Buffalo Rumblings

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The Buffalo Bills will open the 2026 season Sunday at Reliant Stadium against the Houston Texans. It’s a new season, a new coaching staff, a new roster, and a clean record. There are some places where Josh Allen has built a highlight reel. Houston isn’t one of them. But there is some history waiting for Allen when he walks back into that building. Josh Allen has never won in Houston. So, before he gets another shot Sunday, we’re opening the time capsule on Allen’s history with the Texans.

The Buffalo Bills have officially named the team’s captains for the 2026 season. Last season, quarterback Josh Allen and linebacker Terrel Bernard were the team’s only named captains. The pair reprise their roles there this season, but four additional players join the leadership team. In total, there are two players each representing offense, defense, and special teams. Tight end Dawson Knox is the other name from offense joining Allen in captaincy.

The Buffalo Bills have officially entered game-prep ahead of their season-opening trip south to face the Houston Texans. Longtime members of Bills Mafia need few reminders about the house of horrors that is NRG Stadium for Buffalo. Time and again, in spite of those surrounding quarterback Josh Allen and company, the Bills just can’t escape Houston with a win. For a team that hasn’t claimed victory in H-Town since 2006, it’s natural to spend a little extra time glancing over the depth chart.

The Buffalo Bills open the 2026 regular season against the Houston Texans on Sunday, September 13. But for Bills Mafia traveling to Houston, kickoff is only one part of the weekend. The Houston Bills Backers have two days of festivities planned, beginning with their annual block party at Christian’s Tailgate on Saturday. On Sunday morning, fans can choose between the Backers’ traditional tailgate or an all-inclusive option from Fans of Buffalo.

As the season quickly approaches, we’ll once again be hosting a charity pick ‘em contest for fans of the Buffalo Bills. This year’s contest will benefit the Alzheimer’s Association, and all Buffalo Rumblings readers are welcome to join. Participants will compete against fans from across the country, all coming together to have some fun in support of a great cause. Fans will pick a winner for every NFL game each week, with the top performer being crowned the 2026 season champion.

The Houston Texans aren’t an exotic defense. They don’t utilize creativity get to the quarterback on a regular basis. It’s probably the NFL’s most straight-forward, pin-your-ears-back defensive scheme. That is not to say the Bills can scrap the gameplanning portion of this week for what their offense will see across the line of scrimmage on a play-to-play basis in Week 1.

The Buffalo Bills and Houston Texans should have opposite defensive approaches when they meet on Sunday in Week 1. As I wrote earlier today, the Texans have become the NFL’s most blitz-averse club, and justifiably so, given the presence of Will Anderson and Danielle Hunter, a duo that each eclipsed 80 pressures (!) during the regular season a year ago. In Houston on Sunday, the Bills need to crank the blitz dial against C.J. Stroud.

Football is awesome. You’re likely not reading this if you don’t think football is awesome. The most casual of observers don’t come to SB Nation sites and click on stories to read on a random weekday. Thus, I’m not telling you anything you don’t already know. But it’s not just the actual sport of football, played between whistles, that makes us love football so much. It’s all the phenomena that are football-related that add to our enjoyment of the season that always seemed too short.

The Buffalo Bills could have cleaned house entirely following last year’s disappointing AFC Divisional Round playoff loss to the Denver Broncos, but instead of bringing in an outside voice to lead Josh Allen and the Bills, Terry Pegula decided to promote Brandon Beane and elevate Joe Brady from offensive coordinator to head coach.