Gailey was asked if his play calling choices are hampered to the point where he’s calling a game different because they can’t throw downfield.

“No, not at all,” said Gailey. ”Do you know how often Houston threw the ball down the field yesterday? Two times. The same as us. The key is consistency and completing and putting the ball in the end zone when you get down there. That’s the key to the whole thing. It’s not how many times you throw the ball down the field. It’s whether or not you’re completing the balls you’re throwing and then can you run after catch sometimes and make plays that way. Very few people throw it down the field bombs away like Daryle Lamonica. The just doesn’t happen anymore.”

The Bills currently rank 27th in yards per pass play (10.6).

In the third quarter Buffalo’s defense held Foster to 16 yards on eight carries, and through the Texans final touchdown drive he actually lost yardage to total just 15 yards on 11 second half carries to that point.

“I definitely think we made some progress as far as that goes on our run defense and other aspects of the game, but we’ve still got a long way to go,” said Nick Barnett. “We’ve got to get up field and cause some turnovers and make a play on the long ball. We didn’t. We let a couple of little sneak boots come out of there on throwbacks and we have to be more technique-sound on that.”

Foster finished with 111 yards on 24 carries, but got a lot of garbage yards at the end when Houston was trying to kill clock and shorten the game. For more on Buffalo’s improved run defense check out John Murphy’s Bills Focus package in the Media Center on Buffalobills.com.

Ironically, it came in a stadium where he had played home games for the previous six seasons. Nonetheless Williams was far more active than he had been in any other game this season registering a team leading seven tackles including a pair for loss, a sack and a quarterback hit.

For more on Williams game and what he thought about it check out Kyle Zamiara’s story on Mario’s performance on the home page of Buffalobills.com Monday morning.

“The spread offense, in my opinion, is not that good in the red zone,” said Smith. “It is short things and if you play the run well, then there are not many plays they can run.”

Truthfully the opinion is a bit misguided since the Bills were a top 10 red zone offense coming into the game in terms of touchdown percentage.

“It was incredible,” said Wilson. “I didn’t expect it. To say you’ve met a President is a lifetime memory and a lifetime experience. He was looking at me and smiling at me, and I was smiling back. I got to shake his hand twice. I’ll carry it with me for a long time.”

Wilson made sure to shake his hand and say hello before he was escorted back to his golf cart.

“I said hello, Mr. President, good to see you today,” said Wilson. “That’s a lifetime memory for me.”

Sounds like the Senator handled himself well.

“We had a lot of stuff that we didn’t get to because of how they were playing us,” said Ryan Fitzpatrick. “That’s just the way it is with our team and the things that we do. When teams play against us that’s the biggest thing teams try to do is stop the run, stop C.J., stop Fred and make you beat them with the pass. That’s what the Texans came into the game saying and that’s what they did.”

The chief problem was Houston’s use of a regular front seven against Buffalo’s three wide set. The kept their third LB in instead of subbing him out for a nickel corner and dared the Bills to beat them with the pass. Buffalo didn’t execute often enough.

“It’s something we need to evaluate and figure out and have a good plan for and we’ve got to be able to take advantage with our guys on the outside as well,” said Fitzpatrick.

Over the next two games (counting today) they’ll face two opponents that rush more than any other club in the NFL. Houston and New England have more rushing attempts per game this season than anyone else. The Texans average a league-leading 35.4 rushes per game. New England is second with 34.5.

Not surprisingly, both clubs stand first and second in rushing touchdown as well (New England 12, Houston 11).

What’s ironic is Buffalo averages more rushing yards per game (150.3) than both teams (New England 149.6, Houston 140.9). So if the Bills can tighten up their run defense to just a respectable level it figures to significantly impact their fortunes.  And as defensive coordinator Dave Wannstedt has said, it starts with the front four.

“I think that they understand accountability to each other better at this point than maybe they ever have,” he said. ”We made that point of emphasis. I think they understand that better. Hopefully that does carry over to the games.”

We’ll find out on Sunday.

