Where: Reliant Stadium (turf, roof expected to be closed)
When: Sunday, 1 p.m. ET (CBS)
Spread: Texans by 10
Records: Texans (Overall: 6-1, AFC South: 2-0); Bills (Overall: 3-4, AFC East: 0-2)
Past results: Two most recent meetings -- Nov. 1, 2009: Texans 31, Bills 10. Nov. 19, 2006: Bills 24, Texans 21. Series record: Bills lead 3-2.
What matters: Houston defeated the Ravens 43-13 in Week 7 and enters this week’s game coming off its bye week. The Texans have the best record in the AFC at 6-1 and lead Indianapolis by two games in the division race. At this point, it is not too early to think about playoff seeding. Buffalo also is coming off its bye week, and Sunday marks the return of DE Mario Williams to Houston. Williams was the No. 1 overall pick by the Texans in the 2006 draft but signed a $100 million free-agent deal with Buffalo during the offseason.
Who matters: Texans DE J.J. Watt is one of the early leaders for defensive player of the year as Houston approaches the midway point. Watt leads the league with 9.5 sacks and also is tied for fourth in the league in passes defended (10), which is remarkable for a defensive lineman. RB Arian Foster leads the NFL with nine rushing touchdowns. No other running back in the league has more than five.
Key matchups: The Bills are third in the league in rushing offense, averaging 150.3 yards per game. Houston’s defense, meanwhile, is also third in the league, allowing just 83 yards per game on the ground. The Texans will have their hands full dealing with Bills RBs C.J. Spiller and Fred Jackson. Spiller is explosive and has played well this season while Jackson (knee) is close to 100 percent after the bye week.
Injuries of note: RB Ben Tate missed practice Wednesday and Thursday with a hamstring injury. The Texans claimed rookie RB Jonathan Grimes off waivers this week. Grimes will provide some insurance behind Foster and RB Justin Forsett if Tate can’t go. SS Quintin Demps (thumb/forearm) has been a full participant in practice this week, and coach Gary Kubiak hopes Demps can return for the first time since breaking his left forearm against Tennessee on Sept. 30.
Inside stuff: Houston is sixth in the NFL with 140.9 rushing yards per game, but the Texans are just No. 18 in yards per rush (3.98). Kubiak and offensive coordinator Rick Dennison talked this week about wanting to see more explosive plays in the run game.
Connections: The Texans received a lot of grief in 2006 when they drafted Williams No. 1 overall and passed on Reggie Bush and hometown QB Vince Young. In his six seasons in Houston (2006-11), Williams set franchise records for sacks (53) and sacks in a single season (14 in 2007).
Stat you should know: The Bills are last in the NFL in rush defense, allowing 176.9 yards per game. Buffalo also has given up 13 rushing touchdowns, which also is most in the league. If Buffalo cannot stop Houston’s ground game, it will have a tough time stopping Houston’s offense. The Texans, as always, will try to establish the run and work in play-action with QB Matt Schaub.
Bulletin board quote: DE Antonio Smith, on Williams’ return to Houston: “The one thing you don’t account for is the control of all the different emotions you get in the game like this, coming back, going back, playing against the team you used to be with, playing against guys that you’re friends with. You can’t really be mean and aggressive and do stuff that you normally would do. Sometimes you think you’re going to come in and just dominate, but it doesn’t always be like that. So, I’m looking forward to seeing how he’s going to respond.”
Looking ahead: After Sunday’s game, the Texans are on the road for four of their next five games, beginning with a trip to Chicago.
Prediction: Texans 31, Bills 17
Follow Texans blogger Sean Bielawski on Twitter @CBSTexans.
