The Buffalo Bills’ Week 1 trip to Houston has no shortage of headliners, with Josh Allen, Will Anderson, Danielle Hunter, and DJ Moore all in the mix. But this one could turn on the quieter names - the players who don’t always grab the spotlight, yet can swing the game anyway.
For Buffalo, Christian Benford sits at the top of that list.
The Bills’ No. 1 corner will be tested by Nico Collins, the towering, long-striding, deceptively physical threat on the outside. Benford handled that matchup well in last year’s meeting, allowing two catches for 43 yards against Collins.
It was a clean outing, even if he didn’t shadow him on every snap. Collins only ran 24 routes in that game, but the efficiency of Benford’s work stood out.
How Buffalo chooses to play it will matter, too. There’s a chance Jim Leonhard leans less heavily on “keep it in front of us” coverage than Sean McDermott’s defenses have in the past.
Still, the Bills need Collins contained. If they can prevent him from popping off, they can push C.J.
Stroud and Houston into longer drives, which raises the odds of mistakes Buffalo can take advantage of. In a game that’s expected to be low scoring, that’s huge.
Terrel Bernard is the other defensive piece worth watching closely.
When Bernard is healthy, he’s one of the more disruptive linebackers in football, especially in coverage. That showed up in the second-half interception of C.J.
Stroud in 2024, a classic Bernard splash play. Since the start of 2023, he has six interceptions, 11 pass breakups, 7.5 sacks, and 22 tackles for loss in 42 games.
That’s a linebacker filling up every column.
The question is where his health stands now. Bernard dealt with another injury this summer, though it was described as minor, and he was not on Wednesday’s injury report.
Buffalo also has him in a scheme that should give him room to roam, thanks to the two-gapping in front of him from most - though not all - of the defensive line. At his size, Bernard can run into trouble when big blockers get free access to the second level.
But with his speed, he can get to the ball in a hurry.
If he’s close to full strength, Bernard could be a major piece in this matchup. Sunday will give the Bills their first real look at how healthy he is and how well he fits in this new setup.
Joshua Palmer rounds out the list, and he may be the sneaky offensive difference-maker.
Houston allowed a 20-plus yard play on 8.4% of opposing quarterback drop backs in 2025, which was the 12th-lowest rate in football. That doesn’t scream vulnerability on deep shots. Even so, Palmer was brought in to be a man-beating vertical threat, just as he was with the Chargers over his first four NFL seasons.
His first year in Buffalo was interrupted by injuries, and the deep-ball production never really materialized. Three of his 22 catches came on throws 20-plus yards downfield. By comparison, in Palmer’s final season with the Chargers, eight of his 39 receptions came on deep targets.
He faced the Texans a year ago, but he was still clearly working back from the serious lower-body injury he suffered on a hip-drop tackle in Week 6 against the Falcons. That game came in his second outing after a month-plus absence, and he finished with two catches for 21 yards. Palmer never fully found his vertical burst after that injury in 2025.
A healthy Palmer could still matter a lot here, even if he only connects once or twice downfield - maybe off play-action from Josh Allen. Against a Texans defense that can make life difficult, chunk plays may be the Bills’ best path to points.
In Other News...
Drake Maye Just Reinforced Josh Allens Grip On The AFC East
Drake Mayes 2026 season opener was the kind of start that does little to shake up the AFC East hierarchy. Even with better help around him in New England, the Patriots quarterback had a rough afternoon against Seattle, throwing three interceptions and finishing with a 54.9 passer rating in a loss to a Seahawks defense that made life difficult from the start.
For Buffalo, the bigger takeaway is familiar: Josh Allen still sits comfortably at the top of the divisions quarterback pecking order. Maye is still trying to find steadier footing and prove he can consistently move the Patriots forward, but this debut only underscored how much ground New England still has to make up before it can seriously threaten the Bills in the AFC East. [Read more 🡒]
Bills Punt Return Battle Finally Has A Week 1 Front-Runner
The Bills have at least put a temporary pin in one of their quieter training camp competitions, naming Dee Alford as their primary punt returner on the first unofficial depth chart for the season opener against the Houston Texans. It is only a starting point, of course, but it gives Buffalo a clearer picture heading into Week 1 and puts Alford in position to handle a role that can swing field position in a hurry.
Ray Davis and Khalil Shakir are next in line on the depth chart, giving the Bills a couple of familiar options behind Alford as they sort out special teams roles for the opener. Buffalo also has veteran return specialist Greg Dortch on the practice squad, and his presence gives the team another possible answer if the need arises as the roster gets finalized for game day. [Read more 🡒]
Josh Allen Faces A Week 1 Problem Bills Fans Know Too Well
Josh Allens track record in Houston is one of those quirks Bills fans know by heart, and it does not exactly inspire comfort heading into another matchup with the Texans. Across four road starts against Houston, including the postseason, Allen has had a hard time finding rhythm, with the Texans consistently closing down the pocket and making life difficult for Buffalos offense.
Houstons pass rush has been a major reason why, with All-Pro edge players Will Anderson Jr. and Danielle Hunter helping turn Allens mobility into less of a weapon than usual. Buffalo is hoping a new wrinkle in the receiving room can help change the equation, especially against a defense that likes to challenge quarterbacks with man coverage. [Read more 🡒]