Bills Open Joe Brady Era on the Road Against the Texans
A new head coach takes over in Buffalo, but the on-field engine stays the same heading into Week 1.
The Bills open the 2026 season on the road at Houston (Sept. 13, 1 p.m. ET, CBS) under first-year head coach Joe Brady, with the starting lineup set around quarterback Josh Allen, 30, running back James Cook, 26, who led the NFL in rushing yards in 2025, and new WR1 DJ Moore. Allen enters the season as the reigning 2024 MVP, coming off a 2025 in which he was the only player in the league with 3,000-plus passing yards and 500-plus rushing yards. Brady's promotion comes after Buffalo parted ways with longtime head coach Sean McDermott this offseason, elevating the man who built the Bills' explosive offense as coordinator into full control of the operation. Both the Bills and Texans went 12-5 a year ago and won a playoff game each before falling in the Divisional Round, and history has not been kind to Allen specifically against Houston, which has beaten him four times in five career meetings.
This is Year 1 for everybody. Like I told the team, we've never been here before, right? We haven't earned a damned thing.— Joe Brady, Bills head coach
Joe Brady's own track record calling plays is drawing real skepticism heading into his head-coaching debut, and doubters aren't sold Buffalo's new receivers hit their target numbers in his system. Allen himself has described the new dynamic under his former coordinator turned boss: "His mantra for us this year is put the ball down. We're gonna figure it out. Come game time." Our take: Allen at 30 is still playing at an MVP level, but Buffalo has burned through several coordinators chasing the right formula around him, and Brady's Week 1 script is the first real data point on whether this version finally sticks. A road opener against a rebuilding Texans team is winnable enough that a conservative, bubble-screen-heavy approach would draw real criticism even in victory.
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New receiver Greg Dortch is in line to be Buffalo's primary punt returner, and the Bills carry a deep tight end room into the opener with Dalton Kincaid, Dawson Knox, Zach Hawes, and Jackson Hawes all in the mix — a genuine luxury for a Brady offense that will lean on multiple tight end sets early while the receiver corps builds real chemistry with Allen.
Joe Brady's first Week 1 as Bills head coach
Joe Brady is hired as Buffalo's head coach, his first NFL head-coaching job.
Starting lineup set around Josh Allen, James Cook, and DJ Moore.
Bills open the season on the road at Houston, 1 p.m. ET on CBS.
New coach, same Josh Allen — Buffalo finds out in Houston whether that's the right formula again.
Week 1 Prediction: Score, Spread & Player Prop
Bills -1.5 on the road at Houston, a near pick'em per DraftKings and Covers.com Week 1 lines.
45.5 total points. We lean the over with two explosive offenses and a defense (Houston's) that lost key pieces this offseason.
Josh Allen Over 249.5 passing yards (-115 range at most books). Expect Brady to lean on Allen's arm early against a Houston front that will sell out to stop James Cook.
Odds referenced from DraftKings, FanDuel and BetMGM lines as of this week; lines move, always confirm current odds before betting.
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Sources: Buffalo Bills, AtoZ Sports, SI.com