Bills 20 vs 23 Texans summary, stats, scores and highlights | Week 5
You have to love DeMeco Ryans. He knows it may not have been the prettiest win. He knows it may not have been the most comfortable win. He also knows his team is 4-1 and leading the AFC South and are looking like serious contenders in the conference.
There was some sloppy late game management from both sides. The Texans were in field goal position with under a minute to go, but on 3rd down from around the 40 Stroud was called for intentional grounding and that knocked the Texans out of field goal range.
The Bills would get the ball back from the BUF 3 with 40 seconds left after the punt, and the Bills threw three straight incompletions, taking just 20 seconds off the clock. That gave Stroud and the Texans 15 seconds to get into field goal range, and after a short pass to Ogunbowale got HOU to the Buffalo 46 yard line. Ka'imi Fairbairn stepped up and drilled the 59 yard field goal to improve the Texans to 4-1 and now they can officially be included in the AFC elite conversation. The Bills however drop their second straight game and now have to put the pieces back together .
The Texans defense buckled down and forced a punt after the interception, but Stroud gave the ball right back. He was rushed from both edges and tried to step up in the pocket but it was knocked out of his hand and Dorian Williams jumped on it. That would set up the Bills with the ball inside the 20, but Allen couldn't lead the Bills into the endzone and they Bills had to settle for a field goal.
The Texans were hanging on but just barley in the 4th quarter. Stroud made a few uncharacteristic mistakes in the second half, starting with this interception from Terrel Bernard. Houston was in great position to stretch the lead out to six or even make it a two possession game, but Stroud made the kind of play we don't see too often from the 2nd year QB.
This was really the play that swung the momentum in favor of the Bills until almost the finish line. On 4th and 5 Allen and the Bills decided to go for it from around midfield and he hit the rookie Keon Coleman with a short out route, but the rookie turned the first down into a TD. Coleman had just one catch but it was enough to cut the gap to 3 points late in the third quarter. Allen had a nightmare of a game, going just 9/30 for 131 yards and a TD, but the Bills would have their chances to win the game.
The Bills had just 103 yard of offense at the half as Allen struggled to get the passing game going. Buffalo would go run heavy out of the halftime break and and it was James Cook that punched in the first TD of Buffalo's day early in the 3rd quarter. Cook ended the day with 82 yards on 20 carries and this TD.
The Texans held the Bills to a three and out on the series following their opening TD and on the next offensive play, Stroud goes to Nico Collins for this 67 yard bomb to jump out to a double digit lead in the first quarter. Collins hurt his hamstring on this play and didn't come back to the game, which really affected the Texans offense, especially in the second half.
The Houston Texans won a clash of AFC titans thanks to a late game winner from Ka'imi Fairbairn who hit the game winning field goal as the play clock expired. CJ Stroud had another strong day, but did most of his heavy lifting in the first half.
It may have been the Stroud show in the first two quarters, but the opening drive was dominated by the run game. With no Joe Mixon it was Cam Akers and Dare Ogunbowale carrying the Texans down the field. Ogunbowale got the majority of the handoffs, taking his 15 rushes for 30 yards, and had another 57 yard receiving . Akers had 42 yards on the ground including this 15 yard run put the first TD on the board.
We'll get to the rest of the highlights in just a bit, but this was Ka'aimi Fairbairn's game winner from 59 yards out after some questionable clock management from the Buffalo Bills.
THE HOUSTON TEXANS HANG ON AFTER A WILD FINAL FEW MINUTES FROM NRG STADIUM!!!
FIELD GOAL!!!
FAIRBAIRN DRILLS IT FROM 59 YARDS AS THE CLOCK EXPIRES!!!!
HOUSTON BEAT BUFFALO AT THE BUZZER!!!
Stroud over the middle for Ogunbowale for a gain of 5 and that gets the Texans down to the 41 with 2 seconds to go.
Here comes Fairbairn to win it at the death from 59 out!
Woods with a 13 yard return to the BUF 46 and HOU will have a chance with 7 on the clock.
