From protecting the football to stopping Will Anderson Jr., these are the six biggest keys for the Buffalo Bills against Houston.
There's no easing into the 2026 season for the Buffalo Bills as they get ready for a major test in Week 1. The team heads to Houston this weekend to face a Texans team with a talented defense, a dangerous pass rush, and a quarterback in C.J. Stroud who can make Buffalo pay if given enough time.
With the Bills entering the season under a new coaching staf, there are plenty of things to watch. But these are the biggest keys to the game for Buffalo if they want to leave Houston with a win.
Buffalo Bills vs Houston Texans: Keys to the Game
Protect the Football
Josh Allen doesn't need to try to be Superman from the opening snap. Against a defense like Houston's, the Bills can live with punts and field goals. What they can't afford are turnovers that give the Texans short fields or completely change the momentum of the game.
Allen will inevitably be asked to make big plays, but avoiding the costly mistakes needs to be a priority. If Buffalo takes care of the football, it puts itself in a position to let the rest of the roster decide the game.
Find a Second or Third Receiver Option
Houston is going to pay plenty of attention to DJ Moore and Khalil Shakir. That means someone else needs to step up.
Keon Coleman, Josh Palmer, Dalton Kincaid and even rookie Skyler Bell are among the players who could fill that role. Buffalo needs one of them to consistently win matchups when Houston takes away its primary options.
Put Pressure on C.J. Stroud
Leonhard's defense is supposed to be aggressive, and this is the perfect game to see whether that approach can create problems for an opposing quarterback.
Stroud can be dangerous when he has time, but the Bills need to make him uncomfortable throughout the afternoon. Consistent pressure could force him into the kind of mistakes that completely change the game.
Stop Will Anderson Jr.
On the other side of the ball, the biggest individual matchup could be Will Anderson Jr. against Buffalo's offensive line.
Anderson can take over games by himself and is one of the best players in the NFL, so the Bills can't allow him to consistently get into the backfield. Spencer Brown and Dion Dawkins will have a major responsibility in keeping him away from Allen, particularly on obvious passing downs.
Get James Cook to 100 Yards
Buffalo also needs to establish James Cook and make Houston defend the entire field.
Cook ran for 116 yards against the Texans last season, and the Bills went 8-1 in 2025 when he reached at least 100 rushing yards. Of course, the only loss came against Houston.
Still, getting him to that number again would be a major challenge against Houston's defense, but even approaching it could help Buffalo control the clock and keep pressure off Allen. The key isn't necessarily Cook ripping off huge runs, though. Regularly gaining three or four yards, moving the chains, and wearing down the defense will be just as important.
Maxwell Hairston Steps Up
Finally, Buffalo needs cornerback Maxwell Hairston to hold up when Houston inevitably tests him.
Christian Benford gives the Bills confidence against Nico Collins, but Hairston could be involved in a much tougher battle on the opposite side. If Houston finds success attacking the second-year corner, Buffalo may have to adjust quickly.
Hairston doesn't need to make spectacular plays. He simply needs to avoid becoming the player Houston repeatedly targets.
