The Buffalo Bills open their 2026 season with the same old mission: finally breaking through and winning the franchise’s first Super Bowl. That chase gets another test right away, with Josh Allen and company set to face the Houston Texans in Week 1.
It’s a matchup that puts two AFC teams with bigger goals on the field early. The Texans have won a playoff game in each of C.J.
Stroud’s first three seasons, but they’re still aiming for more. Buffalo, meanwhile, keeps pushing toward the title that has eluded the franchise.
Allen enters the year as the betting favorite to win his second NFL MVP award, and his production from last season explains why. He threw for 3,668 yards and 25 touchdowns, while also rushing for 579 yards and 14 scores. Even so, the bigger prize in Buffalo is obvious.
The Bills made notable changes on offense this offseason, including the addition of DJ Moore at wide receiver. Their defense looks different too, with Matt Milano and Taron Johnson gone and a batch of young players coming in. That creates some uncertainty, and the expectation is that the defense may need a few weeks to find its footing.
The offense, though, should still bring plenty of firepower. That’s part of why the Week 1 angle here points toward scoring, not caution.
The Texans also come into this one with an offense that should be healthy, and there’s reason to think they can be more productive than some bettors expect. Their defense is still viewed as one of the league’s better units, but the question is whether that reputation alone is enough to support such a low total in a Week 1 game against the MVP favorite.
The call is the OVER in this AFC showdown.
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Texans Make A Late QB Move Right Before Week 1
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Gronkowski arrives after a notable college career and a brief stay with Miami, where he was recently released before Houston stepped in. For a team trying to stay organized at the game's most important position, the addition is a low-risk move that could matter more if the Texans need extra depth later on. [Read more 🡒]
Texans Face A Costly Kamari Lassiter Decision After New CB Deal
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For the Texans, Lassiter is now part of a wider financial picture that will shape the roster after the 2026 season. If Houston decides he is a long-term keeper, it may take a significant commitment to get it done, and the latest contract at the position only makes that conversation more expensive. [Read more 🡒]
Texans Practice Squad Shuffle Suddenly Includes A Quarterback Twist
The Texans kept their practice squad moving this week, adding center Gavin Gerhardt and quarterback Mark Gronowski while opening spots by releasing defensive tackle Dom Bailey and center Kaena De Cambra. It was a small roster adjustment on the surface, but the quarterback addition gives the group a little more intrigue than the usual back-end shuffle.
Gronowski arrives with a college track record that included stops at South Dakota State and Iowa, and he was recently let go from the Dolphins practice squad before landing in Houston. For a Texans team always watching the depth chart closely, the move adds another arm to the mix and raises the question of how the staff plans to use him once the dust settles. [Read more 🡒]