Allen was under pressure and his pass to Samuel over the middle skips off the turf and HOU will get the ball back with 16 seconds on the ball.
4th and 10 from the BUF 3.
Allen with a deep shot down field for Hollins who couldn't catch up to that deep ball!
3rd and 10 from the BUF 3.
Allen goes to the air for Coleman on the left sideline and a flag flies for offensive pass interference as Lassiter was in position to make the pick.
2nd and 10 from the BUF 3.
Nice punt from Townsend and the Bills take over at the 3 yard line with 33 to go.
The Texans throw it and Stroud was under pressure so he threw it out of bounds and there wasn't a WR in the area! Flag flies for a grounding call and that takes them out of FG range!!!
4th and 15 from the BUF 49.
Stroud to Schultz on the out route to the right sideline and he picks up 3 yards on the catch with 44 to go.
3rd and 5 from the BUF 39.
Ogunbowale picks up 3 yards on the run to the right side.
2nd and 8 from the BUF 42.
Stoud finds Ogunbowale out of the backfield and he races down the sideline and slides inbounds for an 11 yard gain!
1st and 10 from the BUF 44 with 1:07 to go.
Short pass to the flat for Diggs who is brought down after a gain of 2. Timeout BUF with 1:52 to go.
3rd and 10 from the HOU 45.
Ogunbowale is wrapped up in the backfield for a loss of two. Timeout BUF with 1:56 to go.
2nd and 12 from the HOU 43.
WE ARE HEADED TO THE TWO MINUTE WARNING FROM HOUSTON!!!
Stroud under pressure again but just got it off to Schultz over the middle and he gets 11 yards to keep the drive alive!
1st and 10 from the HOU 45.
Stroud's screen pass to Akers was too high and that falls incomplete.
3rd and 6 from the HOU 34.
HOU gets the ball back from their 30 and Akers picks up 4 yards on the run to the left side.
2nd and 6 from the HOU 34.
FIELD GOAL!!!
Bass knocks home the 33 yard field goal and we are tied up.
It's 20-20 with 3:18 to go in the fourth quarter.
Allen rolling to the right side and he looks for Samuel on the front pylon but that pass falls incomplete.
4th and 10 from the HOU 15.
Smoot knocked the ball out and Williams was there for the recovery! Another huge play by the Bills D.
Timeout Bills with 3:30 to go. That's their first timeout.
Allen looking for Cook on the wheel route out of the backfield and he makes the catch but didn't get two feet down.
3rd and 10 from the HOU 15.
Cook to the left side and he is stopped at the line of scrimmage.
2nd and 10 from the HOU 15.
Allen is back in under center after sitting out a play.
FUMBLE!!!
Anther huge mistake from Stroud who has the ball stripped as he stepped up in the pockt and Williams recovers it at the HOU 15!
Mitch Trubisky is coming into the game to try and give the Bills the lead!
Short pass to Ogunbowale on the left side slips out of the RBs hands.
2nd and 10 from the HOU 14.
Ogunbowale with the run to the left side and he picks up 5 yards and a huge first down.
1st and 10 from the HOU 14.
Ogunbowale finds a hole up the middle and he picks up 7 yards on first down.
2nd and 3 from the HOU 9.
Cooks fielded the punt inside the 5 and is taken down at the 2 yard line!
HOU have the ball with 6:01 to go.
Allen rolls to the right side and the pressure got to him again. He threw it away, but his head bounced against the turf and he was slow to get up.
4th and 8 from the BUF 42.
Allen with big pressure coming off the edge and he threw it away to Davis with Pitre in his face.
3rd and 8 from the BUF 42.
Cook up the middle and he picks up 2 yards.
2nd and 8 from the BUF 38.
Allen tucks it and runs up the sideline for a 18 yard scramble!
1st and 10 from the BUF 40.
BUF take over from the 20 with 8:06 to go in the 4th quarter and Cook picks up 2 yards on first down.
2nd and 2 from the BUF 22.