Through the Texans’ first seven games, Graham and the Texans are last in the league in touchback percentage (25.6%) which is almost half the league average (50%). Part of the reason the percentage is so low is because they have the second fewest touchbacks in the league (11) and the fourth-most kickoffs (45).

“I don’t think you can all of a sudden say if he’s kicking it two yards deep say it’s got to be out of the end zone,” said Houston head coach Gary Kubiak. ”You can do what you can do. He does directional kick pretty good. The thing we’ve noticed he kicks off pretty well early in games and as the game goes on, they’re not as good. So we tried to focus on that trying to keep him focused on some things we think can help him.

“We’re going to have to be smart some of the things we do kicking the ball, too. If you know you can’t kick it out of the endzone then you better know where you’re kicking it and how you’re going to cover, so we’ve got our hands full there. Hopefully we can start to improve that this week.”

Bills head coach Chan Gailey is hopeful Houston’s struggles lead to opportunities for Leodis McKelvin and Brad Smith.

“I am seeing opportunities,” said Gailey. ”I don’t want too many kickoff returns. You don’t want to go out there and have a chance for five or six, but the two or three they may kick you hope we get good returns on them to get good field position or points on them which happened in our last game.”

Brad Smith returned a kickoff 89 yards for a touchdown in Buffalo’s last game in Week 7 against the Titans. Houston is last in the league in average drive start allowed giving opponents an average start of their own 26-yard line. Conversely, they’re last in their own average drive start, with a mark of their own 18.5-yard line.

Tate has been dealing with a hamstring injury and did not practice at all this week. Tate rotated in often for starter Arian Foster and Houston head coach Gary Kubiak said the rotation will continue with third-stringer Justin Forsett assuming the backup role.

“Justin (Forsett), I just have a ton of confidence in him,” said Kubiak. ”There’s just certain guys that come to camp and earn their keep and earn their way on the team and they earn it every day. Boy, he’s really respected by our team, and every time we’ve given him a chance he’s done good stuff. We’ll keep the rotation. He’ll basically take Ben’s (Tate) spot. We’ll continue to rotate between him and (RB) Arian (Foster) and we have a lot of confidence in him.”

Houston also signed Jonathan Grimes to their roster earlier in the week. He was with the Texans during the preseason. Kubiak says he’ll be active, but will play mostly on special teams.

The designation is likely due to the fact that both players were limited in practice throughout the week. Not once did either of them participate fully in practice. But both are considered to have a far greater likelihood of playing than questionable. Both players moved very well in the practice setting and showed no ill effects from their ankle injuries.

TE Owen Daniels was limited in practice due to a hamstring injury, while WR Kevin Walter was limited due to illness. Daniels is second on the team in receptions and receiving yards and leads the club in touchdown receptions (4). Walter is third in catches and receiving yards. Here’s the rest of Houston’s injury report.

Did not practice
RB Ben Tate – hamstring
OL Cody White – illness

Limited in practice
NT Shaun Cody – back
LB Bryan Braman – neck
CB Johnathan Joseph – groin
LB Jesse Nading – foot/neck
DE Antonio Smith – ankle

Full practice
NT Earl Mitchell – ankle
SS Quintin Demps – thumb/forearm
WR Lestar Jean – knee
G Ben Jones – illness
FS Shiloh Keo – back
LG Wade Smith – knee
QB T.J. Yates – right elbow

Both were limited on Wednesday as well. Williams has been dealing with a nagging ankle injury since Week 6, but hasn’t missed any playing time. McGee however, is still struggling at times with his surgically repaired knee.

“He was about the same,” said Gailey after practice Thursday on McGee’s level of participation. “He was limited today in practice.”

When asked if McGee might be held out of Sunday’s game at Houston, Gailey held off on making a call.

“I’ll have to make a decision tomorrow,” he said.

“It went very well,” said Gailey following Thursday’s practice. ”He did everything today.”

Glenn was pleased that his ankle responded positively when he woke up Thursday morning after putting it through the paces Wednesday at practice.

“I’m very encouraged by it,” Glenn told Buffalobills.com.

