Will Anderson on Texans’ season opener vs. Bills: ‘This is an AFC Championship matchup’ | Latest NFL News, Analysis & Updates

The Week 1 bout figures to be a tight matchup. The Texans finished 12-5 in 2025, and all five losses came by one possession, per NFL Research. Four of the Bills’ six losses in 2025, including playoffs, were by one score.

Houston’s pass rush will key Sunday’s contest. Anderson and Danielle Hunter dominated the last contest, bamboozling Allen into two interceptions and just 253 passing yards in the contest. Can they do it in back-to-back matchups? Allen has taken more than five sacks versus an opponent four previous times in his career. In his next game versus each of those opponents (GB, BAL, SEA, MIA), he took two or fewer sacks and won.

The Bills will open head coach Joe Brady’s first season in the big chair against one of the best defenses in the league. The Texans D set franchise records for total (277.2 YPG allowed, led NFL) and scoring defense (17.4 PPG allowed, second in NFL) in 2025 and was top five in NFL in yards per play allowed (4.8), opponent passer rating (76.2) and takeaways (29). How Brady tweaks his scheme now that he’s fully in charge will be a storyline that will stretch beyond this week.