With the Texans driving, Bernard comes up with a huge play set up Allen with a potential go ahead drive.
INTERCEPTION!!!
Stroud was looking for Diggs over the middle and Bernard cut right infront of the WR and made the pick!
BUF ball with 8:16 to go in the 4th quarter!
Akers to the right side and he gets a short gain of 3 on first down.
2nd and 7 from the BUF 33.
Stroud slips out of a tackle in the backfield and weaves his way for a first down and gets out of bounds after a 13 yard scramble.
1st and 10 from the BUF 36.
Stroud under pressure and he finds Akers who gets dropped for a loss of 1.
2nd and 11 from the BUF 49.
Stroud throws a low strike for Diggs on the deep slant and he slides and scoops that pass off the turf for a gain of 18 yards.
1st and 10 from the BUF 48.
Ogunbowale is stopped for a loss of one by Douglas in the backfield.
3rd and 7 from the HOU 34.
Ogunbowale picks up 4 yards on the run to the right side.
2nd and 6 from the HOU 35.
What a pass from Stroud who lofts one in between three defenders to Schultz o the left side for a gain of 18!
1st and 10 from the HOU 31.
Stroud was under pressure and let a short pass go for Diggs, but that pass hit off the ground before he could wrap it up.
3rd and 9 from the HOU 13 .
HOU take over from the 12 and Akers is dropped after a 1 yard run to the left side.
2nd and 9 from the HOU 13.
Allen's pass to the right side for MVS on the comeback route and he had the ball in his hands but Stingley slapped it to the ground.
4th and 10 from the HOU 45.
Johnson with the run to the right side and he is taken down for a loss of two by Anderson.
3rd and 10 from the HOU 45.
Cook up the middle for a short gain of two on the first play of the 4th quarter.
2nd and 8 from the HOU 43.
WE ARE HEADED TO THE FOURTH QUARTER FROM HOUSTON!!!
Allen on a designed run and he takes it to the left edge and turn the corner for a gain of 20 on the final play of the 3rd quarter!
1st and 10 from the HOU 45.
Cook was stopped for no gain, but a hold on HOU will give the Bills a first down.
1st and 10 from the BUF 35.
BUF take over from their 19 yard line and Cook drags the pile on the run up the middle for 11 yards and a first down.
1st and 10 from the BUF 30.
Stroud tucked it and ran for the marker but he is taken down after a gain of 5.
4th and 8 from the HOU 45 with 1:20 to go in the 3rd quarter.
Stroud over the middle for Akers out of the backfield for a gain of 6 yards.
3rd and 13 from the HOU 40.
Screen to Stover and he is cut down after a yard. The penalty for illegal man down field is declined.
2nd and 19 from the HOU 34.
Ogunbowale with a nice gain of 9, but that's coming back because of a holding penalty.
1st and 20 from the HOU 33.
HOU take over from the 26 and Stroud steps up in the pocket hitting Diggs on the crossing route to the right sideline for a gain of 17 yards!
1st and 10 from the HOU 43.
Allen signaled to the sideline he wanted to go for it, and he repays the coaches faith with a 4th down that turns into a touchdown! Coleman made the catch and did the rest for a 49 yard TD that changes this game entirely.
TOUCHDOWN BUFFALO!!!
Short out route to Coleman on the left side and he spins away from the defender and races down the sideline for a 49 yard catch and run that just changed this game!!!
BUF with a huge play on 4th down, and they trail 20-17 with 4:20 to go in the 3rd quarter.
Screen in the flat to Samuel and he is wrapped up by To'oTo'o for no gain.
4th and 5 from the HOU 49.
Cook up the middle again and this time he picks up 3 yards.
3rd and 5 from the BUF 48.
Cook up the middle and he picks up 2 yards on first down.
2nd and 8 from the BUF 48.
BUF get the ball from the 35 and Cook cuts the run to the right side after a breaking a tackle and taking it for 11 yards.
1st and 10 from the BUF 46.
