{"id":430655,"date":"2026-09-09T13:56:13","date_gmt":"2026-09-09T13:56:13","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/www.newsbeep.com\/us-tx\/430655\/"},"modified":"2026-09-09T13:56:13","modified_gmt":"2026-09-09T13:56:13","slug":"bills-qb-josh-allen-hopes-to-hurdle-over-previous-houston-horrors-in-week-1","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/www.newsbeep.com\/us-tx\/430655\/","title":{"rendered":"Bills’ QB Josh Allen Hopes to Hurdle Over Previous Houston Horrors in Week 1"},"content":{"rendered":"

It\u2019s officially game week around the National Football League, and season-opening matchups will soon ensue across the country\u2014and the globe\u2014over the next handful of days.<\/p>\n

Specifically, for the Buffalo Bills and first-year head coach Joe Brady,<\/a> the team will be tasked with hitting the road to take on the Houston Texans at Reliant Stadium<\/a> on Sunday, September 13, at 1:00 p.m. ET.<\/p>\n

And, in spite of Houston\u2019s uninspiring finish to its 2025-2026 campaign, which included suffering an abysmal 28-16 loss to the New England Patriots in the AFC divisional round on January 18, the former expansion team from Texas did finish the regular season with a total of 12 wins last year behind quarterback C.J. Stroud and head coach DeMeco Ryans, who currently holds a 35-22 record (playoffs included) since becoming the franchise\u2019s head coach in 2023, so, while the results in January weren\u2019t what the team was hoping for, it wasn\u2019t all bad for Ryans\u2019 crew just one season ago.<\/p>\n

Allen, Bills met with tall task to start 2026 NFL season\"A<\/p>\n

Nov. 20, 2025; Houston, Texas, USA; NFL fans walk around the stadium before the Buffalo Bills play the Houston Texans at NRG Stadiuim | IMAGN IMAGES via Reuters Connect<\/p>\n

And, the AFC-South squad will certainly be looking to start the season off on the right foot when kickoff time rolls around at the end of the week.<\/p>\n

But, so will Bills\u2019 quarterback Josh Allen and his \u201cnew\u201d coach<\/a>.<\/p>\n

Having spent the last eight years under the guidance of Sean McDermott<\/a>, Allen will now have his former coordinator from the past three seasons leading him from the sideline every Sunday.<\/p>\n

Can Brady and Allen finally get Buffalo over the hump<\/a>?<\/p>\n

Well, that\u2019s seemingly the million-dollar question being asked around the NFL and amongst Bills Mafia these last couple of months.<\/p>\n

The need for a return to the Super Bowl from the Bills\u2019 fanbase is almost palpable. And, regardless of Brady\u2019s inexperience as a head coach, many devoted spectators want a title brought back to Western New York . . . and as quickly as this season.<\/p>\n

\"Brandon<\/p>\n

Buffalo Bills’ general manager Brandon Beane looks on during Day Six of Buffalo’s training camp at St. John Fisher University on Thursday, August 5, 2026 in Pittsford, New York. | USA TODAY Network via Reuters Connect<\/p>\n

If that\u2019s going to happen, however, then Allen and Co. are going to have to get past a fairly tough slate of games on the schedule this upcoming regular season.<\/p>\n

There\u2019s seemingly never a stretch that\u2019s going to be an easy walk in the park, as the saying goes. But, nothing has ever been as such for Allen during this football journey of his<\/a>.<\/p>\n

It\u2019s what keeps him motivated even after having won the 2024 MVP award.<\/p>\n

Allen\u2019s large chip never left shoulder even after time at Wyoming\"Buffalo<\/p>\n

Buffalo Bills’ quarterback Josh Allen (17) throws to a receiver at Buffalo’s training camp practice at St. John Fisher University in Pittsford, New York, on Aug. 6, 2026. | USA TODAY Network via Reuters Connect<\/p>\n

\u201cI think I\u2019ll always have a chip on my shoulder. You know, the way that last season ended, I obviously wasn\u2019t happy with it. I haven\u2019t been happy with any of the seasons (and) the way they\u2019ve ended.<\/p>\n

\u201cSo, (we\u2019ve) got to continue to find ways to keep getting better, keep pushing ourselves, and just keep grinding away, and keep knocking at the door,\u201d Bills\u2019 quarterback Josh Allen said during his most recent press conference at One Bills Drive<\/a> last week.<\/p>\n

