2) Mills gets the call back
With CJ Stroud ruled out for the third straight game, the Texans will once again turn to Davis Mills, who has played his most time since the 2022 season. Mills has put up good passing numbers (72-of-120, 726 yards, three TDs, INT) in his four games (two starts), rushing for 44 yards and a TD on 10 carries and leading two league wins. But he’s also recorded eight sacks and endured slow stretches for the offense over the past two weeks. Nico Collins has been productive himself with Mills at QB, as has TE Dalton Schultz. Rookie WR Jayden Higgins has also stepped up with two of his better games this season with Stroud out. The running game has evened out a bit, with Woody Marks averaging 3.3 yards per carry the past two games, though Nick Chubb has been productive in touches. Houston’s offensive line could still have its hands full, even against a depleted Bills defensive line. Mills has played just one game against the Bills in his career, and it was a nightmare: 11-of-21 passing, 87 yards, zero TDs and four INTs in a 40-0 loss to Buffalo in 2021. The Texans are hoping for better.
3) Buffalo’s defense must raise its game
This will be an interesting test in a short week for the Bills defense. The team defended the pass well Sunday against the Bucs’ explosive offense but also allowed 202 rushing yards, one week after Miami rushed for 197 yards against it. Linebackers Matt Milano and Terrel Bernard have struggled, and the shortstop defensive line hasn’t done enough to stop the bleeding. This game, against the Texans’ middle game, could give us a fair measure of where the Bills’ run defense stands heading into the home stretch. Buffalo also has several defensemen listed on the injury report, though unlike their offensive counterparts, none have yet been ruled out. If Christian Benford can slow down Nico Collins and Gregory Rousseau can help warm up Davis Mills with the pass rush, the Bills could be in decent shape. They’ve also relied heavily on punts, with eight in the last four games. But the pressure and tackles have been spotty in recent games, and the Bills can’t let Mills settle early. He’s been more dangerous on offense in the first half and has made two good fourth-quarter comebacks in the past two games.