The Houston Texans, not the Titans franchise from 1993, and the Buffalo Bills meet in the AFC wild-card Saturday at 3:35 p.m. on ESPN/ABC. The staff at the Texans Wire analyzed the match-up, and here are their predictions:
Chris Nalls — While this game feels like a trap game for the Houston Texans this week, They do have the talent to win this game on Saturday. Bill O’Brien is going to have to coach an exceptional game and let Deshaun Watson do what he does. Romeo Crennel will have to come up with some creative blitzes and make sure we are pressing the Buffalo Bills wide receivers at the line of scrimmage. It feels to me the Bills will win this game and can win this game, but having Deshaun Watson in the playoffs and with all the past years of having one and done playoff games this has to be the year the Texans go further right? I could be wrong on this but I have to go with Watson in the big moment here. Texans, 27-21
Andy Yanez — Buffalo has the No. 3 defense in yards, and No. 10 in takeaways. The Bills will provide a tough challenge for a Houston offense that has been inconsistent all season long, but Deshaun Watson already has a playoff game under his belt, and that experience over QB Josh Allen, who will be playing in his first playoff game, is a huge advantage for Houston in a battle of two evenly matched teams. Texans, 24-20
Avery Duncan — It’s a tale of two 10-6 teams. The Houston Texans with a gauntlet schedule, good wins but worse losses, and the Buffalo Bills with their comeback mentality, but the schedule and wins that are less indicative of a Super Bowl shot. Texans, 23-17
Nick Wojton, managing editor, Bills Wire — This is reads as a tight one. The Bills and QB Josh Allen have been incredibly safe with the ball this year, but Buffalo has many young pieces in their first taste of the playoffs. Texans, 23-20
Mark Lane — In the Sports Weekly capsule I wrote, I picked Buffalo because I see it being a slugfest and the Texans not cashing in on their red zone trips. Tre’Davious White is one of the best corners in the NFL, at least for this season. I’m not confident Fuller with his groin, which they said a week ago he’d be out three weeks, that he will be effective. I’ll stick with my pessimistic prediction. Bills, 19-13
Anthony Wood — Stop the run game. That’s the mantra the Houston Texans defense will be repeating to themselves over and over again in the build up to their wildcard game against the Buffalo Bills. If they can stop Frank Gore, Devin Singletary, and Josh Allen, then Allen will be forced to pass and the Texans cornerbacks are starting to click at just the right time. Meanwhile on offense the Texans will need to bring their A-game if they are to topple this tough Bills defense. Bill O’Brien has a habit of bringing out the interesting play calls in the big games this season, look back to New Orleans and the New England Patriots for example. If he can use Deshaun Watson’s varies skill set to confuse this Bills defense, they stand a good chance of finally getting themselves that elusive playoff win. Texans, 24-21