Hey guys it’s Ari Alexander with the Texans this week, and what a week it is!
One of the biggest NFL storylines over the offseason was the rift between wide receiver Stefon Diggs and the Buffalo Bills, which resulted in his trade to the Texans—and now Diggs and his new team face his old team. Diggs’ Revenge!
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Sounds more like a ship in Pirates of the Carribean, but that’s the main storyline this week.
SPREADING AROUND THE BALL
With the focus on Diggs for the week, there becomes a question of how the targets will be distributed. The Bills run a lot of two-high coverage (we covered this in Vikings week and the Texans struggled against it), but players like Nico Collins have torn apart really any defense.
Tank Dell is back from his ribs bruising and will play Sunday with no injury designation. So, who gets the targets? Diggs for the revenge angle? Collins because he’s been the best receiver in the NFL this year so far. Dell because C.J. Stroud would like to get him going?
It’s a great conundrum for the week.
WHAT ABOUT THE RUNNING GAME?
The Texans are again going to rely on Cam Akers and Dare Ogunbowale in the run game. Akers on early downs, and last week’s hero Ogunbowale in passing downs. Joe Mixon is again out as he recovers from that hip drop tackle-induced ankle injury. Dameon Pierce is questionable, but likely would mix in more in change of pace work and special teams.
The Texans’ run game was phenomenal in the week 1 win over the Colts but has been a struggle since then without their star running back in Mixon. It looks it’ll be another tough week to run.
WHO DO THE BILLS HAVE?
Besides quarterback Josh Allen, who is likely a top 5 (top 3? better?) QB in the league, their running back James Cook has had a terrific year so far, as has receiver Khalil Shakir out of the slot. Here’s the thing - Shakir is out this week. The Bills lost both Stefon Diggs and Gabe Davis and have run the ball a lot in their absence. They’ve replaced the two with Curtis Samuel (who functions as more of a gadget player than a real offensive threat) and rookie Keon Coleman (who is delightful off the field, but we’re going to have to ignore that this week). Tight end Dalton Kincaid should get plenty of looks, and Mack Hollins, a journeyman receiver and special teams ace could factor in.
Old friend Ed Oliver is also out this week, and defensive end Von Miller is suspended. The Texans are coming into this game with Buffalo missing at least three key players.
WHAT’S NEXT
Sunday. Noon. Big one. Let’s go.
Headed to the game at NRG Stadium? Drop your Texans pics at Click2Pins here!