The Buffalo Bills are looking to bounce back on Sunday as they face off against the Houston Texans at NRG Stadium. After suffering a heavy 35-10 defeat to the Baltimore Ravens, the Bills, now with a record of 3-2, face a tough task against the 3-1 Texans, who are regarded as one of the strongest teams in the NFL.
Adding more intrigue to the matchup is the presence of Stefon Diggs, the star wide receiver who was traded from Buffalo to Houston during the offseason. Despite the storyline, Diggs has kept a low profile throughout the week, and the Bills have publicly acknowledged his contributions during his four years with the team. “Stef’s playing at a high level,” Bills coach Sean McDermott remarked, recognizing Diggs’ competitiveness and skill.
The game saw intense moments, culminating in a thrilling finish. The Texans edged out the Bills with a final score of 23-20 after C.J. Stroud connected with Dare Ogunbowale for a short gain, setting up a 59-yard field goal by Ka’imi Fairbairn that clinched the win as time expired.
Josh Allen of the Bills managed to complete 9 of 30 passes for 131 yards and a touchdown, while James Cook rushed for 82 yards and a touchdown. Dorian Williams led the Bills’ defense with 12 tackles and recovered a fumble. On the opposing side, Stroud completed 28 of 38 passes for 331 yards with one touchdown, one interception, and a lost fumble. Diggs made six receptions for 82 yards against his former team.
The game took a dramatic turn late in the fourth quarter, as the Bills had the opportunity to force overtime but opted for three deep pass attempts that fell incomplete. This decision allowed the Texans to drive forward and ultimately secure their victory.
Notably, Stroud faced a significant challenge when he was penalized for intentional grounding, negating a potential go-ahead field goal attempt for Houston. However, Tyler Bass later tied the game with a 33-yard field goal after the Texans turned the ball over.
Buffalo’s defense forced a major turnover with a strip sack from Dawuane Smoot, which set up their scoring opportunities, including a rushing touchdown from Cook.
In the first half, the Texans gained an edge, with key plays from Nico Collins and Cam Akers contributing to their lead. Despite a sloppy first half from Allen—who finished with only 56 yards passing—Buffalo managed to keep the halftime score manageable at 17-3.
As the Bills recover from their loss, they remain in first place in the AFC East and are gearing up for their next game against the New York Jets. The Bills have faced challenges against the Texans in the past, which added to the pressure in this matchup, but Buffalo will look to regroup and improve in their upcoming outings.