After a false start on Ogunbowale, Stroud's short pass to Schultz on the right side skips off the turf and the Texans will punt.
4th and 2 from the HOU 38.
Akers up the middle and he picks up 5 yards to set up 3rd and short.
3rd and 2 from the HOU 38.
HOU gets the ball back from the 30 and Stroud finds Dell with a WR screen but he is chopped down after a loss of 2.
2nd and 8 from the HOU 32.
Not much has been working for Allen in the passing game but he hit Kincaid on a big play to set up this 5 yard TD run from Cook to cut into this HOU lead.
TOUCHDOWN BILLS!!!
Cook up the middle and he drives the pile for a 5 yard TD run!
Big drive from BUF to cut into this lead early in the 3rd quarter. It's 20-10 HOU with 8:48 to go in the 3rd.
Allen with a dart over the middle to Kincaid in stride and he turns up the field for a 26 yard pick up!
1st and Goal from the HOU 5.
Allen looking to Coleman with the slant, but the WR wasn't ready for it and got hit in the back of the helmet.
2nd and 10 from the HOU 31.
Allen steps up and pump fakes a pass at the line of scrimmage before sliding down for a 7 yard gain. A late flag flies for a late hit on Allen and that will give BUF a first down.
1st and 10 from the HOU 31.
Run to the right side by Johnson but he is dropped for a loss of 2 by Al-Shaair.
2nd and 12 from the BUF 47.
Johnson with a big run to the left side and he races up the sideline for a gain of 19 yards!
1st and 10 from the BUF 49.
BUF get the ball from the 30 to start their 2nd half, and they need some points.
FIELD GOAL!!!
Fairbairn stretches the lead out with another long field goal, this one from 47.
HOU stretch their lead to 20-3 with 11:15 to go in the 3rd quarter.
Stroud looking over the middle for Schultz and that pass falls incomplete.
4th and 5 from the BUF 29.
Ogunbowale gets a couple yards on the run up the middle.
3rd and 5 from the BUF 29.
Ogunbowale hit at the line and keeps his legs moving to pick up 3 yards.
2nd and 7 from the BUF 31.
Stroud over the middle for Hutchinson again and this time they move the chains with a 19 yard gain!
1st and 10 from the BUF 34.
Stroud finds Hutchinson on a pass to the left side and he picks up a nice chunk of 12.
3rd and 11 from the HOU 47.
Stroud finds Schultz in the flat and he turns up field for a short gain but an unsportsmanlike flag so the Texans will be backed up 15 yards.
2nd and 23 from HOU 35.
HOU get the ball from the 30 to start the half and it's Stroud finding Diggs on the slant pattern for a catch and run of 18 yards.
1st and 10 from the HOU 48.
WE ARE BACK IN HOUSTON FOR THE SECOND HALF OF ACTION.
DeMeco Ryan's defense hasn't been as dominant as we saw last year, but they have shut down Allen and the Bills. Buffalo has 103 total yards and Allen is 6/18 for 56 yards and lucky not to have been picked off once or twice.
The Texans held the Bills to a three and out on the drive after their TD, and then Stroud hit Collins with this perfect pass on the first play of the possession. Collins would head to the locker room with a hamstring injury and he is likely out for the remainder of the game. Stroud is 12/15 for 187 yards and this TD.
We expected fireworks in this game and we got them in the first quarter. With Joe Mixon out it was Cam Akers and Dare Ogunbowale carrying the Texans down the field with the run game. Akers punched it in from 15 yards out for the first TD of the game.
FIELD GOAL!!!
Fairbairn drills the 50 yarder right down the middle of the uprights and it's Houston up 17-3 after two quarters.
HOU are up two TDs heading into the third quarter.
Stroud's pass sails out of bounds again and the FG unit comes out.
4th and 2 from the BUF 32.
Stroud had nothing and threw it out of bounds with 8 seconds to go.
3rd and 2 from the BUF 32.
Quick out route from Dell and Stroud hit him for 8 yards with 12 seconds to go.
2nd and 2 from the BUF 32.
