NFL Week 12 kicks off with an AFC showdown within the Lone Star State, because the 5-5 Houston Texans welcome Josh Allen and the 7-3 Buffalo Payments to city. The Texans are coming off their second straight victory, a 16-13 win towards division rival Tennessee Titans, whereas the Payments emerged on the proper aspect of a 44-32 shootout with the Tampa Bay Buccaneers.
It will likely be Davis Mills beneath middle once more for the Texans, as C.J. Stroud will miss a second straight begin attributable to his concussion. Mills is 2-0 this season as a starter and is averaging 283 passing yards per recreation. He is scored 4 whole touchdowns, thrown one interception, but in addition been sacked six occasions in these contests.
The Payments bought again to their successful methods final week in a recreation that featured 9 lead adjustments, however they’re nonetheless 1.5 video games behind the shocking New England Patriots within the AFC East. Between dealing with a backup quarterback and a bottom-10 speeding assault, this can be a massive alternative for Buffalo.
Let’s break down this week’s version of “Thursday Evening Soccer,” however first, this is how one can watch the sport.
The place to look at Payments vs. Texans stay
- Date: Thursday, Nov. 20 | Time: 8:15 p.m. ET
- Location: NRG Stadium — Houston, Texas
- Stream: Prime
- Observe: CBS Sports activities App
- Odds: Payments -5.5; O/U 43.5 (by way of FanDuel)
Payments vs. Texans: Have to know
- Davis Mills struggled in his one begin vs. Buffalo. Whereas Mills has been successful as of late, his one profession begin vs. the Payments again in 2021 was a catastrophe. He accomplished 11 of 21 passes for 87 yards, zero touchdowns and a career-high 4 interceptions in a 40-0 loss.
- Josh Allen has unhealthy luck in Houston. Allen has an 83-37 document as a starter within the common season, however he is had unhealthy luck in H-City. The Payments have misplaced on walk-off discipline objectives in Houston twice when Allen has began.
- Payments run protection is a matter. The Payments have the No. 2 cross protection within the NFL, permitting 169.7 yards per recreation. Nonetheless, the run protection is a serious downside. Buffalo permits the second-most speeding yards per recreation with 153.0, and has allowed six speeding touchdowns of 30 or extra yards this season — that are tied for probably the most via 10 video games in NFL historical past.
- Greatest protection within the NFL? Many consider the Denver Broncos have one of the best protection within the NFL, however that title could belong to the Texans. Houston permits a league-low 258.1 whole yards per recreation, and are the stingiest in terms of placing factors on the board at 16.3 per recreation. And that 16.3 is the fewest allowed via 10 video games by a crew with no successful document since 2003! Houston has allowed fewer than 20 factors in seven of 10 video games this season.
- Not-ready-for-prime-time gamers? The Payments are 2-2 in prime time this season, however have misplaced their final two night time video games. The Texans alternatively have misplaced each of their prime-time matchups this 12 months.
Payments vs. Texans prediction, choose
Allen could not love taking part in in Houston, however he definitely likes taking part in on Thursdays. Allen has one of the best Thursday document (8-0) by a beginning quarterback since 1950. He is scored 290 whole touchdowns in his profession, that are probably the most all-time by a participant 30-years-old or youthful, and has probably the most whole touchdowns within the NFL this season with 28. All that to say, he is adequate to rise above this vaunted Texans protection.
The Texans mounted a formidable comeback towards the Jacksonville Jaguars in Week 10 and located a solution to win in Tennessee final Sunday regardless of not scoring a single level within the first half, however the Payments are a unique sort of check. Buffalo covers the unfold in prime time. Choose: Payments -5.5; Below 43.5
