Buffalo, N.Y. (WGR Sports Radio 550) - The Buffalo Bills are headed to the Lone Star State this weekend for an AFC showdown with the Houston Texans at NRG Stadium.
Sunday's matchup could prove to be an important conference matchup, especially with both teams heading into the contest with a 3-1 record. The Texans are hoping to build off a win this past Sunday over the Jacksonville Jaguars after a Week 3 loss to the unbeaten Minnesota Vikings.
As for the Bills, they suffered their first loss of the season this past Sunday night, and worst loss in the regular season since 2021 against the Baltimore Ravens, 35-10.
The Bills were unable to solve the Ravens on both sides of the ball from the start of the game, especially when facing Baltimore run game. Running back Derrick Henry boasted a stat line of 199 rushing yards and one rushing touchdown, to go along with another receiving touchdown. In addition, Ravens quarterback Lamar Jackson also had a rushing touchdown, along with 156 passing yards.
"We didn't perform at a level that would have allowed us to win the game, and that's playing and coaching both," said Bills head coach Sean McDermott on Friday during his weekly appearance on the "Extra Point Show" on WGR. "That's what I'm talking about when I'm talking about perform. That's something we can control, and you can't always control the result. But if you perform at a level that gives you a chance to win, that's what you can control."
On the injury front, the Bills are starting to see a problem with the names getting a bit longer on the report. Not playing on Sunday, as announced by McDermott, includes wide receiver Khalil Shakir (ankle), defensive tackle Ed Oliver (hamstring), defensive lineman Austin Johnson (oblique), and safety Taylor Rapp (concussion).
If there is any potential good news on the injury front, linebacker Terrel Bernard (pec) and cornerback Taron Johnson (forearm) have recently returned to practice in a limited role, and there's a chance both could be available for the Bills against the Texans.
The Bills were one of the highest scoring teams in the month of September through the first four weeks of the season, largely in part to the performance of quarterback Josh Allen. Through four games, Allen has thrown for 814 yards, seven passing touchdowns and no interceptions. He also has ran for 106 yards and two rushing touchdowns.
"He's been in command and able to manage the game offensively for us, and we've been playing good complimentary football up until last week," McDermott said with Sal Capaccio. "We've got to get back to that, and also keeping him in a position where he's able to do that keeps him fresh, right, and less sore than he was this past week. That's also an added benefit when you're playing a certain way, and not just offensively, but collectively in all three phases."
Allen was recently named the AFC Offensive Player of the Month, which is the third time in his career he's earned such an honor from the NFL.
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This upcoming Sunday will have some added significance, as the Bills will be squaring off with one familiar face in wide receiver Stefon Diggs. Diggs was traded by the Bills this offseason to the Texans after spending four years in Buffalo and becoming a key piece of the offense.
"'Stef' was a really good player for us, and we won a lot of games when he was here," McDermott said of his former No. 1 wide receiver. "0Earlier in the week I mentioned this, he's a really good player for the Houston Texas now, and our focus needs to be where it needs to be in order for us to perform at a higher level, to give ourselves a chance to win. So it's going to demand all of our focus on that and that only. I'm sure ytou know, guys will be able to say hi to 'Stef' before or after the game, and that'll be great. But we've got a job to do at the same time."
The Bills and Texans will kick things off at 1 p.m. ET on Sunday. Hear all of the play-by-play action on the official voice of the Bills - WGR Sports Radio 550.