Stroud tucks and runs up the middle and he picks up the first down with a 9 yard scramble. Timeout HOU their 3rd of the half with 15 on the clock.
1st and 10 from the BUF 40.
Ogunbowale makes the catch on the short pass to the left side and picks up 2 yards. Timeout HOU with 22 to go.
2nd and 8 from the BUF 49.
Great return from Woods and he takes it up the left sideline for 36 yards to the 50!
HOU ball with 30 on the clock.
Allen rolls to the right sideline and looks across his body, but that pass should have been intercepted by Al-Shaair who had it right in his hands.
4th and 10 from the BUF 28 .
Allen had Kincaid open but that pass was just under thrown and Al-Shaair almost came up with a spectacular pick.
3rd and 10 from the BUF 28.
Allen to Kincaid on the out route to the left sideline and it him him in the hands, but he couldn't handle the heat.
2nd and 10 from the BUF 28.
BUF get the ball at their 28 yard line with 1:02 to go and 1 timeout.
Stroud rolled right and escaped two sacks while getting to the sideline and throwing down field but that pass falls incomplete.
4th and 3 from the HOU 15.
Ogunbowale is stopped for no gain on the handoff out of the shotgun.
3rd and 3 from the HOU 15.
WE ARE HEADED TO THE TWO MINUTE WARNING FROM HOUSTON.
HOU get the ball from the HOU 8 with 2:42 to go in the half and Ogunbowale picks up 7 yards up the middle of the field.
2nd and 3 from the HOU 15.
Allen rolls to the right side and found Kincaid on the comeback to the sideline, but Kincaid juggled it as he tried to get two feet in and the Bills will punt.
4th and 13 from the HOU 49.
Davis makes the catch over the middle out of the backfield and he is smacked by Al-Shaair after a 4 yard catch.
3rd and 13 from the HOU 49.
Screen pass set up to Cook and Fatukasi sniffed it out and dropped Cook for a 7 yard gain!
2nd and 17 from the BUF 47 and Ward is back down on the turf injured.
Hollins over the middle and Allen put it in his chest to allow him to turn up field for a gain of 21 and a first down!
1st and 10 from the HOU 46.
Pitch to Cook on the left side and Lassiter closed in and dropped him for a loss of 1.
3rd and 6 from the BUF 33.
Cook picks up 5 yards on the first down run to the left side.
2nd and 5 from the BUF 34.
Short out route to the right side from Hollins and Allen finds him for 6 yards and a first down.
1st and 10 from the BUF 29.
Allen finds Kincaid on the right sideline and he gets 8 yards.
3rd and 3 from the BUF 23.
Allen looks for Samuel in the flat out of the backfield and he is dropped by Ward for a loss of one.
2nd and 11 from the BUF 15.
TURNOVER ON DOWNS!!!
The Texans rush up to the line and stuff Ogunbowale at the line of scrimmage and Buffalo forces the turnover on downs!
BUF take over at their 16 yard line.
Stroud with a screen pass to Ogunbowale whoh follows his blockers for a 13 yard gain to bring up 4th and inches!
HOU offense stays on the field.
Dell gets the end around and Benford was waiting for him in the backfield and dropped him for a five yard loss.
3rd and 14 from the BUF 29.
Akers picks up a yard on the first down run to the right side.
2nd and 9 from the BUF 24.
Diggs with the catch in the flat and he races down the right sideline, breaks a tackle and gets 13 yards and another first down.
1st and 10 from the BUF 25.
Stroud with a touch pass to the left sideline on the crossing pattern from Dell who brings it down for a 19 yard pick up.
1st and 10 from the BUF 38.
Ogunbowale was stuffed in the backfield by Carter for a loss of one.
3rd and 2 from the HOU 43.
Stroud with the play action and roll out to the right side and he found Dell on a two yard flick up field and he picks up 9 yards.
2nd and 1 from the HOU 44.
Quick out route to Diggs who makes the catch and turns up field for a 14 yard gain.
