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| 255 | BUFFALO | 42 | 42.5 | | 256 | HOUSTON | -4 | -3 |
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| All Games | 2-1 | +1.7 | 2-1 | 0-3 | 20.7 | 9.7 | 322.3 | (5.5) | 0.3 | 17.3 | 6.7 | 351.0 | (5.3) | 1.7 | | Road Games | 1-0 | +2.2 | 1-0 | 0-1 | 23.0 | 17.0 | 360.0 | (6.5) | 1.0 | 20.0 | 7.0 | 427.0 | (6.4) | 3.0 | | Last 3 Games | 2-1 | +1.7 | 2-1 | 0-3 | 20.7 | 9.7 | 322.3 | (5.5) | 0.3 | 17.3 | 6.7 | 351.0 | (5.3) | 1.7 | | Grass Games | 1-0 | +2.2 | 1-0 | 0-1 | 23.0 | 17.0 | 360.0 | (6.5) | 1.0 | 20.0 | 7.0 | 427.0 | (6.4) | 3.0 |
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| Offense (All Games) | 20.7 | 9.7 | 15.3 | 29:14 | 29-131 | (4.5) | 18-29 | 62.5% | 191 | (6.5) | 59-322 | (5.5) | (15.6) | | Opponents Defensive Avg. | 21.6 | 12.6 | 18.3 | 30:35 | 27-124 | (4.6) | 21-34 | 62.0% | 219 | (6.4) | 61-343 | (5.6) | (15.9) | | Offense Road Games | 23.0 | 17.0 | 15.0 | 30:32 | 33-193 | (5.8) | 16-22 | 72.7% | 167 | (7.6) | 55-360 | (6.5) | (15.7) | | Defense (All Games) | 17.3 | 6.7 | 24.0 | 32:31 | 25-84 | (3.3) | 28-41 | 67.5% | 267 | (6.5) | 66-351 | (5.3) | (20.2) | | Opponents Offensive Avg. | 22.4 | 8.9 | 21.3 | 31:00 | 26-94 | (3.6) | 24-38 | 63.3% | 227 | (6) | 64-321 | (5) | (14.3) | | Defense Road Games | 20.0 | 7.0 | 29.0 | 34:42 | 18-86 | (4.8) | 34-49 | 69.4% | 341 | (7) | 67-427 | (6.4) | (21.3) |
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| Stats For (All Games) | 0.3 | 0.0 | 0.3 | 1.3 | 14-5 | 36.6% | 1-0 | 0.0% | 3-73 | (27.5) | 2-10 | (6) | 9-86 | | Opponents Avg. Stats Against | 0.7 | 1 | 1.7 | 1.8 | 14-6 | 41.5% | 1-1 | 41.7% | 3-71 | (21.4) | 20-2 | (9.4) | 8-73 | | Stats For (Road Games) | 1.0 | 0.0 | 1.0 | 2.0 | 12-4 | 33.3% | 0-0 | 0.0% | 2-40 | (20) | 2-14 | (7) | 9-108 | | Stats Against (All Games) | 1.0 | 0.7 | 1.7 | | 14-5 | 36.6% | 1-0 | 25.0% | 1-26 | (19.5) | 2-5 | (2.3) | 4-36 | | Opponents Avg. Stats For | 0.7 | 0.6 | 1.2 | | 14-6 | 41.6% | 1-0 | 14.3% | 2-51 | (22.9) | 9-2 | (4.9) | 6-50 | | Stats Against (Road Games) | 2.0 | 1.0 | 3.0 | | 12-5 | 41.7% | 0-0 | 0.0% | 1-21 | (21) | 1-1 | (1) | 4-43 |
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| All Games | 2-1 | +1 | 2-1 | 2-1 | 21.3 | 10.3 | 351.3 | (5.9) | 1.3 | 16.7 | 6.7 | 385.0 | (6.1) | 2.3 | | Home Games | 1-0 | +1 | 1-0 | 0-1 | 17.0 | 14.0 | 316.0 | (5.7) | 1.0 | 6.0 | 6.0 | 372.0 | (6.2) | 2.0 | | Last 3 Games | 2-1 | +1 | 2-1 | 2-1 | 21.3 | 10.3 | 351.3 | (5.9) | 1.3 | 16.7 | 6.7 | 385.0 | (6.1) | 2.3 | | Grass Games | 2-0 | +2 | 2-0 | 1-1 | 23.5 | 15.5 | 321.5 | (5.4) | 0.5 | 10.0 | 3.0 | 368.0 | (6.2) | 3.0 |
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| Offense (All Games) | 21.3 | 10.3 | 18.7 | 31:43 | 35-141 | (4.1) | 16-25 | 64.5% | 211 | (8.3) | 60-351 | (5.9) | (16.5) | | Opponents Defensive Avg. | 23.9 | 12.2 | 19.7 | 31:32 | 30-116 | (3.9) | 20-31 | 64.5% | 225 | (7.2) | 61-340 | (5.6) | (14.2) | | Offense Home Games | 17.0 | 14.0 | 16.0 | 29:06 | 33-115 | (3.5) | 14-22 | 63.6% | 201 | (9.1) | 55-316 | (5.7) | (18.6) | | Defense (All Games) | 16.7 | 6.7 | 22.7 | 28:17 | 27-142 | (5.2) | 26-36 | 72.0% | 243 | (6.8) | 63-385 | (6.1) | (23.1) | | Opponents Offensive Avg. | 20.6 | 9.9 | 21.3 | 29:28 | 26-103 | (4) | 24-36 | 65.4% | 238 | (6.5) | 62-340 | (5.5) | (16.5) | | Defense Home Games | 6.0 | 6.0 | 20.0 | 30:54 | 23-131 | (5.7) | 29-37 | 78.4% | 241 | (6.5) | 60-372 | (6.2) | (62) |
