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Reed Blankenship's Costly Debut Against DJ Moore Raises the Stakes at Safety
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- Reed Blankenship's Costly Debut Against DJ Moore Raises the Stakes at Safety
The Houston Texans defense got exposed in a wild Week 1 loss against the Buffalo Bills . Houston struggled to contain Josh Allen , who threw for 334 yards and two touchdowns while adding two rushing scores. Dalton Kincaid also exploded for 130 yards, proving that this was not just a single missed coverage play.
Wide receiver DJ Moore and safety Reed Blankenship immediately become the focal point of the game's turning point. Buffalo acquired Moore from the Bears for a 2026 second round pick while also receiving a 2026 fifth rounder. He made an instant impact, recording 100 yards and a touchdown in his Bills debut.
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The second quarter mistake by the former Eagles safety gave Moore a huge opening. Allen found Moore down the right sideline for a 43-yard touchdown. Blankenship read the play and gambled for the interception but whiffed on the ball. Moore secured the pass, stayed in bounds and raced into the end zone.
That single play amplified the scrutiny surrounding Blankenship and put Houston in a deeper hole. The Texans brought in Blankenship after four seasons as a starter in Philadelphia to provide stability and experience to an already talented secondary. Instead, his first major moment in Houston resulted in a blown coverage score.
Houston's Defense Had Problems Beyond Blankenship
Sep 13, 2026; Houston, Texas, USA; Houston Texans quarterback C.J. Stroud (7) warms up before the game against the Buffalo Bills at Reliant Stadium. Troy Taormina-Imagn Images
The entire secondary struggled, earning a 'F' grade from the Houston Chronicle. Houston also missed other opportunities, including Kamari Lassiter 's dropped interception late in the game.
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The issue was not simply that Moore caught a touchdown. Blankenship had a chance to end the play with an interception and instead allowed a 43-yard score. That makes the mistake more damaging, given his three-year, $24.75 million deal with $16.5 million guaranteed.
Still, one bad play cannot erase his solid track record from Philadelphia. The real question is whether Week 1 was an isolated mistake or the beginning of a larger trend. The Texans have linebacker concerns after Henry To'oTo'o suffered a shoulder injury expected to keep him out for some time. That makes a cleaner performance from the secondary even more important against Cincinnati .
This story was originally published by Athlon Sports on Sep 15, 2026, where it first appeared in the NFL section. Add Athlon Sports as a Preferred Source by clicking here.
