Will Anderson Jr. has never played in an AFC Championship. He should’ve played in one last season, but the offense screwed that up in the playoffs. That hasn’t stopped the potential Defensive Player of the Year from hyping up his expectations for the season opener against the Buffalo Bills.
“It’s going to be a great matchup for us,” Anderson said, “but the type of atmosphere that I’m feeling like it’s going to be on Sunday is going to be that AFC Championship-type feel.”
Rarely does a season opener mean so much, but this one does. The Houston Texans want to win a Super Bowl. So do the Bills. They’re two of the favorites to represent their conference in Los Angeles on Valentine’s Day next year. Winning this game could be essential in each achieving their goal.
Playoff seeding could be on the line. Winning against the Bills might mean the difference in hosting them in a rematch or facing them on a nasty New York day.
Momentum is at stake as well.
This team is built around this excellent defense. Three MVP candidates are on the schedule in the first three weeks, with maybe the best, Josh Allen, first up. Destroy Allen for a third time in three seasons? The quest to improve on last year’s excellent defensive campaign is off and running.
But more than the defense is the other side of the ball.
C.J. Stroud and the offense determine the ceiling. This will be the first game that matters for Stroud as he steps on the field after his disastrous playoff performance. If he has a tough day, does it derail the work he’s put in this offseason? Start hot? The Texans will be the toast of September.
It’s an AFC Championship-caliber game. It’s a potential AFC Championship preview. It’s also the first of seventeen. But, as we know, all games aren’t created equal.
One Player to Watch
Buffalo Bills running back James Cook is the player to watch. The standout running back was the league’s leading rusher last year. He ripped off 116 yards on 17 carries, scoring once against the Texans last year. The highlight-reel touchdown was a 45-yard rush by Cook, who took advantage of mistakes made by Houston’s defense. Cook was held under 100 yards in every regular-season loss last year except the loss in Houston. Those games halved the scoring output for Buffalo. The Bills averaged nearly 29 points per game. They averaged less than 15 points per game in losses when Cook was held under 100 yards. Slowing him down is key to derailing their offense.
One Matchup to Watch
Ed Oliver versus the interior offensive line of the Texans is the key matchup. Oliver was a monster in the few games he played last season. He racked up three sacks and affected the opponent’s run game. The Texans are starting rookie Keylan Rutledge, Evan Brown, and Ed Ingram in the interior. DeMeco Ryans said he knows Oliver can wreak havoc if given the opportunity. The Texans can’t let Oliver, Buffalo’s best defender, control the game and ruin their offense.
One Stat to Watch
I’m cheating here. It’s early in the season, so let’s use the injury report. The Houston Texans didn’t have C.J. Stroud last year. I don’t need to tell you his importance. Nickelback Jalen Pitre didn’t play last year either. He will help in the run game, trying to defend James Cook. Dalton Kincaid missed last year’s game. He can make dynamic plays for Buffalo’s offense. Buffalo’s left tackle, Dion Dawkins, got concussed in the game last season. Their right tackle, Spencer Brown, had a shoulder injury. Neither team is missing any super-notable player in this one.
