In his first regular-season game as head coach of the Buffalo Bills, Joe Brady called a fantastic game that saw the Houston Texans unable to contain a varied and deep passing game. Entering the 2026 NFL season, tight end Dalton Kincaid was widely discussed as someone with real potential to break out like never before.
Now healthy, Kincaid’s contributions Week 1 showed off the kind player he can be for Buffalo’s offense. A true X-factor against the Texans, Kincaid hauled in five catches on six targets
for 130 yards. Kincaid’s play routinely took the top off of Houston’s vaunted defense, where no cornerback or linebacker could meaningfully cover him down the field.
Time and again, the camera had to pan way downfield to focus on Kincaid as he caught a pass for another first down. Whatever Allen threw his way, Kincaid caught it with ease, even if several defenders were around or on him.
Kincaid is a matchup nightmare waiting to be further unleashed in Brady’s scheme. We saw the first fruits of that on Sunday, which could be a sign of things to come as the season unfolds. Far more than a traditional tight end, even one known as a primary pass catcher, Kincaid brings a near-unparalleled skill set to the position.
Finding ways to move Kincaid around on offense to create mismatches will be key, as we saw on several plays in Week 1 that featured him in a role similar to wide receiver Joshua Palmer last season. Kincaid shouldn’t be pigeon-holed into only TE-specific routes and situations. He’s talented and explosive enough to play anywhere the offense needs him.
In ways, Kincaid’s play and potential on offense reminds me of retired NFL wide receiver Ed McCaffrey. The former Denver Broncos standout was often unstoppable out of the slot and catching passes deep down the middle of the field.
Kincaid can play a similar role as an efficient boundary or slot receiver who proves to be a mismatch for almost every defender he faces in coverage. It’s clear that quarterback Josh Allen trust Kincaid, calling him a “stud” in his postgame press conference. Time will tell if Allen and Kincaid put together the type of QB-TE season common to quarterback Patrick Mahomes and tight end Travis Kelce.
A former first-round pick with Buffalo from the 2023 NFL Draft, the Bills wisely picked up Kincaid’s fifth-year option in March of 2026. Kincaid and One Bills Drive understand what’s at stake this season, for the team and for Kincaid’s contract future. Hopefully a huge season by Kincaid leads to big things en route to a new long-term contract that keeps him catching passes from Josh Allen for years to come.
