John McClain, a member of the Pro Football Hall of Fame and the Texas Sports Hall of Fame, is in his 48th year of covering the NFL in Houston, including 45 seasons at the Houston Chronicle.
When defenses prepare for Buffalo's offense, they have to start with Josh Allen, one of the league's elite quarterbacks and a perennial candidate to be voted the NFL Most Valuable Player Award.
As Allen goes, so go the Bills. Allen and his teammates will bring a nasty disposition to NRG Stadium on Sunday when they plan to bounce back from their 35-10 loss at Baltimore – the first of three consecutive road games that concludes with the Jets.
As is usually the case, the quarterback who plays best and avoid mistakes usually comes out as the winner. C.J. Stroud has watched Allen for years and is impressed with how he helps the Bills contend for Super Bowls.
"I'm a big fan of his," Stroud said this week. "Really respect him. Met him this offseason, told him (I have) a lot of respect for what he does. Heck of a player, but, of course, my competitive nature is I want to win my one-on-one."
While Stroud was orchestrating the 24-20 come-from-behind victory over Jacksonville, the Bills suffered a rare loss by more than a touchdown, primarily because the Ravens ran 34 times for 271 yards, including 199 by Derrick Henry. Fortunately for the Ravens, the Texans' running game has averaged only 71.3 yards in their last three games after generating 213 in their opening victory at Indianapolis, where a healthy Joe Mixon had 159.
Even though both teams would like to establish the run, it could be difficult, which puts more pressure on Allen and Stroud. They've proved they can handle it because their teams are off to 3-1 starts going into Sunday – the Stefon Diggs game, as many around the NFL are calling it.
Diggs plays against his former team, and containing him – as well as Nico Collins and the other skill position players -- is up to Buffalo's defense. The Texans' defense figures to have more than enough problems with Allen, who was treated rudely at Baltimore.
Allen threw for 180 yards without a touchdown against the Ravens. He was sacked three times and knocked down eight more times. He was constantly having to throw on the run and taking the kind of hits that make coaches cringe.
The Texans don't need to be reminded how much Allen wants to avoid a repeat performance and how determined he is not to leave Houston with a second defeat.
Head Coach DeMeco Ryans also knows Allen can damage his defense with his outstanding running ability. Allen, who's built like a tight end, is fearless when he takes off. Defenses always have to beware of that part of his game.
"He always has that explosive ability to him," Ryans said this week. "Josh is a really big (6-5, 237) player (and) a tough runner, so when they do have designed quarterback runs, whether it's a sneak or zone-read plays, he's able to fall forward for yards because he's such a physical player.
"This is a tough matchup. I really respect what he's done in this league, how he's grown as a quarterback and how he's led them and kept them as a successful team every time they step on the field."
For the last four years, Diggs was Allen's go-to receiver. Four consecutive 100-catch and 1,000-yard seasons. They traded him to the Texans, and now the Bills have more balance in their receiving game. Tight end Dalton Kincaid and running back James Cook are terrific receivers who've helped provide Allen with more options along with receivers Khalil Shakir, Mack Hollins and Keon Coleman.
Shakir, who has 18 catches and two touchdowns, is one of six Bills who have touchdown receptions. He's battling an ankle injury and has been ruled out of the game.
"Shakir is a shifty player, but he's physical (and) finishes the right way," Ryans said. "When their playmakers get the ball in their hands, they're tough guys to get down. They run with a physical mindset."
It's no secret Ryans hasn't been happy with the Texans' interior run defense. Opponents have averaged more than 5 yards a carry running up the middle. Opponents have three explosive runs, including a 58-yarder by Jacksonville's Tank Digsby and 39 by Minnesota's Aaron Jones.
The Texans haven't had an explosive run in four games. Tank Dell has come the closest with runs of 18 and 17 yards. Joe Mixon (16) and Cam Akers (15) have the team's other longest runs.
No player on the team's front seven had a sack against the Jaguars. The Texans didn't force a turnover. It would behoove the defense, of course, to get a takeaway or two or three to have their best chance of defeating the Bills.
"It's really great by (Allen), no interceptions, just playing clean football," Ryans said. "He gets rid of the ball fairly quickly, and he's getting the ball to his playmakers on the edge. They're doing a good job of managing the game. They run the football well (and) throw screen passes to keep them out of any tough situations. Our biggest thing is what we talk about every week, which is attacking the football. We have to maximize an opportunity. If he leaves one up there, we have to come down with it."
Defensive coordinator Matt Burke has been watching a lot of tape of Allen and the Bills' offense. He works on the game plan with Ryans, who calls the defensive signals.
"He's, obviously, super-talented," Burke said. "He's one of the more unique quarterbacks to prepare for. He does some things a lot of guys don't do. There's a lot of quarterbacks that can get out of the pocket but (not) the way he extends plays until the last second.
"We've played some mobile quarterbacks and guys that create off-schedule, but he's tiptoeing the sideline and still looking to throw the ball. You talk about extending plays and really having to cover through the whole down, and he makes a lot of explosive plays when he's in those situations."
Like Ryans, Burke is concerned with running plays designed for Allen.
"The quarterback runs that tick up in critical situations when they get in the red zone and on third down," Burke said. "And he's distributing the ball really well. It's getting it out of his hands quick.
"I was in Miami when he was a rookie, and he's operating at a really high level now compared to through the years."
Led by Cook and Allen, the Texans can't overlook Buffalo's running game that's accounting for 110.3 yards a game. Cook has 227 yards rushing and three touchdowns. Allen is second with 106 yards and two touchdowns.
The Bills take a lot of pride in having large offensive linemen who, like the backs, take immense pleasure in having a physical running game that takes a toll on front-sevens.
"Really good run teams have an identity," Burke said. "Sometimes if you're grab-bagging in the run game, it's hard. But if you're consistently like, 'This is who we are,' and defending teams that are going to keep running no matter what you're showing them, they're going to have an answer for any front you have or any adjustment you (make) because they've run this play a million times. I feel like those teams tend to have some success.
"It's a physical game, and there's an edge and an attitude to running the ball and playing in the trenches."
As Ryans said more than once this week, Sunday's game is going to be a test of the Texans' physicality.
