The Buffalo Bills will open the 2026 NFL season in a place where they have struggled to find success in recent years: on the road against the Houston Texans, who boast one of the league’s stingiest defenses.
Since coming to the Bills as the No. 7 overall pick in the 2018 NFL Draft, Josh Allen has led the Bills into Houston four times. And in all four prior matchups, the Bills couldn’t pull out the win.
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Sunday will mark the third consecutive season where Buffalo has traveled to Houston, and today’s edition of Buffalo Rumblinks leads off by sharing the key matchups to watch and positional analysis as the Bills look to snap that streak and begin the season with a big road win over a fellow playoff participant from last season.
Check out the assessments below and then let us know your thoughts on the game in the comments section.
HOUSTON, TEXAS – NOVEMBER 20: Will Anderson Jr. #51 of the Houston Texans tackles Josh Allen #17 of the Buffalo Bills during the first quarter at NRG Stadium on November 20, 2025 in Houston, Texas. (Photo by Alex Slitz/Getty Images) | Getty Images
Linked below: Breaking down the key story lines to watch, including dissecting the approach new defensive coordinator Jim Leonhard will take to contain the Texans; how Joe Brady can better position Josh Allen and the offense for success against a Texans pass rush that sacked Allen eight times in last year’s loss; why starting right tackle Spencer Brown thinks things will go much differently against Will Anderson and Danielle Hunter, two of the game’s premier pass rushers, now that both Brown and starting left tackle Dion Dawkins are fully healthy; how Greg Rousseau and Bradley Chubb need to generate more pressure on Texans QB CJ Stroud than the Bills have their last two trips to Houston (one total sack); and more!
HOUSTON, TX – NOVEMBER 20: Greg Rousseau #50 of the Buffalo Bills rushes the passer during an NFL football game against the Houston Texans at NRG Stadium on November 20, 2025 in Houston, Texas. (Photo by Cooper Neill/Getty Images) | Getty Images
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Examining how Brandon Beane lasted longer than any other Bills GM in nearly five decades, and what lessons he has learned along the way. Plus, how Jim Leonhard wound up back in Buffalo; how the national football pundits think the Bills will fare this year; what’s going on with the grass playing surface at new Highmark Stadium; and more!
Brandon Beane on the field for training camp at St. John Fisher College. Jg 073019 Bills 25 | USA TODAY Network via Reuters Co
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