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| Stats For (All Games) | 1.0 | 0.3 | 1.3 | 1.0 | 14-6 | 43.9% | 1-0 | 50.0% | 2-32 | (19) | 2-13 | (5.7) | 6-57 | | Opponents Avg. Stats Against | 0.9 | 0.4 | 1.3 | 1.5 | 14-6 | 45.5% | 0-0 | 23.1% | 2-50 | (26.9) | 17-2 | (9.1) | 8-70 | | Stats For (Home Games) | 0.0 | 1.0 | 1.0 | 1.0 | 14-7 | 50.0% | 0-0 | 0.0% | 1-28 | (28) | 4-28 | (7) | 6-45 | | Stats Against (All Games) | 0.7 | 1.7 | 2.3 | | 11-3 | 27.3% | 1-1 | 50.0% | 2-59 | (25.1) | 2-17 | (10.2) | 5-42 | | Opponents Avg. Stats For | 1 | 0.8 | 1.8 | | 12-5 | 37.6% | 1-0 | 48.6% | 2-47 | (22.5) | 18-2 | (8.3) | 7-59 | | Stats Against (Home Games) | 0.0 | 2.0 | 2.0 | | 12-3 | 25.0% | 1-0 | 0.0% | 2-56 | (28) | 2-36 | (18) | 7-70 |
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| | Average power rating of opponents played: BUFFALO 21.7, HOUSTON 13 |
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| 9/7/2014 | @ CHICAGO | 23-20 | W | 6.5 | W | 47 | U | 33-193 | 16-22-167 | 1 | 18-86 | 34-49-341 | 3 | | 9/14/2014 | MIAMI | 29-10 | W | -1.5 | W | 43 | U | 33-113 | 16-26-202 | 0 | 21-80 | 31-49-210 | 2 | | 9/21/2014 | SAN DIEGO | 10-22 | L | -3 | L | 45.5 | U | 22-87 | 23-40-205 | 0 | 37-85 | 18-25-251 | 0 | | 9/28/2014 | @ HOUSTON | | | | | | | | | | | | | | 10/5/2014 | @ DETROIT | | | | | | | | | | | | | | 10/12/2014 | NEW ENGLAND | | | | | | | | | | | | | | 10/19/2014 | MINNESOTA | | | | | | | | | | | | | | 10/26/2014 | @ NY JETS | | | | | | | | | | | | |
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| 9/7/2014 | WASHINGTON | 17-6 | W | -3 | W | 43.5 | U | 33-115 | 14-22-201 | 1 | 23-131 | 29-37-241 | 2 | | 9/14/2014 | @ OAKLAND | 30-14 | W | -3 | W | 41 | O | 46-188 | 14-19-139 | 0 | 17-101 | 27-42-263 | 4 | | 9/21/2014 | @ NY GIANTS | 17-30 | L | 1 | L | 41.5 | O | 25-119 | 21-35-292 | 3 | 42-193 | 21-28-226 | 1 | | 9/28/2014 | BUFFALO | | | | | | | | | | | | | | 10/5/2014 | @ DALLAS | | | | | | | | | | | | | | 10/9/2014 | INDIANAPOLIS | | | | | | | | | | | | | | 10/20/2014 | @ PITTSBURGH | | | | | | | | | | | | | | 10/26/2014 | @ TENNESSEE | | | | | | | | | | | | |
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| |  | BUFFALO: Offensive coordinator Nathaniel Hackett brought a much different look to the Bills' running game in his first season with the team in 2013, and it didn't do C.J. Spiller any favors. Buffalo uses a lot of read option plays to try to take advantage of quarterback EJ Manuel's mobility. Spiller was hesitant in read-option situations, and Manuel was fragile as a rookie, so they might move back to a more traditional look this year. Spiller figures to take back more of a No. 1 workload from Fred Jackson, though that was the plan a year ago and Jackson proved too valuable to keep off the field. Bryce Brown provides insurance for the aging Jackson. In the red zone, the Bills quickly moved away from Spiller in goal-to-go situations, opting for Jackson's more decisive running instead.
