Bills vs. Texans NFL Week 5 Picks: Offensive Fireworks Ahead

Bills Suffer a Harsh Reality Check

The Buffalo Bills might not be in full panic mode, but their reality check on Sunday Night Football was hard to ignore. Facing a potential playoff rival in the Baltimore Ravens, the Bills didn’t just stumble—they got steamrolled under the primetime lights.

The 35-10 loss handed Buffalo their first defeat of the season and showed that they’re still a few steps away from being the dominant team they aspire to be.

Was Baltimore simply the better team? Or did Buffalo fail to show up? Arguments could be made for both, but the bottom line is the Ravens made more plays, dominated key moments, and kept the Bills off balance from start to finish.

While it’s only one loss, Buffalo faces two more road games in the coming weeks, putting them in a tough spot. They’ll need to regroup quickly before their next clash against the Texans.

What’s more concerning for the Bills is how their flaws, hidden through the first three weeks, were fully exposed. Injuries on defense finally caught up to them, revealing a lack of depth and playmakers. That left a unit that once looked like one of the league’s best struggling to keep up.

On offense, Josh Allen and company seemed completely out of sync. After carving up the Jaguars a week earlier, Allen couldn’t replicate that success against Baltimore’s defense. He found himself repeatedly throwing into tight coverage, leading to a night full of incompletions and missed opportunities.

The offensive line failed to hold its ground, allowing the Ravens’ defensive front to take over. Allen was sacked three times for a loss of 27 yards, and a disastrous fumble on an ill-timed trick play in the third quarter snuffed out any momentum the Bills were hoping to build.

In total, Allen finished with just 180 passing yards and 21 rushing yards on five carries. One silver lining was that he didn’t throw an interception—maintaining his clean record for the season—but that was more a matter of luck as two near-picks slipped through Ravens’ defenders’ hands.

Texans Struggle to Beat Jaguars

Meanwhile, Houston Texans phenom C.J. Stroud showcased his poise and potential in a thrilling finish against the Jacksonville Jaguars. Stroud racked up 345 passing yards and two touchdowns, including a clutch one-yard toss to Dare Ogunbowale with 18 seconds left to secure a 24-20 victory.

The Texans nearly squandered their chances, though, giving up 12 penalties and continuing a troubling trend that has seen them rack up 35 infractions over their last three games.

Nico Collins was Stroud’s top target, hauling in 12 catches for 151 yards and a touchdown—his third 100-yard game of the season. Despite a sloppy performance marred by mistakes and undisciplined play, Houston found a way to pull off a last-minute 69-yard scoring drive to stun the Jaguars.

The Texans’ resilience in closing out the game showed promise, but their inability to clean up penalties and sloppy execution is a red flag.

If Houston hopes to compete at a high level, they’ll need to address these issues fast. A team can have all the talent in the world, but if they can’t stay disciplined, Super Bowl aspirations will quickly crumble under the weight of their own mistakes.

The Pick

After giving up 35 points and showing little ability to contain Baltimore’s balanced attack, Buffalo’s once-vaunted defense now appears susceptible, especially against a high-energy passing offense like Houston’s.

On the flip side, Stroud is quickly emerging as a playmaking quarterback who can exploit shaky defenses. The Texans have shown they can score in bunches. If the Bills can’t address their defensive gaps, expect Stroud to continue his strong showing.

But the Texans’ defensive woes are just as concerning. Houston has given up significant yardage in recent weeks and has been hampered by penalties and missed assignments. They allowed Jacksonville to march down the field multiple times, making it clear that their secondary is vulnerable.

With Allen’s playmaking ability and a Bills’ offense looking to bounce back, Buffalo should find plenty of opportunities to capitalize on Houston’s lapses.

Add in the fact that both teams have shown signs of struggling to control the pace of games—whether through defensive breakdowns or undisciplined play—and this could turn into a shootout.

Both the Bills and Texans are capable of putting up points in a hurry, and their respective defensive shortcomings set the stage for a high-octane matchup where touchdowns may come fast and often.

NFL Pick: Over 46.5 (-110) at BetOnline

Over 46.5 (-110)

Visit Site

*The line and/or odds on picks in this article might have moved since the content was commissioned. For updated line movements, visit BMR’s free betting odds product.