Two Bills Drive

‘“We know how it feels not playing your best there,” Texans coach DeMeco Ryans said. “This week, we know we’ll get the Bills’ best.”’

‘Start fast. It is on the Buffalo Bills’ offense to start strong and fast so that the depleted defense isn’t on its heels all day. The Bills also don’t want to become one-dimensional early on – as offensive coordinator Joe Brady said was the case against the Ravens – and scoring early will help that cause. The Houston Texans have scored on three of their four opening drives this season, but their defense isn’t used to teams with high-octane offenses such as the Bills. Houston offensive coordinator Bobby Slowik is innovative, and he’s not afraid to get creative with his players. The Buffalo offense needs to match Houston and aim to score early and often.’

’33:12 – Average time of possession for Houston, second best in the NFL. The Texans have faced three bad offenses (Indianapolis, Chicago and Jacksonville) in the first four weeks and kept each off the field.’

‘I was leaning Bills until the onslaught of injury news this week. With two defensive tackles out – Ed Oliver and Austin Johnson – and Von Miller’s four-game suspension, the defensive line will be notably thin. The Buffalo offense also is without wide receiver Khalil Shakir, and his consistency has been key. I think the injuries are too much to overcome, and Stefon Diggs leaves the meeting with his former team victorious. Texans, 30-24.’

‘The easiest way to put it regarding Miller’s suspension and his future contract status is this: It doesn’t do much to change things. If the Bills cut Miller after this season, they’ll be on the hook for $15.417 million on the 2025 salary cap, but will save $8.457 million. If they designated Miller as a post-June 1 cut, he’ll count $6.374 million on the 2025 cap and $9.043 million on the 2026 cap, but the savings in 2025 would be $17.5 million. Any incentives that Miller earns this year based on his sack total will count on the Bills’ 2025 cap. The overwhelming likelihood remains this is Miller’s final year in Buffalo.’

‘The strange sequence ended up not meaning much when the Bills failed to take advantage of it. But it sounded the echoes of two other instances in Bills history when timeout gaffes by an opposing coach did lead to Buffalo wins.’

‘But after an improbable and impeccable 3-0 start to this season, the Buffalo Bills got hammered, humbled and humiliated in a 35-10 spontaneous combustion to the Baltimore Ravens.’