Getty Images
Getty Images
TV Schedule: Sunday, Dec. 6, 1:00 p.m. ET, CBS
Stadium: Ralph Wilson Stadium
Line: Buffalo (-3.5)
After starting off the season 1-4, the Houston Texans are back in the thick of the AFC Playoff race with four wins in their last five games. Their next opponent is another team with playoff aspirations in the Buffalo Bills. After starting the season 2-1, the Bills have lost five of their last seven, including two straight.
The Bills are coming off a loss to the Kansas City Chiefs on the road, while the Texans defeated the lowly New Orleans Saints at home. The Texans lead the all-time series 4-3 and have won the last three, including last season’s 23-17 decision in Houston.
Houston will look to exploit Buffalo’s 23rd-ranked pass defense with DeAndre Hopkins, who has established himself as a star. Through 13 weeks, Hopkins has 1,081 receiving yards and nine touchdowns. In order for the Texans to succeed, however, the running game must be more consistent, and that falls on Alfred Blue‘s shoulders. The second-year player has only 430 yards rushing in 11 games, which ranks among the worst for a starter in the NFL.
On the other side of the ball, Buffalo will look to exploit the Texans’ 16th-ranked run defense. Most of that workload will go to LeSean McCoy, who has 680 rushing yards and three touchdowns. Another player to watch is rookie Karlos Williams, who is questionable for this game with a shoulder injury. Williams has seven touchdowns this season, and is a threat to score as both a runner and a receiver.
Defensively, the Texans will have to keep Tyrod Taylor in the pocket and unleash their pass rush. Defensive Player of the Year candidate J.J. Watt has been on a roll recently, recording 9.5 sacks in the last five games. He has had help from former first-round pick Whitney Mercilus, who has 4.5 sacks in his last five games.
For the Bills, the key to stopping the Texans is stopping Hopkins. That will fall on former first-round pick Stephon Gilmore and 2015 second-round pick Ronald Darby. Gilmore has had an outstanding season so far, and will get a big paycheck this offseason. Darby has been incredible as well, recording two interceptions and making plays all over the field.
Both teams desperately need this game to stay in the hunt, but in the end, I like the Texans’ chances to dispatch the fading Bills convincingly at Ralph Wilson Stadium.
Prediction: Texans 21, Bills 13