1st and 10 from the HOU 35.
Akers gets a couple yards on the run to the left side.
3rd and 8 fro the HOU 21.
HOU take over from the 19 and Akers gets wrapped up for no gain on the opening play of the drive.
2nd and 10 from the HOU 19.
Hollins is heading to the locker room after spending some time in the blue tent.
Allen rolls left and looks across his body to Hollins over the middle but that pass was a little short and skips off the turf.
4th and 9 from the BUF 40 and the Bills will punt again.
Allen looks for Samuel out of the backfield but that pass falls incomplete.
3rd and 9 from the BUF 40.
WE ARE AT THE END OF THE FIRST QUARTER AND THE TEXANS HAVE JUMPED OUT TO A DOUBLE DIGIT LEAD.
Cook gets the handoff to the right side and he is taken down after a yard.
2nd and 9 from the BUF 40.
Allen tucked it and ran to the right sideline and picked up 10 yards before getting hit right at the marker.
1st and 10 from the BUF 39.
BUF get the ball from their 27 yard line and Stroud puts this bomb on a dime for Collins.
It was the running backs building up a long slow drive on the first TD, but Stroud took the express route for TD No. 2. Collins speeds past the secondary and takes it for 6.
TOUCHDOWN TEXANS!!!
HOU got the ball from their 33 and Stroud fakes the pitch to the RB out of the shotgun and found Collins wide open and hit him in stride for the 67 yard TD!!!
HOU lead 14-3 with 1:34 to go in the 1st quarter.
After a false start on Buffalo, Allen's pass to the left side to Coleman just led him a bit too much to the sideline and falls incomplete.
4th and 6 and the Bills will punt.
Cook gets the handoff out of the backfield and he picks up 4 yards to bring up 3rd and medium.
3rd and 6 from the HOU 34.
BUF take the ball back from the 30 and it's Allen looking for Kincaid on the roll out but he threw it away with pressure coming from Hunter.
2nd and 10 from the BUF 30.
No Mixon, no problem for the Texans. It was Ogunbowale and Akers moving Houston down the field and Akers caps off the drive with this 15 yard sprint to the end zone.
TOUCHDOWN HOUSTON!!!
Akers found a hole on the left side and got a great block from Schultz down the field and went into the endzone untouched from 15 yard out!
HOU take the 7-3 lead with under 3:00 to go in the 1st quarter.
Akers with the delayed handoff out of the shotgun and he breaks through the line and takes it 11 yards for a gain of 11.
1st and 10 from the BUF 15.
Stroud to Collins in the flat and he breaks a shoestring tackle and takes it 11 yards for a first down.
1st and 10 from the BUF 26.
Pressure came from the left side and Stroud lofted a pass over the pressure to Ogunbowle who was in acres of space and he takes it for a 28 yard gain!
1st and 10 from the BUF 37.
Stroud dumps it down to Stover over the middle and he picks up 5 yards.
3rd and 5 from the HOU 35.
HOU start their second possession from the 30 and it's Ogunbowale on the carry to the left side but he is stopped for no gain.
2nd and 10 from the HOU 30.
FIELD GOAL!!!!
Ball drills a 38 yard field goal to put the Bills on the board first. A sack and a false start kept the Bills from getting into the endzone but they settle for three points.
BUF leads 3-0 with 6:27 left in the 1st quarter.
After a false start on BUF, Allen goes to Coleman in the endzone but that pass floated over the corner of the endzone and out of bounds.
4th and Goal from the HOU 20.
Allen is dropped, and it's Davis again sacking Allen after he pump faked the pass to the flat.
3rd and Goal from the HOU 15.
Cook is stopped in the backfield by Davis for no gain.
2nd and Goal from the HOU 9.
Cook moves the chains with a dive up the middle which he took for 7 yards.
1st and Goal from the 9.
Handoff out of the shotgun for Cook and he picks up 3 yards on the run to the left side.
3rd and 1 from the HOU 16.
Cook up the middle again and this time he picks up a modest gain of four.
