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What We Learned from Bills-Texans: A ‍Shift in Momentum⁤ for Houston

Thursday‍ night’s thrilling Texans victory over the Bills offered ⁣several key takeaways, highlighting both Houston’s emerging strengths and Buffalo’s puzzling decisions. The win propelled the Texans to a 6-5 record,considerably boosting their ‌playoff chances,though much work remains to secure a postseason berth.

Davis Mills Stepped Up in Strough’s Absence: With‍ starting quarterback C.J. Stroud expected to return⁤ from a three-game absence, the performance ‍of backup Davis Mills was notably ‌noteworthy.Despite a slow start -‌ beginning the game 1-for-8 and 3-of-12 – Mills rallied to complete eight of his next nine passes before halftime, orchestrating ​two crucial touchdown ⁣drives. While the offense stalled in the second half, relying on a field goal generated by a turnover, Mills protected ​the ball, avoiding both sacks and turnovers. His resilience in holding the fort will be valuable if the Texans reach the playoffs.

Bills’ Rushing Attack Underutilized: Buffalo’s offensive strategy⁤ raised questions,specifically⁣ regarding the limited use of running ‍back James cook. Cook enjoyed early success, gaining 75 yards on his ​first seven carries,⁣ including a ‍45-yard touchdown – the most rushing yards allowed by the⁢ Texans’ defense to an opponent all season. However,his⁤ carries were drastically​ reduced until the⁣ fourth quarter,ultimately finishing with 19 touches‍ on 66 offensive plays. Despite struggling to sustain drives, the ⁢Bills seemingly​ abandoned a successful element of their offense, a decision that proved costly.⁢ Cook finished with ⁤117 of ‌Buffalo’s 326⁢ total yards. His 27 carries in a previous⁢ win against⁣ the ​Chiefs ⁤contrasted sharply ⁢with Thursday’s usage.

Texans Demonstrate Late-Game Poise: Houston ​is⁢ demonstrating a newfound ability to win close games. Previously struggling​ in one-possession scenarios – losing their first five ​by a combined 23 points⁣ – the Texans have now won three consecutive games decided by a single score. These victories against the Jaguars, Titans, and ⁣Bills showcase a ​growing composure‌ in critical⁢ moments. Thursday’s win was largely driven by a strong defensive performance, holding the Bills to a‍ single touchdown and repeatedly‍ denying them scoring opportunities inside the Houston 25-yard line.

Next Gen Stats‌ & Record-Breaking Performance: James Cook‌ reached a top speed of 21.33 mph on​ his 45-yard‍ touchdown ⁤run, marking his ⁤fastest play of the​ season⁣ and second-fastest of his career. On the Texans’ side,rookie Will Anderson Jr. extended his remarkable streak, recording a sack in his sixth consecutive game, tying Mario Williams’ franchise record⁢ set in 2007. Only J.J. Watt, ⁤with a seven-game streak spanning 2014-2015 ‍(both Defensive Player of the Year seasons), has had a longer streak with‌ the ‍Texans.