The Buffalo Bills and their “X-factors” continue their 2025 NFL season with a matchup against the Houston Texans on Sunday in Week 12 at NRG Stadium.
While game plans, coaching, and strategy will play a part, but sometimes a big emphasis will sit with some individual players. In terms of the Bills defense, who could those be?
Here are Bills Wire’s three potential X-factors on the Bills (7-3) defense against the Texans (5-5):
S Cole Bishop
Bishop has started to blossom in recent weeks after a rocky start to the 2025 season. The safety has interceptions in back-to-back games and is now going to face Houston’s backup quarterback in Davis Mills on Sunday. Mills has avoided mistakes in his two starts for the Texans’ injured starting QB CJ Stroud (concussion) but Bishop should aim to change that.
CB Christian Benford
Helping Mills out the most has been wide receiver Nico Collins. He is hot.
In Mills’ two starts, Collins has 16 catches and 228 yards with a touchdown.
Benford could have a long day at the office.
DT DaQuan Jones
Jones should easily dominate the middle of the Texans’ offensive line against the pass and run game. At the nose of Houston’s O-line is Jake Andrews, who grades as the second-worst center in the NFL according to Pro Football Focus. Meanwhile, Jones is PFF’s No. 8 defensive tackle.
This article originally appeared on Bills Wire: 3 potential X-factors on the Buffalo Bills defense at the Houston Texans in Week 12
Reporting by Nick Wojton, USA TODAY / Bills Wire
USA TODAY Network via Reuters Connect