2nd and 6 from the HOU 19.
Cook with a big hole on the right side and he picks up 12 yards and another first down.
1st and 10 from the HOU 23.
Dump down for Cook over the middle and he breaks a tackle and goes for 24 yards and a first down.
1st and 10 from the HOU 35.
Allen had Hollins wide open down the right side and he had it in his hands but he couldn't make the over the shoulder catch.
2nd and 20 from the BUF 41.
BUF take over from the HOU 49 after a short punt and Cook breaks a run into the secondary and picks up 12 yards but a holding call will bring that play back.
1st and 20 from the BUF 41.
Draw play out of the shotgun and Ogunbowale is eaten up for a loss of one.
4th and 9 from the HOU 9.
Ogunbowale gets the carry to the right side and he picks up 4 yards.
3rd and 8 from the HOU 10.
HOU get the ball back from their 8 yard line and Ogunbowale gets the screen pass but he's taken down for a loss of two on the left side.
2nd and 12 from the HOU 6.
Allen steps up in the pocket and looks right for Kincaid but that pass was overthrown by a couple yards.
4th and 3 from the BUF 37.
Allen takes a shot down the left sideline and his pass to Hollins sailed out of bounds.
3rd and 3 from the BUF 37.
Ward was hurt in the secondary taking down Cook on the tackle.
Cook gets the opening carry of the game and takes it up the middle for a gain of 7.
2nd and 3 from the BUF 37.
WE ARE UNDERWAY FROM HOUSTON!!!
The Texans won the toss and differed so it's Allen and the Bills starting the game at the 30.
H-Town edition unis
You know it's a big day when the Texans bring out the H-Town edition jerseys in Houston. This is fit for a primetime match up and those are primetime jerseys. Love the color combo for the Texans today, and you know they'll come out with a little more juice and a little more fire.
Today's odds
This is a very balanced match up between two very even teams, and it shows in the pregame spread. The Texans are a one point favorite today against the Bills with the Over/Under set at 47.
Spread: Texans -1
O/U: 47
Moneyline: Bills (-101), Texans -120
This one is tough. More than picking a winner, I like the Over in this game. Both of these teams score points, and the Bills are coming off a game in which they scored just 10 points. They are going to come up looking to light up the score board and the Texans will be able to keep pace. If you twist my leg for a winner, here you go.
Texans win 31-24.
Head to head
The Texans joined the league back in 2002, so they don’t have a lot of history with many teams. The Texans and the Bills have only played 11 times and it’s Houston that has a slight edge over Buffalo. Houston has won 6 of the 11 games, including the only playoff game these two teams have been involved in. They won that game back in 2020, but it took overtime, and the last match up between these two teams would come in October of 2021 when the Bills crushed the Texans 40-0. This match up will be the first time both teams squad off with realistic Super Bowl aspirations.
No Mixon in Houston
One of the biggest offseason transactions was made by the Texans when they brought former Cincinnati Bengals running back to this already explosive Houston offense. He had 159 yards and a TD in his Texans debut, but was taken down awkwardly in the game against the Bears and has missed the last two games with an ankle injury. He didn’t practice this week and has been ruled out for the big game today.
Allen with a dig at Diggs?
The main subplot outside of two of the biggest teams in the conference squaring off is the reunion with Stefon Diggs with his former team and former QB. Josh Allen and Diggs had a long and successful run in Buffalo in which they had Buffalo primed for regular deep playoff runs and explosive offensive seasons, but things soured as time went on. The Bills parted ways with Diggs this offseason, electing to entrust their young batch of WRs and since then some question if the Buffalo QB has taken a Digg or two at his former No. 1 target. “You know, it’s a fun and wonderful thing when you have a bunch of guys that don’t care about the stats, they don’t care about the touchdowns.” said Allen of his new guys in the locker room.
In the lead up to today’s game, he was asked about Diggs, and it was all respect for his former WR. "I've got a lot of love for (Diggs). I still do," Allen said. "The things that he did for me in my career, and the things that he did in a Buffalo Bill uniform won't be forgotten anytime soon, especially from me."
