Texans put Josh Allen and Bills on notice as Nico Collins backs C.J. Stroud for breakout season

DeMeco Ryans has warned the Buffalo Bills that his Houston Texans are ready for the challenge, while Nico Collins has backed C.J. Stroud to make a major statement during the 2026 NFL season.

Ryans believes Houston can have one of the NFL’s best defences after ranking first overall last season, but he knows the offence must improve if the Texans are to take another step.

That makes the season opener against Buffalo particularly important. The Texans are 1-2 in regular-season openers under Ryans, while Houston also started 0-3 last season as its offence struggled to consistently produce points.

DeMeco Ryans knows the Texans face a different Bills team

Ryans was full of praise for Josh Allen and the new-look Bills ahead of the meeting, describing Allen as a “tremendous” playmaker and James Cook as an “exceptional player”.

He also highlighted the arrival of DJ Moore, calling the wide receiver a “big get” and a “true No. 1” who already knows the offensive scheme.

However, Ryans made it clear that Buffalo cannot be judged on its recent meetings with Houston.

“Overall, this is a new Buffalo Bills team. It’s not the team we played the past couple years,” Ryans said.

“New head coach, new coordinators on all three phases.”

That is an important warning for a Texans side that has beaten Buffalo in each of their last two meetings.

Ryans knows this will be a different test with changes across the Bills’ coaching staff and roster.

Houston’s biggest question may still be what happens on offence.

Ryans called the offence the “key” to the team’s ambitions, while Stroud enters a pivotal third season with plenty to prove.

The quarterback threw for 3,041 yards, 19 touchdowns and eight interceptions across 14 starts in 2025, completing 64.5 per cent of his passes.

Collins clearly believes more is coming from his quarterback. “He’s built for everything,” the

Texans receiver said. “We believe in him, we love him. This is the best position he can be in right now. I feel like he is about to go out and show the whole world what he’s made of, and I can’t wait. We got his back 100 percent, all the way.”

With Houston’s defence already viewed as a strength, Stroud and the offence now have a chance to set the tone against Allen and Buffalo when the season gets underway.

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