The Buffalo Bills survived a wild 36-31 opener against the Houston Texans, in what was easily one of the most entertaining Week 1 showdowns in recent memory. While they grabbed the win, there are definitely some real issues that the Detroit Lions can try to exploit when these teams clash in just 96 hours at the new Highmark Stadium. The Lions, fresh off an overtime battle to put away the Saints, better be ready for what’s coming, especially from two guys who absolutely went off.
Josh Allen Was an Absolute Machine
Josh Allen proved exactly why he’s the engine of this offense, putting on a clinic that the Texans, who led the NFL in EPA per play, success rate, and yards per play last year, simply couldn’t stop. He lit up the stat sheet, going 20-of-29 for a massive 334 yards and two touchdowns through the air. And if that wasn’t enough, he added 23 rushing yards and two more scores on the ground. That’s a mind-blowing 357 total yards and four total touchdowns! PFF gave Allen a 69.7 passing grade, a sick 8.8% big-time-throw rate, and his completion percentage was a whopping 14.3 points above expectation. He ranked fourth among all quarterbacks in EPA per play for the week. This dude puts the team on his back, and he delivered a big-time performance against a big-time opponent. If this next game against the Lions, who saw Jared Goff throw for 206 yards and two scores and Jahmyr Gibbs run for 156 yards and two touchdowns, turns into the shootout it has the potential to be, Allen’s going to have to do it all again.
Kincaid Blew Up, and Detroit’s Safeties are on Notice
Dalton Kincaid absolutely feasted on Allen’s huge game, and if he stays healthy, offensive coordinator Joe Brady is clearly cooking up ways to make him one of the most dangerous mismatches in the entire league. He snagged five of six targets for a career-high 130 yards, tying Khalil Shakir for second on the team in targets, right behind DJ Moore. Kincaid’s PFF grades were bonkers: a 91.2 overall grade and a 91.6 receiving grade, both topping all tight ends in Week 1. He piled up 5.91 yards per route run and broke two tackles after the catch. But seriously, the play of the weekend? His ridiculous 38-yard grab from his own end zone. Next Gen Stats clocked its completion probability at a meager 9.4% , officially the most improbable catch across the entire league for Week 1. Brady is already using Kincaid like a big receiver, a role we saw Tyrell Shavers in last year, giving him more snaps without losing what Dawson Knox and Jackson Hawes bring as blockers. Detroit’s front seven is tough, no doubt, but their safety group is banged up, missing starters Brian Branch and Kerby Joseph. This offense is going to attack the middle of the field relentlessly, healthy or not, and Kincaid is primed for another massive outing.
These two guys are on fire, and after that opener, they’ll need to be at their absolute best. The Bills are heading into their first official appearance at the new Highmark Stadium, and they’ve got to fix those Week 1 issues fast if they want to handle a Lions team coming off an overtime win. This Thursday night game is going to be a huge test.
This article was created with AI assistance and published under Seattle On Tap’s editorial standards. See our Editorial Policy.
Originally reported by Buffalo Rumblings.
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