The Bills opened the season with a 36-31 win over the Houston Texans, and it was a meaningful one in more ways than one. Buffalo not only got the job done in Week 1, but it also snapped a skid in Houston that had stretched across four straight losses. The Bills hadn’t won there since the 2006 season.
That victory came with another layer of significance: it was Buffalo’s seventh season-opening win in its last 10 years. Now the focus shifts quickly, because the Bills are on a short week and set to open their new Highmark Stadium Thursday night against the Detroit Lions.
On Monday, head coach Joe Brady, offensive coordinator Pete Carmichael, and defensive coordinator Jim Leonhard all broke down what stood out from the opener and what still needs work.
Brady, who earned the first win of his young coaching career Sunday, said the Bills are still learning who they are and how they want to operate. He said, “have a pulse, but you’re still trying to get a feel of how to use guys offensively, defensively, special teams, and to see the guys be able to make the adjustments; to see the guys be able to look through it all, be able to kind of play all the way through inside the red zone and figuring out, that’s what I was proud of,” Brady said.
He also pointed to DJ Moore’s role in the passing game in his Bills debut, Dalton Kincaid’s big day, and the emotional return to Houston for defensive tackle Ed Oliver. Brady said Oliver was worthy of a game ball. He also praised how Buffalo’s offensive line held up against a Texans pass rush that came in with a reputation for being a problem.
Leonhard, meanwhile, said he wants to keep his defensive starters from piling up too many snaps. He also came away encouraged by the pass rush, with Greg Rousseau leading the way in a strong Week 1 showing.
Carmichael focused on the growing chemistry between Kincaid and Josh Allen, and he said Buffalo leaned on 13 personnel - one running back and three tight ends - to help slow down Houston.
There’s more Bills coverage beyond the coaching staff’s postgame breakdown, too. One piece looks at how DJ Moore can fit into Buffalo’s offense, while another explores possible breakout seasons for Rousseau and Kincaid.
There’s also discussion of what should excite Bills fans after the win, what should raise concern, and a look at the biggest winners and losers from the Week 1 snap counts. Another item introduces Buffalo’s newest practice squad fullback.
In Other News...
Bills Home Opener Is Becoming A Costly Headache For Fans
The Bills home opener against the Detroit Lions is turning into a planning exercise as much as a football date for fans hoping to be in Orchard Park. Hotel rooms near Highmark Stadium are scarce and expensive, and even getting a place to leave the car has become part of the scramble, with stadium parking already sold out and neighborhood lots left as the main backup.
With a big crowd expected, the game day logistics are getting tighter by the hour. Several roads around the stadium will close before kickoff, adding another layer for anyone making the trip, and it has turned what should be a straightforward opening weekend into a costly headache for Bills supporters trying to get in the door. [Read more 🡒]
Bills Fans Got The DJ Moore Update They Needed
DJ Moore gave the Bills something to keep an eye on after he was hurt on the final snap of Buffalos game against the Panthers, but the immediate concern has eased. Head coach Joe Brady later said Moore was good to go, and the receiver is not listed on Buffalos injury report heading into the next matchup with the Detroit Lions.
That is welcome news for a Bills offense that already saw what Moore can bring in his debut. He finished with five catches, 100 receiving yards and a touchdown, giving Buffalo a big-play presence that showed up right away and should matter again as the schedule stiffens. [Read more 🡒]
Bills Win Didnt Stop Jim Leonhard From Zeroing In On One Concern
Jim Leonhard had plenty to like after Buffalos 36-31 season-opening win over the Houston Texans, but the Bills defensive coordinator did not sound interested in treating the result as proof that everything was already in place. The score mattered, of course, and so did the way Buffalo opened the year with a victory, yet Leonhard still spent his review pointing out the defensive areas that need cleaning up as the Bills move deeper into September.
One of the clearer concerns came with inside linebacker Terrel Bernard, who played the entire game but showed up on the injury report the next day. For a defense trying to settle into Leonhards approach, those small turns can matter just as much as the big-picture result, and the early evaluation suggests Buffalos coordinator is keeping a firm eye on both the progress and the problems after a week one win. [Read more 🡒]