The Bills got a major lift from two pass catchers Sunday in Houston, and both of them left a real mark on a 36-31 road win over the Texans.
Tight end Dalton Kincaid and wide receiver DJ Moore were Buffalo’s most targeted options, and they turned that volume into big production. Kincaid hauled in five of six targets for a career-best 130 receiving yards, while Moore finished with five catches for 100 yards and a touchdown. Moore also drew a pass interference penalty in the end zone that helped set up another Bills score.
The performance stood out in team history, too. It was only the second time a Bills wide receiver and tight end both topped 100 yards in the same game. The first came against the San Francisco 49ers in 1992, in the well-known no-punt game, when Andre Reed had 144 receiving yards and Pete Metzelaars added 112.
Kincaid’s day was especially notable. His 130 yards were the most by a Bills tight end since Paul Costa posted games of 138 and 163 yards in 1967. It was also the most by a Bills receiver in a season opener since Eric Moulds had 137 in 1999.
“I think it’s just being out there feeling really good just is a completely different ball game,” said Kincaid, who missed last season’s loss in Houston with a knee injury. “A lot of guys today had some success, so it’s just awesome to see everybody out there feeling good. You know, when we’re at full strength, it’s hard to beat us.”
Moore, who came over from the Chicago Bears in an offseason trade, put up his first 100-yard game since the 2024 season.
“I had plays and was just waiting on my moment to get called, and when it did, I just made the best of them and went from there,” Moore said. “It’s all about getting into a flow state, and then you go from there with the rest of the team.”
Buffalo had four 100-yard receiving games across all of last season. Two belonged to Kincaid, and the other two came from wide receivers Keon Coleman and Khalil Shakir.
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 🡒]