The Buffalo Bills possess a formidable defense, and there is no stat that defines how smothering they are than their No. 2 scoring defense rank. Giving up 16.2 points per game, the Bills can lock down just about any offense.
For the Houston Texans to overcome the Bills’ defense in the AFC wild-card Saturday at NRG Stadium, coach Bill O’Brien says the key is to study their defense and assemble a careful plan.
Unlike some offenses that react to what defense are doing to stop them and then adapt, the Texans are what O’Brien calls a “game plan offense.”
“Basically, when we study Buffalo, we’re going to try to do things that we think, we hope, can work against Buffalo,” O’Brien told reporters Tuesday. “I think that when we play somebody else, we’re to do something we think can work against that defense.”
The Bills defense generated 44 sacks, the 12th-most in the NFL, knocked away the third-most passes with 83, and intimidated opposing quarterbacks with their 78.8 passer rating, the third-lowest through 16 games.
If there was an area where the Bills struggled, it was when the turnover battle was anywhere between plus-1 and minus-1 for Buffalo. The Bills were 4-5 when they had to play teams straight up without the advantage of turnovers coming in bunches.
Obviously O’Brien and offensive coordinator Tim Kelly’s plan won’t account for turnovers. With the right plan, Houston ought to be able to win a tightly contested battle with the Bills.
“I think it’s game plan oriented, so it’s not about holding anything or anything like that,” O’Brien said. “It’s just more about trying to do the best you can to put your players in the best position possible to make plays versus a great defense.”
If the Texans can come away with a victory against the Bills, it will be the second playoff victory since O’Brien arrived in Houston as coach in 2014.