Up to date Sept. 13, 2026, 8:00 p.m. ET
Possibly Houston Texans defensive finish Will Anderson Jr. wasn’t being hyperbolic in spite of everything.
The prolific cross rusher and 2025 runner-up for NFL Defensive Participant of the Yr arrange his group’s Week 1 showdown in opposition to the Buffalo Payments by saying it was an “AFC Championship matchup.” That unquestionably was lofty framing for 2 franchises which have mixed for one look within the recreation within the final 5 years.
Sunday’s 36-31 win by the Payments, nonetheless, served as a reminder of simply how formidable each Buffalo and Houston may be when at peak type. The back-and-forth affair featured eight lead adjustments and by no means appeared in hand till the very finish.
Every group leaves the lean with further cause to imagine a breakthrough could possibly be forward, in addition to a number of issues to work on in an effort to attain the convention title recreation stage.
Listed here are the important thing takeaways from the matchup:
Payments discover technique to crack Texans protection
Final November, Anderson and Danielle Hunter mixed for 4 ½ of the eight sacks on Josh Allen that powered the Texans’ 23-19 win over the Payments. On Sunday, the league’s finest edge-rushing duo did not make a lot of a dent till late within the fourth quarter. Anderson had only a half-sack whereas Hunter logged none in opposition to a entrance that afforded Allen loads of time to work deep.
Offseason acquisition DJ Moore did lots to assist unlock that vertical recreation, with the spotlight coming when he hauled in a dart down the fitting sideline from Allen that he then took in for a 43-yard rating. He completed with 5 catches for 100 yards in a stellar debut for his third professional group. His presence helped compensate for a floor recreation that, outdoors of Allen’s 21-yard scramble for a landing, could not discover its type of final yr.
The early struggles had been a overseas expertise for Houston. The protection had not surrendered 24 factors in a half since Week 2 of 2023 – the second recreation of DeMeco Ryans’ tenure.
The Texans appeared to search out their footing a bit extra after halftime, permitting simply two discipline targets till the ultimate two minutes. However cornerback Kamari Lassiter could not safe a deep heave for a probably game-sealing interception, and he was burned on the following play by Joshua Palmer for the successful 34-yard scoring strike.
David Montgomery nonetheless has some juice
Even after Houston gave up two picks in a bundle to accumulate David Montgomery, some questioned whether or not the veteran working again would possibly find yourself caught in a backfield timeshare with Woody Marks. On Sunday, the Texans strengthened simply how central Montgomery is to their offensive plans.
The highly effective runner notched three whole touchdowns – two dashing, one receiving – and set the tone for a methodical offense along with his 79 whole yards on 23 touches. Montgomery additionally confirmed good burst when he discovered the opening after which outraced the protection for an 18-yard rating.
His output won’t appear scintillating, but it surely helped set the tone for a unit that is likely to be at its finest taking part in an environment friendly type of keep-away. Houston transformed seven of 16 third downs and held onto the ball for almost 13 minutes greater than Buffalo. And after rating twenty ninth in red-zone effectivity in 2025, the Texans discovered the tip zone on 4 of 5 journeys there in opposition to the Payments.
Payments’ work-in-progress D ultimately rattles C.J. Stroud late
New coordinator Jim Leonhard acknowledged earlier than the season that the in depth adjustments he was instituting would necessitate an acclimation interval for Buffalo’s protection. Sunday supplied a peek at simply how steep that studying curve is likely to be.
Dealing with a Texans group with a dearth of pass-catching weapons and an offensive entrance that continues to be underneath building, the Payments surrendered 386 yards and 21 first downs. However whereas C.J. Stroud seldom confronted stress all through the day, Buffalo generated two of its three sacks to mount a game-clinching stand.
After a protection breakdown allowed the Texans to achieve Buffalo’s 9-yard line with 25 seconds remaining, 331-pound defensive deal with Deone Walker shook proper guard Ed Ingram en path to a sack of Stroud. Two performs later, Greg Rousseau pushed across the edge to get his arms on Stroud and drive a fumble, which was recovered by Terrel Bernard.
The Payments’ efficiency urged their protection would possibly solely go so far as the hot-and-cold cross rush takes it. There will not be a lot time to determine issues out on the fly, both, as the house opener in opposition to the explosive Detroit Lions looms on Thursday.