Glenn appears to be returning to the starting lineup just in time knowing Chris Hairston may have to start at right tackle if Erik Pears (hip) is unable to play Sunday.

“I think things will still roll over like they did against Tennessee,” he said. “We came out and we looked good. We moved the ball. We ran the ball well and threw the ball well. I think we match up well against this Texans defense. We’ve just got to control their front four.”

When asked why he feels good about the offense’s chances of having success in the pass game, Johnson made things plain.

“I just think our receivers can beat their DBs, as simple as that,” he said. “We’ve just got to maintain that for four quarters and everything will take care of itself.”

Starting RT Erik Pears (hip) and left tackle Cordy Glenn (ankle) were limited as was DT Kyle Williams (ankle) and CB Terrence McGee (knee). Here’s the rest of Buffalo’s injury report.

Did not practice
DE Mark Anderson (knee)
OL Chad Rinehart (ankle)

Limited in practice
CB Terrence McGee (knee)
DT Kyle Williams (ankle)
RT Erik Pears (hip)
LT Cordy Glenn (ankle)

Full practice
DE Mario Williams (wrist)
C Eric Wood (foot)
LG Andy Levitre (knee)
WR Brad Smith (chest)
DT Marcell Dareus (shoulder)
RB C.J. Spiller (shoulder)
G Kraig Urbik (ankle)
WR Donald Jones (low back)
DE Chris Kelsay (ankle)

Jackson and Spiller heading into the Arizona game decided to go two straight series each before rotating out for the other back. It’s not ideal for either of them, but it’s proven to work better in terms of getting each of them into the rhythm of the game.

“It’s worked,” said Jackson. ”It’s about just finding that groove and getting into it. It’s not always gonna be perfect. But as long as we both can go out there and stay fresh and continue to make plays, we’ll do what we can to make this thing work. And I think that’s what this is about—going out there and getting some production out of both of us, and making this offensive unit go.”

“I think the mindset is good,” said Kyle Williams. ”It’s not easy task in front of us, but I think mentally everybody is sharp and is ready to get to work and to go down to Houston and play a good football game. We’ve just got to hit the ground running.”

The Texans and Patriots are Buffalo’s next two opponents with both games on the road. The players are fully aware that their margin for error is very limited the rest of the way if they want to reach the postseason.

“Definitely got to take it one game at a time, but definitely want to come out and get this win this week,” said Kraig Urbik. ”Every game from here on out is pretty important. Sitting at 3-4 we can’t lose too many more games to make the playoffs.”

Here’s what Texans FS Danieal Manning thinks of Buffalo’s attack.

“Defensively against us, they’re all over the place,” said Manning. ”A lot of motion shifts here and there. They’ve got good athletes, I believe, in my opinion. They have good athletes. Guys are capable of making big plays. We’ve just got to stay focused on the things that we do on defense. They’ve got a lot of formations, a lot of bunches here and there. They use their backs well. They can spread them out. He runs routes like receivers. That’s another thing, matchups that we’re probably going to have a problem and game plan with.”

“Offensively, they choose to play a little different football game than most pro teams play,” said Texans head coach Gary Kubiak. ”They’re five wide, spread the field, and we saw a bunch of that against Green Bay and saw what that did to us so that’s an issue for us moving forward this week. As far as going against them defensively, the best way we can help our defense is to stay on the field.”

“They’ve got two great backs in Arian and Tate,” said Fred Jackson. ”It’ll be good for us. We know that they want to get their ground game started, and that’s a way to keep us off the field, and likewise.  Between C.J. and I, if we can get the running game going, get some production out of us, we think we can give ourselves a good chance to do some things, too.” 

Jackson is well aware of Houston’s formidable run front. The Texans rank fourth in the league against the run.

“Good defense. Probably one of the best defenses, if not the best defense, we’ll see this year,” said Jackson. ”J.J. (Watt) is playing out of his mind right now. It’ll be a good challenge for us, but to get to where we want to be, we gotta play teams like this. We have to go down to their place, which is going to be a tough thing for us to do. We like what we got here, and what we can do. So, it’ll be a good challenge for us, but we look forward to it.”