In a bruising Thursday night NFL encounter, the Houston Texans delivered a defensive masterclass to overcome the Buffalo Bills 23-19, with quarterback Josh Allen suffering a career-worst eight sacks.
Defensive Dominance Seals Texans Victory
The game was defined by Houston's relentless pass rush, which consistently overwhelmed the Bills' offensive line. Will Anderson Jr. was particularly destructive, recording two and a half sacks. His most impressive play came early in the third quarter when he initially missed Allen near the line of scrimmage, only to get up and chase the quarterback across the field for an 18-yard loss, forcing a punt.
Allen was hit a total of twelve times throughout the contest, losing 70 yards on the sacks alone. The Bills' final possession epitomised their offensive struggles. Facing a fourth-and-27 after consecutive sacks, Buffalo appeared to pull off a miracle with a 44-yard gain from a short Allen pass to Josh Palmer, who lateraled to Khalil Shakir.
Late Interception Dooms Bills Comeback
However, after a false-start penalty created a fourth-and-6, rookie Calen Bullock intercepted Allen's pass at the Houston 9-yard line with just 24 seconds remaining, sealing the victory for the Texans.
"We had a chance to win it there at the end," Allen said post-game. "We did a good job of staying in it and our defense bailed us out a couple of times. We've got to find a way, and we didn't."
The performance was a stark contrast to Allen's six-touchdown display against Tampa Bay the previous week. He finished Thursday's game with 253 passing yards, two interceptions, and no touchdowns.
Concerns Over Quarterback Protection
Bills coach Sean McDermott expressed significant concern about his quarterback's punishment. "When they hit our quarterback 12 times, I don't like that," McDermott stated. "It's just not a healthy way to play and it's not a good way to keep our quarterback healthy for the rest of the season. We've got to play better."
Allen himself acknowledged the physical toll, revealing his left shoulder "went a little numb" after an awkward landing in the first half. "It's not fun," he admitted. "I ran into a couple myself. I've got to be better at throwing the ball away. Too many times, I was going backwards."
The Bills were again without receiver Keon Coleman, who was a healthy scratch for the second straight game after arriving late to a team meeting. Coach McDermott confirmed the team "went with the guys that give us the best chance."
Despite the offensive woes, there were bright spots for Buffalo. Khalil Shakir recorded eight receptions for 110 yards, while James Cook rushed for 116 yards and a touchdown.
The loss drops the title-tipped Bills to a 7-4 record, leaving Allen to reflect on missed opportunities. "Ultimately, we've got to execute, and we didn't do a good job of that tonight," he concluded. "Whatever situation and whatever circumstance, we've got to find a way, and we didn't."