AFC Standings
Taking a look at the AFC Standings coming into the second month of the season, we see just one remaining undefeated team and one winless team. The Chiefs are the cream of the crop and the Jags are the bottom feeders of the AFC so far while everyone in between are jumbled into a group in which we aren’t sure which teams are good and which teams bad. Are the Bengals a bad team? Or have they just had a bad start? Are the Steelers a good team or have they just got off to a good start? Are the Bills and Texans ready to be in the conversation with the Ravens and the Chiefs? That’s what we intend to find out today.
Season recap: Texans
This young team came into the season with plenty of expectations after an exceptional turnaround season in which they made the playoffs last year. CJ Stroud showed there would be no sophomore slump in his second season as a Texan, coming out and getting a couple tough wins to start the season. They beat the Colts in a shootout from Indy and barley edged the Bears in an ugly primetime game against Chicago. They would get their butts handed to them in the loss to Minnesota, but responded with a late win over the Jags last week. The Texans haven’t dominated anyone yet. Their three wins have been by a combined total of 12 points. Tonight they will look for that performance will proclaim them one of the best teams in the league.
Season recap: Bills
The Bills surprised a lot of people to start the season, despite their long list of offseason departures on the offensive side of the ball and a long list of injuries on the other side of the ball. Josh Allen and James Cook showed they were ready to carry the load for this new look Bills team. Allen led the Bills in an incredible comeback over the Cardinals in Week 1, in Week 2 it was James Cook who scored a hat trick of touchdowns in the first half of the game against the Dolphins, and then Allen had a four TD game against the Jags to put the Bills at the top of all of the offensive stats charts through the first three games. That can crashing down last week when they were torched against the Ravens in Baltimore.
Last game: Texans
The Texans were in an early season must win game against the winless Jaguars following their blow out loss to the Minnesota Vikings. They returned home for a tough divisional game against a desperate opponent and went back and forth with Jacksonville until the final minute of the game. CJ Stroud responded like everyone knew he would after getting embarrassed by the Vikings defense the week before. He went for 345 yards, many of those in the first half, and two TDs. The offense would slow down in the second half and the Jags had the lead going into the final quarter. Stroud would get the ball with just under 3:00 left in the game and lead his team into the end zone with a game winning TD pass to Dare Ogunbowale with 19 seconds on the clock to send the Jags to 0-4 on the season.
Last game: Bills
The Bills got run over by the Ravens on Sunday night football last week. It didn’t take long for Baltimore to exert their dominance over the Bills defense. Derrick Henry took the opening run of the Ravens night 87 yards for a touchdown and didn’t slow down from there. He ended the night with 199 yards and three TDs and Lamar Jackson had an efficient 156 yards on 13/18 passing and two TDs. Josh Allen was kept quiet all night long, going for 180 yards and only leading the Bills into the end zone once as the highest scoring offense was held to just 10 points.
We are live from NRG Stadium
Hello everyone and welcome to Houston where the Texans are back at home for a second straight week. They were taken to the final bell against the Jaguars last week, but CJ Stroud and the offense did just enough to slip past the Jags for a rebound win following their first and only loss of the season the week before. The Bills are looking to do the same today in Houston after getting smashed by the Baltimore Ravens last week. The Bills were flying high going into last week, but they were ripped off cloud nine thanks to the Ravens devastating run attack and Josh Allen and the offense showed signs of struggle for the first time this year. Today they look to get back in the win column, but it won’t be easy against a Texans team that will be hoping to put on a show in front of the home crowd.
Bills vs. Texans live
It’s a huge one from Houston as two teams with Super Bowl aspirations square off in an early season showdown. The winner of today’s game will join the Chiefs and Ravens in the AFC elite category after a little more than a month into the season. It’s the Buffalo Bills traveling south to Houston for a massive match up with the Texans, and AS English will be with you all day providing live coverage, stats, scores and highlights of today’s game from NRG Stadium.