football Focus, he recorded 599 coverage snaps without allowing a single touchdown.’
Pollock: Playoffs present the biggest test for Bills’ Allen
‘The positive, as it relates to turnovers, is that after being intercepted 19 times in his first 17 games, he’s been picked off only twice in the last 11 starts.’
Bills’ secondary prepares for DeAndre Hopkins, but knows there’s more to pass game
‘”It’s not Tre’Davious White versus Hopkins,” Bills safety Micah Hyde said. “He has 10 other guys on the defense who are going to help him out, whether it’s the pass rush or a safety over top. There are a lot of things that can happen. It’s not high school, seven-on-seven, one-on-one zero coverage. It’s nothing like that. He has guys to help him out. We’re all out there trying to limit ’10’ and what he can do because he’s an explosive player. Best hands in the league and that’s why Watson is always looking at him.”‘
Bills cornerback Levi Wallace returns to practice
‘Offensive tackle Ty Nsekhe (ankle), wide receiver/kick returner Andre Roberts (foot) and defensive end Shaq Lawson (hamstring) all were on the field, meaning every member of the active roster was available for practice. The three were limited participants Tuesday and were limited again Wednesday.’
‘I have to be there’: Bills superfans go to extraordinary lengths to get to Houston
‘Bills superfans intent on making it to Saturday’s NFL wild-card playoff game against the Houston Texans employed innovative strategies that would make any seasoned travel agent proud.’
Key stats behind the matchups in Bills vs. Texans
‘Watson is tied for seventh in the league with 29 big-time throws (PFF’s highest-graded throws, typically further downfield or into tighter coverage). Allen has just 13, which ranks 27th and is just two more than Case Keenum, who only started 10 games.’
Texans’ Deshaun Watson planning to go at Bills’ Tre White, likes match up with DeAndre Hopkins
‘“I’m still going at him. I’m gonna compete and I’m gonna go at him and just play ball,” Watson said. “If my guy’s open or if the coverage take me that way I’m gonna throw it that way. You gotta give him respect and definitely pick your spots. But at the same time you can’t let that (make you) shy away from doing what you want to do.”’
DeAndre Hopkins gives Tre’Davious White, Buffalo Bills bulletin board material ahead of Wild Card Weekend
‘“I’m still going at him. I’m gonna compete and I’m gonna go at him and just play ball,” Watson said. “If my guy’s open or if the coverage take me that way I’m gonna throw it that way. You gotta give him respect and definitely pick your spots. But at the same time you can’t let that (make you) shy away from doing what you want to do.”’
NFL Playoffs: 6 things to know about the Houston Texans, Buffalo Bills’ Wild Card Weekend opponent
‘The addition of Laremy Tunsil has helped the Texans, but Buffalo still has a chance to get after Watson. Last year, the Texans allowed Watson to get sacked 62 times. The team has improved upon this total in 2019 (49 sacks), but still had the eighth highest sack total allowed in the league.’
How Ed Oliver feels about playing against his hometown in the playoffs
‘Ed Oliver feels a sense of pride, which is why he can’t wait to come home and show Houston how far he’s come since he was drafted. “If I don’t make any big plays, I’ll still be happy to go play in front of Houston,” he said. “If I make a thousand big plays, I’ll still be happy. Either way, we’re going back to Houston and the goal is to win.”‘
Thursday’s Houston Coverage
When Texans offense sputters, it starts with turnovers and penalties (Houston Chronicle)
How Texans plan to use J.J. Watt against Buffalo (Houston Chronicle)
Texans’ Deshaun Watson on Clemson-LSU: ‘I’m riding with the real tigers’ (Houston Chronicle)
McClain: How Texans stack up against NFL’s stout defenses (Houston Chronicle)
Texans’ Deshaun Watson sent group text to teammates: ‘Let’s be great’ (Houston Chronicle)
Texans-Bills playoff notebook: J.J. Watt limited; Jordan Thomas misses practice (Houston Chronicle)
NFL Playoffs, Wild Card Round: Bills-Texans — Four Things To Watch For (Houston Press)
Watt returns to practice, inspires Texans with rousing talk (Toronto Sun)
Texans planning to use J.J. Watt strategically in Saturday’s playoff game vs. Bills (CBS Sports)
Texans plan to use J.J. Watt strategically in Saturday’s playoff game vs. Bills (KHOU-TV)
How hard will JJ Watt play in playoff game after pec tear? (KTRK-TV)
How Ed Oliver feels about playing against his hometown in the playoffs (KTRK-TV)
J.J. Watt: ‘I Want To Create That Magic Again’ (KILT-AM)
The Leftovers: J.J. Watt, Will Fuller & surprises for playoffs (HoustonTexans.com)
Sal’s 2019 Bills Awards
‘It’s tough to go against a quarterback who accounted for 29 total touchdowns, but Josh Allen’s growth was directly tied to the addition of several pieces, but most notably wide receiver John Brown, who turned in the team’s first 1,000-yard receiving season since Sammy Watkins in 2015, and the second of his six-year career, totaling 1,060 yards and six touchdowns on 72 catches. He also threw a touchdown pass to Devin Singletary on Thanksgiving in Dallas against the Cowboys. Brown showed an ability to get open all over the field and beat one on one coverage consistently.’