The Athletic Football Show: A show about the NFL Week 16 Hangover: Bills and Texans get necessary, but unconvincing, wins over bad teams
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Dec 23, 2025 The Bills and Texans snagged playoff spots but not without displaying some concerning performances. The hosts dissect Buffalo's ho-hum win over the Browns, focusing on Josh Allen's second-half struggles and an over-reliance on the ground game. Meanwhile, the Texans’ shaky offense against the Raiders raises eyebrows, with praise for individual standout plays amidst passing inconsistencies. They also dive into the potential tanking of the Raiders and critique coaching decisions in the wake of underwhelming wins.
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Bills' Intentional Run-First Control
- The Bills deliberately leaned into an under-center, run-heavy approach to control the game and limit Miles Garrett's impact.
- That structure traded explosive passing for steadiness and worked in the first half but felt sputtering in high-leverage second-half moments.
Strong Start, Frustrating Finish
- Josh Allen and the Bills dominated early with a powerful run game and 83% first-half success rate.
- Allen's limp and several second-half misses made the performance frustrating rather than deeply concerning.
Browns Used Misdirection To Offset Limitations
- The Browns attacked with screens, jet motion and misdirection to exploit the Bills' hesitant second and third levels.
- Those schemed plays kept Cleveland competitive despite limited downfield passing.