Bills vs Texans: TNF Preview & Prediction

Thursday Night Football brings a crucial AFC matchup as the Buffalo Bills (7-3) travel to face the Houston Texans (5-5) at NRG Stadium. With playoff implications looming, this game features contrasting styles: Buffalo's high-powered offense against Houston's top-ranked defense. Here's what to know for tonight's thursday night football tonight live showdown.

Key Storylines

The spotlight shines on Josh Allen, who enters TNF with MVP buzz after a historic 6-TD performance against the Buccaneers. Allen holds a perfect 6-0 record in Thursday night primetime games, but faces his toughest test yet against the NFL's stingiest defense (163 allowed points).

For Houston, the absence of C.J. Stroud (concussion protocol) means Woody Marks will start again. While the texans depth chart shows Mills at quarterback, the real strength lies in their defense. Despite their 5-5 record, the Texans have dominated Buffalo at home, winning 3 straight games at NRG Stadium since 2018.

Betting Insights

The Bills open as 5.5-point favorites with an over/under of 43.5 points. Buffalo is 7-3 SU but just 4-6 ATS this season, while Houston covers at home (3-1 ATS). With texans vs bills odds favoring the Bills, savvy bettors can leverage the bet365 bonus code CBSBET365 for $150 in bonus bets after a $5 wager on tonight's game.

"The Texans will start Davis Mills again for the injured C.J. Stroud. But this game will be about Josh Allen against the Texans top-ranked defense." — Pete Prisco, CBS Sports

Expert Predictions

Analysts split on the outcome but agree on a close contest:

• Vic Tafur (The Athletic): Texans +5.5 (exploits Bills' Houston struggles)
• Pete Prisco (CBS Sports): Bills 24-17 (Allen breaks through elite defense)
• Joe Osborne (Covers.com): Bills 20-16 (defensive battle)

While bills texans prediction models vary, a common thread is Buffalo's offensive firepower overcoming their road struggles. The bills game tonight outcome could hinge on whether Houston can contain Allen's dual-threat capability.

What To Watch

1. Allen vs. Texans' Front Seven: Can Houston pressure Allen after allowing just 18 sacks?

2. Mills' Chemistry: How quickly can he connect with Nico Collins (16 catches/228 yards in last 2 games)?

3. Buffalo's Road Woes: The Bills haven't won in Houston since 2006.

Tune in at 8:15 PM ET on Prime Video for this crucial AFC battle. With both teams fighting for playoff positioning, tonight's thursday night football tonight live event promises fireworks.