Bills Vs. Texans Game Breakdown

December football is back, and it is as meaningful as ever. The season is now 4 games away from it's conclusion, as the Bills pick up a huge victory against a streaking Texans team. The Bills are now 6-6 and in the heart of the Wild Card race. Buffalo's victory was hard earned, as they kept the penalties down and stuck around defensively and offensively throughout the game. It was an impressive performance, and although things got tight late, Buffalo found a way to come through in the clutch. Buffalo is still behind the Jets at 3rd in the AFC East, as they moved to 7-5 this week with their OT victory over the Giants. Let's break down the game.

The Bills had a decent offensive day, and were an extremely balanced team through the air and on the ground. They totaled 390 yards of total offense, as Taylor put up 203 yards through the air, and the rushing game putting up another 187 yards. Buffalo's offensive attack scored touchdowns on both of their first offensive drives, and although things stalled in the second half, they managed to move the ball 65 yards downfield, capped off by a 40 yard reception by TE Charles Clay.

Tyrod Taylor was in full command of the Buffalo Bills offense on Sunday afternoon. He was poised, calm, collected, and efficient as always. He put up 203 yards, in addition to an extra 28 on the ground. He tossed up 3 TD's and put up another on the ground. He finished his day 11/21, 203 yds, 3 TD's (+1 rushing TD) and 0 INT's. That last number has been of Tyrod Taylor's biggest assets. His ability to not turn the the ball over has given Buffalo a chance in every game they've played this season. Tyrod is consistently proving he could be the Bills QB for some years to come.

Sammy Watkins has been electric since the bye week (when he's been targeted of course), and this game was no different. He managed to pull in just 3 receptions on his 4 targets, but managed to put up 109 yards and 1 TD. When Sammy gets loose, he can be one of the most electric WR's in the league. Charles Clay also contributed, putting up 4 receptions for 66 yards and the game-winning TD. Robert Woods also caught a TD.

Another game, another 100+ yard performance for Lesean McCoy. He's been the Bill's workhorse since the bye week, and it's paying off. He put up 112 yards on his 21 carries, and is as elusive as ever. He's proven himself in this offense so far, and will continue to do so as he has a big game coming up against his former team, the Philadelphia Eagles.

One last important matchup was the Bills offensive line going up against JJ Watt. They shut JJ down, allowing him to get in on and make only 4 tackles. Jordan Mills and Craig Urbik did an excellent job shoring up the right side of the O-line which was plagued by injuries.

The defense had a solid day, but it wasn't flashy. They forced 1 turnover late in the game, and got to the QB twice, while giving up 401 yards of total offense. The CB's did a good job of shutting down Deandre Hopkins, although he made his presence known in the latter half of the game. Buffalo is still suffering from injuries on the defensive side of the ball, as they're missing 4 key starters. They've got work to do going forward, but still, they're getting better.

Overall, it was a solid win for Buffalo, but there was no time for celebration. The playoffs for Buffalo start now. They've got a lot of work to do and still need help from other matchups to make it into the playoffs for the first time in 16 years. The Bills are still going forward without key players, such as Nigel Bradham, Stephon Gilmore, and Kyle, Aaron, and Karlos Williams. The next 4 games for Buffalo are extremely important, and are all winnable games. There is no margin for error going ahead, and with Tyrod at the helm of this ship, this team has a legitimate chance to win out and find a way to make it. Thanks for reading, and as always, let's go Buffalo!

Sources:
Stats: http://espn.go.com/nfl/boxscore?gameId=400791611
Image #1: (Bill Wippert | The Associated Press)
Image #2: (AP Photo/Bill Wippert)