\u201cGoing into the season\u2014(it\u2019s) a blank slate\u2014we\u2019re all 0 and 0. It\u2019s a new season, and (I\u2019m) just trying to enjoy this game that I love.\u201d<\/p>\n

With that said, Allen certainly hasn\u2019t \u201cloved\u201d any of his previous matchups against the Texans down on their home turf in the big state of Texas.<\/p>\n

For the most part, Houston has instead been a \u201cHouse of Horrors\u201d for the Firebaugh, California, native.<\/p>\n

\"Buffalo<\/p>\n

Nov. 20, 2025; Houston, Texas, USA; Houston Texans’ defensive end Will Anderson Jr. (51) sacks Buffalo Bills’ quarterback Josh Allen (17) in the first quarter of last season’s game at NRG Stadium. | IMAGN IMAGES via Reuters Connect<\/p>\n

0-4 all time in his career at the venue now referred to as Reliant Stadium, the 6-foot-5, 237-pound gunslinger<\/a> even lost his first ever playoff start on the road against Houston by a score of 22-19 despite leading 13-0 at halftime of that particular postseason game.<\/p>\n

Needless to say, it\u2019s not an environment that hasn\u2019t been very kind to Allen and his offensive counterparts over the years as the team has failed to put up more than 20 points in any of its four matchups down south since the former MVP\u2019s rookie season.<\/p>\n

In fact, the Bills have only averaged 17.8 points per contest against Houston on the road, while Allen has mustered up just 716 passing yards and a pitiful touchdown-to-interception ratio of 3:3 to go along with a mere 135 rushing yards on 19 attempts and zero trips across the goal line on the ground for the former No. 7 overall pick in the 2018 NFL Draft.<\/p>\n

WRs, TEs looking to aid Allen in passing game even more, and it starts in Houston\"Buffalo<\/p>\n

Aug. 15, 2026; Orchard Park, New York, USA; Buffalo Bills’ quarterback Josh Allen (17) stands in the pocket in the first quarter against the Carolina Panthers at the new Highmark Stadium. | IMAGN IMAGES via Reuters Connect<\/p>\n

But, with recent additions of players like veteran wide receiver D.J. Moore<\/a>, rookie receiver Skyler Bell<\/a>, and the sudden emergence of backup tight ends like Jackson Hawes and Keleki Latu, there\u2019s optimism growing that the Bills can come away victorious this weekend against a Texans\u2019 team that looked putrid to finish off its 2025-2026 campaign.<\/p>\n

The young group under new defensive coordinator Jim Leonhard<\/a> will look to help any way it can, but ultimately the deciding factor in the game will be up to Allen.<\/p>\n

If he\u2019s able to right the wrongs of the past against the team\u2019s AFC rival, then it\u2019d give Brady\u2019s team some serious confidence to start the season.<\/p>\n

However, be that as it may, the team\u2019s franchise \u201cflamethrower\u201d has a one-track mind at the moment.<\/p>\n

And, he\u2019s not about to get ahead of himself. As the old saying goes, \u201cSlow and steady wins the race.\u201d<\/p>\n

\u201cEach week is its own season, you know? We\u2019re taking it one game at a time and just trying to figure out how we can go 1-0 each week,\u201d Allen continued in his most recent interview.<\/p>\n

\"Buffalo<\/p>\n

Buffalo Bills’ quarterbacks coach Bo Hardegree (left) talks about a play with quarterback Josh Allen at Buffalo’s training camp at St. John Fisher University in Pittsford, New York, on Aug. 6, 2026. | USA TODAY Network via Reuters Connect<\/p>\n

\u201cWe all know what type of defense (Houston is), and how they played against us last year. And, we didn\u2019t play to our potential. So, again, (I\u2019m) just trying to let the game come to me.\u201d<\/p>\n

We\u2019ll see if he takes his own advice or not.<\/p>\n

Houston\u2019s defensive front will surely be \u201cbringing the heat\u201d early on in the contest in order to put the pressure on new starting left guard Alec Anderson<\/a>, as well as recently injured center Connor McGovern down at Reliant Stadium.<\/p>\n

So, it will be interesting to keep a close eye on whether or not Allen can make up for any deficiencies that there might be on Sunday, or if he\u2019ll fall back into the trap of becoming a reckless warrior.<\/p>\n

The Bills are going to need him calm, cool, and collected if the team is going to start the season out 1-0.<\/p>\n

\u2014\u00a0Sign up for OnSI\u2019s Free Buffalo Bills Newsletter<\/a>\u00a0\u2014<\/p>\n

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