Hackett uses play-action and crossing action in the middle of the field. Rookie Sammy Watkins will likely be penciled in at flanker, where they'll rely on his YAC ability to make Manuel's life easier. After spending the early part of the year on the perimeter last year, No. 2 WR Robert Woods should work a larger set of routes, similar to what former No. 1 receiver Stevie Johnson used to run. Marquise Goodwin figures to overtake T.J. Graham as their primary deep threat, while Mike Williams comes in as a red zone specialist. Tight end Scott Chandler will be utilized as a receiver underneath.
The Bills will be playing for their third defensive coordinator in three years with Jim Schwartz replacing Mike Pettine, who improved this group a lot in 2013, especially with sacks and interceptions. Free agent outside linebackers Keith Rivers and Brandon Spikes will greatly help Buffalo's transition to a 4-3 scheme. | | HOUSTON: Bill O'Brien replaces long-time head coach Gary Kubiak, who brought the highly successful zone-blocking scheme to Houston. O'Brien oversaw a primarily gap-blocking system in New England and he brought in former Falcons assistant Paul Dunn to coach the offensive line, which suggests that this will be more of a mixed scheme up front. Arian Foster is still the starter and will be leaned on heavily with the uncertainty under center. He remains a capable red-zone back, and his reliability should lead to a heavy workload near the goal line.
O'Brien's offenses have always been multiple and complex, though the biggest highlight of his career was certainly overseeing New England's dominant two-tight end look. Disgruntled star wideout Andre Johnson will continue to be used as a chess piece, likely playing the slot and working underneath more often, with tight end Garrett Graham complementing him. When they throw inside the 20, Johnson has been the logical target for years, but Kubiak's regime never came up with ways for him to escape attention in the end zone'Graham could end up with the bigger red-zone role. Foster will remain a big part of the passing game as an excellent screen option. DeAndre Hopkins and DeVier Posey are shaping up to be primarily deep threats. Second tight end C.J. Fiedorowicz is primarily a blocker.
The Texans defense was awful in 2013 but has a great chance to improve significantly with new defensive coordinator Romeo Crennel and top draft pick OLB Jadeveon Clowney to generate more sacks and turnovers in this new 3-4 scheme. DE J.J. Watt is one of the NFL's best on the defensive side of the ball, and rookie NT Louis Nix and a healthy ILB Brian Cushing will clog the middle. |
| | ~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~ PA SPORTSTICKER PRO FOOTBALL PREVIEW (BUFFALO-HOUSTON) ~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
*Bills-Texans Preview* ======================
By JUSTIN EINHORN STATS Senior Editor
A major factor that sent Ryan Fitzpatrick out of Buffalo played a pivotal role in his new team's perfect start being spoiled.
