NFL Week 4 Picks: Buffalo Bills @ Houston Texans
Sep 14, 2014; Oakland, CA, USA; Houston Texans defensive end J.J. Watt (99) reacts after catching a touchdown pass against the Oakland Raiders in the first quarter at O.co Coliseum. Mandatory Credit: Cary Edmondson-USA TODAY Sports
NFL Week 4 picks — Buffalo Bills @ Houston Texans
If you had told me in the days leading up to the start of the 2014 season that a week four matchup in Houston pitting the Texans against the Buffalo Bills would be a battle of two first place teams, I would have called you crazy.
And like a lot of other things, I would have been wrong.
So far this season, the Texans and Bills are each 2-1, resting atop their respective divisions and preparing for a battle Sunday that on paper seems like a potentially really ugly game, but some team is going to walk away from this one with a 3-1 record and a really impressive start to the first quarter of their season.
Like I said, believe it or not.
In a game like this, usually I would simply go with a flip of a coin. These two teams have pretty inconsistent play from the quarterback position, potentially explosive running backs, and defenses with players capable of taking over games.
Interesting Note for This Game
This game pits a pair of Clemson Tigers first round picks at the wide receiver positions, both of whom are leading their teams in receiving through three games. Sammy Watkins, the player the Bills traded a future first round pick in this year’s draft to move up and get, leads the Bills with 167 yards and a touchdown so far this season. For the Texans, former Clemson star and 2013 first round pick DeAndre Hopkins leads the team with 227 yards and a pair of touchdowns.
Hopkins left Clemson after the 2012 season when he stole all the thunder from Sammy Watkins, who was considered a Heisman favorite as a sophomore after a freshman campaign that saw him absolutely light up the opposition. Hopkins took off after his junior season, and rightfully so, leaving the opportunity for Watkins to reclaim his role as the top receiver at Clemson.
Watkins answered the bell. It was a big junior season for Watkins, such that the Bills saw fit to make him a top five selection. These two will be playing against each other for the first time and could have a significant impact on the outcome of the game.
Stars to Watch
Texans: J.J. Watt – Bills: Mario Williams
Williams is facing the team that took him number one overall in the 2006 NFL Draft, and he’s doing it while currently leading the Buffalo Bills with two sacks. It’s been a pretty under the radar career for Williams as a member of the Bills after he was so good for Houston all those years.
The Texans drafted Watt in 2011, Williams’ last year with the team, and Watt exploded onto the scene, quickly becoming the league’s best defensive player. He also leads the Texans with two sacks so far this season.
These guys are going to be really fun to watch.
Prediction: Texans Win 24-23
I think this game is going to be pretty close, but the home team comes out on top. The Texans have a veteran quarterback in Ryan Fitzpatrick, and the best defensive player in football in J.J. Watt. The key for them is going to be stopping the athletic, potentially very potent offensive attack of Buffalo, featuring one of the most under-appreciated players in the league in Fred Jackson.
If the Texans can limit big plays, they should be able to sneak away from this game with a big win at home, improving to 3-1 on the season.