Before the season, the Buffalo Bills and Houston Texans were clear favorites to win their respective divisions. It hasn’t played out that way.
The Texans are 5-5, in third place of the AFC South and three games behind the first-place Indianapolis Colts. The 7-3 Bills are a game-and-a-half behind the New England Patriots in the AFC East.
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The Bills have a better shot at making a run to a division title, but they can’t afford to drop many more games. The good news for Buffalo is it won’t face Houston at full strength. Quarterback C.J. Stroud will miss his second straight game due to a concussion. Davis Mills will take his place. Last week, the Texans needed a last-second field goal to beat the Tennessee Titans, who have the worst record in the NFL at 1-9. Mills wasn’t that bad though, with 274 yards and a touchdown. He’ll need to be at his best for the Texans to win and maintain some hope of staying in the playoff race.
The other quarterback is coming off a historic game. Reigning NFL MVP Josh Allen had six touchdowns last week, three passing and three receiving. Allen now has two of three games in NFL history with three passing touchdowns and three rushing touchdowns. Otto Graham has the other, in 1954.
Buffalo Bills quarterback Josh Allen (17) tries to elude Houston Texans defensive end Danielle Hunter (55) in a game at Houston last season. (Photo by Leslie Plaza Johnson/Icon Sportswire via Getty Images)
(Icon Sportswire via Getty Images)
The Bills have some flaws. There isn’t a lot of firepower in the passing game for Allen to work with. The defense ranks 22nd in DVOA and 19th in EPA (expected points added) per play allowed. A team that had Super Bowl dreams at the end of September finds itself with a much tougher road there now. Thursday’s game is an important one to both teams, even if they haven’t lived up to expectations so far this season.
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Who needs it more?
It’s important for both. For the Bills, a loss Thursday puts them even further…
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