The Buffalo Bills just barely squeaked out a 36-31 Week 1 win against the Houston Texans. It was a total shootout, full of incredible plays from their stars, but man, did it also expose some major red flags everywhere you looked. This wasn’t some clean victory, folks, and there are definitely some extremes to dig into as we head into Week 2.
Josh Allen Is Built Different, But Others Stepped Up Big Time
Okay, so Josh Allen, right? He was already the MVP favorite coming into this season, but somehow, his stock went even higher after that Texans game. The dude, now 30 years old, just flat out willed the offense to life. We’re talking a genuinely heroic performance here. He posted a wild 140.0 passer rating on throws that traveled at least 15 yards. And on third down? He was practically perfect, going six-for-eight for 111 yards. Allen generated a combined four passing and rushing touchdowns, didn’t turn the ball over once, and absorbed just two sacks against what’s definitely one of the best defenses in the entire NFL. It honestly doesn’t get much better than that kind of clutch play.
And let’s talk about DJ Moore for a sec. He looked like the real deal, making an immediate impact as Buffalo’s new No. 1 receiver against that stellar Texans defense. The 29-year-old veteran grabbed five catches for a hundred yards and a touchdown. Not only that, he drew a massive defensive pass interference penalty to set up another score and was constantly attracting double teams. That totally opened up the rest of the field for his fellow pass-catchers to go to work. This was seriously one of the top dozen games in Moore’s entire career, and he’s been lighting it up since 2018! The guy just fits like a glove.
What Happened to the Run Game and Other Receivers?
Now, on the flip side, we gotta talk about James Cook. Last year’s leading rusher, right? He looked like he was gonna pick up right where he left off, running for 20 yards on his first two carries. Awesome start! But then… nothing. Over the next three and a half quarters, he compiled just 26 more rushing yards on nine attempts. Yeah, he salvaged the performance to an extent with a big 12-yard gain late when Buffalo was backed up. But even that carry resulted in a fumble! Luckily, O’Cyrus Torrence jumped on it, or that could’ve easily cost the Bills the victory. Again, they were up against an elite defense in a challenging road environment, and the offensive line wasn’t exactly crisp. Cook has earned the benefit of the doubt, but the pressure is absolutely ON for him against Detroit.
And then there’s Keon Coleman. The guy was on the field for 29 snaps, but he made a clear positive impact on exactly *one* play,a catch and lateral that went into the books as a one-yard reception. Ouch. He was also the intended receiver on a failed two-point conversion attempt late in the fourth quarter. It was actually the third-least productive game of his entire career. Now, sure, have we mentioned this was a tricky opponent? And when you’re not a regular starter, these types of outings sometimes happen. We probably should give Coleman some time.
But here’s what really hurts Coleman’s stock: Joshua Palmer. This is the guy making noise. Palmer, the 26-year-old Canadian, was targeted twice and scored a *huge* touchdown despite playing far fewer snaps than his third-year teammate against the Texans. He was held without a touchdown in all of 2025, but he actually started strong previously too, before injuries marred much of his first campaign with the Bills. If he can just stay healthy this time around, Palmer could seriously outperform Coleman.
So, the Bills are rolling into Thursday night to finally christen their new home against the Detroit Lions. After more than half a century at “The Ralph,” this is a historic occasion. They’ve got Allen playing out of his mind and Moore looking like an absolute superstar, but there are some serious questions looming around the run game and that receiver depth. It’s gonna be wild to see if Cook can bounce back and if Palmer keeps showing up with big plays. This Thursday night game isn’t just a home opener; it’s a huge test of where this team really stands early in the season.
This article was created with AI assistance and published under Seattle On Tap’s editorial standards. See our Editorial Policy.
Originally reported by Bleacher Report.
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