The Houston Texans kicked off their 25th anniversary season with a marquee matchup against a fellow AFC powerhouse in the Buffalo Bills.
What then transpired could only be described as and old fashioned NFL shootout, as quarterbacks C.J. Stroud (Texans) and Josh Allen (Bills) dueled to the final whistle in a hotly contested contest. In the end, Houston's defense couldn't stop Allen and the Bills offense, allowing over 400 yards of total offense, which included Allen going berserk for four touchdowns by himself (two passing, two rushing).
The breakdown of today's heartbreaking defeat to the Bills is down below.
First Quarter (Texans outscore Bills 7-3)
- The Bills got the scoring started after Texans quarterback C.J. Stroud fumbled the football at Houston's 32 yard line. Bills kicker Tyler Bass nailed a 46-yard field goal to make it 3-0 Buffalo.
- It didn't take long for the Texans to respond, as Stroud and wide receiver Nico Collins then led their offense down the field on a 12-play, 76-yard drive that was finished with a goal line rushing score by running back David Montgomery. 7-3 Houston.
Second Quarter (Bills outscore Texans 21-14)
- Amazingly, Bills quarterback Josh Allen scored only his first rushing touchdown of his career against the Texans to start the scoring in the second quarter. From Houston's 21 yard line, Allen broke contain and ran 21 yards for the touchdown virtually untouched. 10-7 Buffalo.
- Speaking of rushing scores, Montgomery scored his second of the game after an 18-yard scamper fresh off of another Bills' holding call the play prior. 14-10 Houston.
- Allen and the Bills' offense then broke the end zone plane for the second time in the quarter. After a drive-shifting 46-yard defensive pass interference call on Texans cornerback Kamari Lassiter, Allen took a tush push right through the middle for the touchdown. 17-14 Buffalo.
- Allen and the Bills offense then continued their offensive onslaught in their very next drive. A three-play, 96-yard scoring drive happened on the arm of Allen, with wide receiver D.J. Moore taking a 43-yard pass to the house after Texans safety Reed Blankenship whiffed on an attempt at an interception. 24-14 Buffalo.
- Stroud then made his contribution to the scoring party in the second quarter on a stellar 2:00 minute drill drive. Stroud hit Collins on a 12-yard touchdown strike to cap off a four-play, 86-yard drive. 21-24 Buffalo.
Third Quarter (Bills score the only points of the quarter with 7)
- The Bills scored first in the third quarter on a 34-yard field goal by Bass. As in the second quarter, defensive penalites by Houston's defense gifted Buffalo 15 yards on the drive to set it up. 27-21 Buffalo.
Fourth Quarter
- Stroud and Montgomery hooked up for Houston's fourth touchdown of the day (and Montgomery's third of the day) early in the fourth quarter. On the backend of a 13-play, 72-yard drive, Montgomery caught a wide open seven-yard pass from Stroud and walked into the end zone untouched for the score. 28-27 Houston.
- Buffalo then responded on the very next drive to take the lead again. To conclude a seven-play, 52-yard drive, Bass hit a 33-yard field goal to give his team the advantage. 30-28 Buffalo.
- Finally, the Texans finally got their first non-touchdown points of the game in the fourth quarter. Texans kicker Ka'imi Fairbairn slingshotted a 58-yard field goal from Buffalo's 39 yard line to give his team the late lead. 31-30 Houston.
- The offensive light show continued between the Texans and Bills. This time, Allen hit Bills wide receiver James Palmer on a 34-yard touchdown strike to give Buffalo the lead. 36-31 Buffalo, after a failed two-point conversion.
The Bills would eventually hold on to win the game after Stroud was strip-sacked by Bills linebacker Greg Rousseau on 3rd & Goal with 16 seconds left.
Game Result: Houston Texans lose to Buffalo Bills 36-31
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