Turnovers.
The Houston Texans missing their star rusher didn't help, either.
With Arian Foster's status still in question, Fitzpatrick likely must cut down on his mistakes Sunday in Houston if he's to win his first matchup with a Bills team for which he was once the franchise quarterback.
"It will be for bragging rights," Buffalo veteran Fred Jackson told his team's official website. He still considers Fitzpatrick a close friend and called the Harvard graduate "by far the smartest player I've ever played with."
Besides Fitzpatrick having the distraction of facing Buffalo (2-1), his teammates are trying to fight off the demons of 2013. That wouldn't have been the case had the Texans won last Sunday to go to 3-0, but instead they lost 30-17 to the Giants and set up the media to ask questions about last season's 14-game losing streak after a 2-0 start.
"We don't think about last year at all," left tackle Duane Brown said. "It's a new year. We have a new team. It's a totally different organization ... we're not getting used to this feeling."
Another loss will be hard to avoid if Fitzpatrick throws three interceptions like he did last week. Fitzpatrick, who also had a fumble but recovered it, did not commit a turnover or get sacked during the 2-0 start but faced heavier pressure against New York and was sacked twice.
"It's definitely about being steady. Not letting what's going on outside or not letting last week's performance kind of affect the work you put in for this week," Fitzpatrick said. "... Not allowing anything that happened in the past affect the way you go about your business."
He started 53 games for the Bills from 2009-12 and was awarded a six-year, $59 million extension in October 2011. However, he was released less than 18 months later after his 39 interceptions over 2011 and '12 tied for the most in the league, not to mention he had 15 fumbles.
Fitzpatrick spent last year with Tennessee before signing with Houston to run an offense based around Foster, who had an AFC-leading 241 rushing yards through Week 2. The three-time Pro Bowler sat out last week with a hamstring injury - which also forced him to miss time in 2011 and 2013 - and isn't sure if he'll return Sunday.
"I've played through a lot in this league and hamstrings are the hardest thing to gauge because you don't know how it's going to fatigue, how it's going to react to a certain cut," Foster said. "You've just got to let it rest ... having things heal on their own time. You can't push it or it'll relapse on you."
Rookie Alfred Blue had 78 yards on 13 carries starting for Foster, but 46 of them came on one run. Either Foster or Blue has a tough assignment against a Buffalo defense which has not allowed more than 90 yards rushing in a game.
That unit, though, was picked apart by Philip Rivers in a 22-10 home loss to San Diego last Sunday. Buffalo's pass defense ranks 26th in the league at 267.3 yards per game.
The passing offense also struggled. Fitzpatrick's replacement, 2013 first-round pick EJ Manuel, completed seven of 21 for 49 yards to his wide receivers. Sammy Watkins, this year's No. 4 overall pick, was targeted eight times but had two catches for 19 yards after having eight for 117 the previous week.
"We're not where we want to be," said C.J. Spiller, held to 25 yards on 10 carries.
Buffalo coach Doug Marrone is close friends with Houston counterpart Bill O'Brien - they carpooled as Georgia Tech assistants in the late '90s - and one will be concerned if his team falls behind early. These teams trailed for less than a combined seven minutes through Week 2 but faced double-digit holes at halftime last Sunday.
Since the start of last season, the Bills are 0-10 when they've trailed by 10 or more points.
"That's something, obviously, we have to be able to do to be a good football team," Marrone said.
Foster ran for 111 yards and a touchdown in the last meeting as Houston beat the Fitzpatrick-led Bills 21-9 in 2012. Buffalo's Mario Williams had a sack in his first meeting with the team which drafted him No. 1 overall in 2006, and he's off to a solid start with two sacks and 2 1/2 tackles for loss.
Watkins will look to outplay fellow former Clemson star DeAndre Hopkins, the second-year wideout who tops Houston with 227 receiving yards.
Game Notes: |
| | Last Updated: 4/26/2024 2:51:12 AM EST. |
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