ClutchPoints
Most NFL fans knew the Houston Texans have a strong defense. But most didn’t realize exactly how strong. In fact, even the Buffalo Bills did not seem prepared for what they experienced in Houston on Thursday Night Football. The Texans terrorized Josh Allen. The reigning MVP was sacked eight times. He was hit 12 times. And he was hurried on almost every single drop back.
Given Houston’s dominant performance in prime time, it’s something of a miracle that the Bills were still in the game late. It felt like Buffalo should have been down by 40. But that was not the case. The Bills only trailed by four points when they got the ball back at their own 18-yard line with 2:48 to play and all three timeouts remaining.
That’s more than enough time for Allen to go win the game. The Bills put together a 13-play, 60-yard drive that ate up all but 18 seconds of the final 2:48. They even converted a 4th & 27, picking up 44 yards on a wild, designed hook and lateral play.
But it was all for naught. After advancing to the Texans’ 26-yard line on the improbable first down conversion, the Bills went: Incompletion, Ty Johnson run, incompletion, false start, interception. The Texans survived the comeback attempt, winning 23-19 and Buffalo fell to 7-4 on the season.
The Thursday night flop triggered a Blame Game column. And while it’s tempting to shrug the loss off as inevitable with Houston turning in the best team defensive effort since the Philadelphia Eagles in Super Bowl LIX, there’s plenty of blame to go around for Buffalo.
Before getting started on Week 12-specific blame, let’s quickly point a finger at Brandon Beane.
The Bills’ GM didn’t earn a Most to Blame tag for the loss to the Texans but he deserves a brief mention here. While Beane’s mistake impacts the team week-in and week-out, it was particularly glaring in Thursday’s narrow defeat.
With tight end Dalton Kincaid sidelined by a hamstring injury for the second straight game, Allen was forced to create a makeshift receiver corps from the collection of discount pass catchers Beane assembled for this ostensible championship contender.
Last week Tyrell Shavers produced a 4/90/1 line on five looks. This week Elijah Moore, Jackson Hawes and Joshua Palmer combined for nine targets. It begs the question, why can’t Josh Allen have a wide receiver? Yes, he won league MVP without a true WR1 (or WR2) last season. But does he have to play without one?
It’s become clear that Keon Coleman isn’t the guy. The 2024 second-round pick was a healthy scratch for the second straight game. The Bills have responded by wrapping themselves in a warm Gabe Davis nostalgia blanket. But Beane has got to do better.
Of course the QB’s new mega contract limits what the team can spend elsewhere. But why are the Bills cutting corners on wideouts? Sure Allen can do some incredible things without an alpha...
