Texans coach all too familiar with Bills QB Allen’s ability

ORCHARD PARK, N.Y. » Houston Texans first-year coach David Culley closed his Zoom call with Buffalo reporters asking for a big favor.

“Tell them to go easy on us up there,” Culley said as the rebuilding Texans (1-2) travel to face the Josh Allen-led Buffalo Bills (2-1) on Sunday.

Allen has no intention to oblige by saying: “Don’t plan on it.”

The good-natured banter was exchanged between two people very familiar with each other. As Buffalo’s quarterbacks coach during Allen’s rookie season in 2018, Culley saw beyond the player’s raw inconsistencies to gain an up-close glimpse of his burgeoning potential.

“Basically what you did is you just wanted to get him fundamentally right because you knew it was all there,” Culley recalled.

“I am not surprised at where

he’s at now,” he added, before breaking into a laugh. “I wish he’d go back to being inconsistent for at least one more week.”

Allen shook off early season jitters in a 43-21 win over Washington last weekend. By improving to 9-0 when topping 300 yards passing, Allen threw four touchdown passes and rushed for another to regain the dominant form he displayed during his breakthrough 2020 season.

“I think it just gets the ball rolling, but there are still a lot of things we can learn from,” Allen said.

Whatever glitches remain can be worked out against a Texans opponent with question marks on both sides of the ball.

Houston has allowed an average of 386 yards and plays a Tampa 2-style of defense which guards against big plays, but is susceptible to a short-passing attack. The Bills feature a trio of established receivers in Stefon Diggs, Cole Beasley and Emmanuel Sanders, who are capable of finding soft spots in coverage.

On offense, rookie Davis Mills makes his second consecutive start in place of Tyrod Taylor, who is sidelined with a hamstring injury. Mills went 19 of 28 for 168 yards and a touchdown in a 24-9 loss to Carolina last week.

The Texans’ lone touchdown drive came when Mills ran a hurry-up offense and capped a seven-play, 64-yard drive with a 1-yard pass to Anthony Miller.

ADRIAN KRAUS — THE ASSOCIATED PRESS Washington Football Team’s Kamren Curl (31) hits Buffalo Bills quarterback Josh Allen (17) who throws a pass during the second half of an NFL football game Sunday, Sept. 26, 2021, in Orchard Park, N.Y.