4 Takeaways From the Texans’ Win over the Payments

[ad_1] The Buffalo Payments could also be throwing away their greatest shot at a Tremendous Bowl in additional than 30 years.

In a season the place the Kansas Metropolis Chiefs and Baltimore Ravens, Buffalo's two largest AFC rivals, have been lowered to .500 groups, the Payments have remarkably been unable to benefit from their fall. And after their 23-19 loss to the Texans in Houston on Thursday evening, they're at risk of a fall themselves.

The Payments are actually 7-4, a full two video games again of the New England Patriots within the AFC East and just one recreation forward of the Texans (6-5) within the wild card race. The sector had been cleared for Buffalo to run to the highest of the convention and get the home-field benefit within the playoffs they so desperately want. As a substitute, after one other dangerous loss on Thursday evening, they might should battle to get to the playoffs in any respect.

Listed here are my takeaways:

1. The Texans' protection is actual, and it’s spectacular The Texans' offensive struggles have been mystifying for 2 years now. They will’t run the ball persistently and their passing recreation is erratic, no matter whether or not the quarterback is Davis Mills or C.J. Stroud.

However the protection is excellent, and it is perhaps sufficient to pull this flawed group to the playoffs.

Houston was throughout Payments quarterback Josh Allen on Thursday evening, sacking him a career-high eight instances (edge rusher Will Anderson Jr. led the way in which with 2.5) and doing their greatest to make the large QB uncomfortable within the pocket. The Texans always collapsed it round him and compelled him to maneuver, which disrupted any rhythm the Payments passing recreation might need mustered.

The front-line combo of Anderson (10.5 sacks on the season) and edge rusher Danielle Hunter (11) is as potent a 1-2 cross speeding punch as there's within the league, and it is a huge cause why the Texans have the No. 1 protection within the NFL.

Houston will finally want the offense to do one thing — something — in the event that they wish to make any postseason noise, however the protection ought to be sufficient to no less than give them the possibility.

2. James Cook dinner shoulders the Payments' hopes of a Tremendous Bowl run Pretty much as good as Allen is, he’s merely not repeating his MVP season from a yr in the past. Perhaps that’s not all his fault, however it doesn’t matter at this level, since his prime operating again appears extra outfitted to deal with an even bigger share of the offensive load in the event that they’ll give it to him.

Cook dinner was good final season, speeding for 1,009 yards and 16 touchdowns, however he has develop into an awesome operating again this yr. He had 116 yards in opposition to the Texans and is now as much as 1,084 on the season, which presently ranks him second within the NFL in speeding yards (behind Indianapolis’ Jonathan Taylor).

Allen continues to be able to carrying this group when obligatory, however there actually isn’t a necessity with a operating again on the roster who's on tempo for practically 1,700 speeding yards. In reality, the Payments have to lean on Cook dinner much more than they're. They appeared to desert him for lengthy stretches on Thursday evening once they obtained even a little bit bit behind, though they by no means trailed by multiple rating.

Utilizing Cook dinner extra will take strain off Allen and make life simpler for his or her passing assault – particularly within the face of a powerful cross rush. Cook dinner ought to be the engine that makes their offense go.

3. The Payments ought to have gotten Allen a No. 1 receiver It was arduous sufficient to consider that when Payments normal supervisor Brandon Beane checked out his receiving corps within the offseason that he felt glad with what he noticed. It’s nearly unattainable to consider he nonetheless felt that manner on the buying and selling deadline, too.

But Buffalo did nothing then, identical to they did nothing within the offseason, to get their MVP quarterback what he wants most – a real, No. 1 extensive receiver. And there’s actually no excuse. It’s simply roster malpractice. Perhaps Beane is OK as a result of someway the Payments nonetheless rank within the prime 10 in passing, however that’s all due to Allen.

Henry To'oTo'o will get one of many Texans' eight sacks of Josh Allen. (Tim Warner/Getty Photos)

Simply think about how good he can be if he had a receiver that even ranked among the many prime 40 within the league.

One of the best he’s obtained is extensive receiver Khalil Shakir, who led the group with a mediocre 76 catches for 821 yards and 4 touchdowns final season. On Thursday evening, his limitations had been crystal clear, though he caught eight passes for 110 yards, but additionally had a pricey fumble. He’s now as much as 54 catches for 564 yards on the season, that are mediocre (at greatest) numbers for the most effective receiver on his group.

The Payments' offense hasn’t appeared like its previous self the final two seasons, actually, and the shortage of a prime receiver is a big cause why. It’s a mistake that Beane can’t make once more this offseason. Discovering a No. 1 receiver must be his precedence if he actually needs the Payments to make a Tremendous Bowl run.

4. The Texans want Stroud again – and looking out like he did as a rookie Mills had a pleasant, two-game run, however he actually confirmed his limitations on Thursday evening in opposition to a mediocre Payments protection (16-of-30 for 153 yards and two touchdowns). He had loads of alternatives to open up a giant lead on this recreation, however he couldn't get the passing recreation going in any respect.

Now, Stroud hasn’t been nice this season (or final season, for that matter), however his upside is far greater. There's hope in Houston that he’ll be again for Week 12, and the Texans will clearly want him in the event that they wish to do something on offense in any respect.

However Houston will want the previous Stroud, the one who appeared so promising as a rookie, not the one who has struggled ever since. They want no less than somebody able to making performs for the reason that Texans speeding recreation simply isn’t adequate to hold the offense behind a median offensive line.

Houston must get the passing recreation going, which will not occur persistently with Mills on the helm.

4 ½. What’s subsequent? It received’t get any simpler within the coming weeks for the Payments, who journey to Pittsburgh (6-4) subsequent Sunday after which return residence to face the Bengals (and doubtless quarterback Joe Burrow) on Dec. 7. However the huge one for them — huge contemplating they nonetheless have their sights set on a sixth straight AFC East championship — comes Dec. 14 in New England in opposition to the group they’re chasing, the Patriots (9-2)

As for the Texans, they’ve clawed their manner again into the playoff image after their 0-3 begin and now are simply one-half recreation again of the ultimate spot. However they've what may very well be a season-defining, two-game stretch at Indianapolis (8-2) and at Kansas Metropolis (5-5) developing the subsequent two weeks. And so they would possibly want a few wins, since they finish the season on the Chargers (7-4) and residential in opposition to the Colts once more.

Ralph Vacchiano is an NFL Reporter for FOX Sports activities. He spent six years masking the Giants and Jets for SNY TV in New York, and earlier than that, 16 years masking the Giants and the NFL for the New York Each day Information. Comply with him on Twitter at @RalphVacchiano.

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