3 Bold Predictions for Bills-Texans Wild Card Matchup
By Jerry Trotta
The Houston Texans and Buffalo Bills will kick off the NFL's first game of the new decade when they meet in the Wild Card Round on Saturday afternoon.
These two teams have been about as unpredictable as any in the league this season, so it's not farfetched to assume that they will provide some confounding storylines.
Without further ado, let's highlight some bold predictions for this win-or-go-home AFC showdown.
3. Less Than 40 Points Are Scored
Unfortunately, we don't see the first game of the playoffs delivering much fireworks. Instead, football junkies will be treated to a defensive chess match. Deshaun Watson is too dependent on DeAndre Hopkins, who will be shadowed by Bills star cornerback Tre'Davious White. On the other side, Josh Allen has yet to deliver on this stage and his big arm will likely be anxious to make home run plays, which won't lead to much success for the Bills offense. Not to mention that JJ Watt is returning for Houston.
2. Deshaun Watson is Sacked Five Times
The combination of Watson holding on to the pigskin for far too long alongside Houston's subpar offensive line should see Buffalo's defense in the backfield early and often on Saturday. In fact, we expect the Bills to get to the Pro Bowl gunslinger a whopping five times, potentially more. This matchup reeks of a defensive stalemate, and Watson's body will unfortunately pay the price.
1. Bills Pull off the "Upset" on the Road
Folks, there's a reason that the Texans are only 2.5-point favorites in this one. And it's only that much because Houston is at home. It will come down to head coaching and the Bills undoubtedly have the upper hand with Sean McDermott. Bill O'Brien, time and time again, has proven to be inept when it comes to game and clock management. Watson's brilliance won't be enough to overcome the evident flaws of his HC.