The Buffalo Bills aimed to bounce back on Sunday afternoon as they faced the Houston Texans at NRG Stadium. Fresh off a 35-10 loss to the Baltimore Ravens, the Bills had a tough challenge ahead, taking on a talented Texans team that improved to 3-1.
Adding to the storyline was Stefon Diggs, the star wide receiver traded from Buffalo to Houston in the offseason. Diggs took a composed approach during the week, avoiding comments on the matchup, while the Bills praised his contributions during his four years with the team.
“Stef’s playing at a high level,” said coach Sean McDermott. “He was a really good player here and is highly competitive. It’ll be a big challenge for us.”
In a thrilling finish, the Texans edged out the Bills 23-20 thanks to a game-winning 59-yard field goal by Ka’imi Fairbairn as time expired. C.J. Stroud’s quick completion to Dare Ogunbowale set up the field goal with just two seconds on the clock.
Josh Allen struggled for the Bills, completing 9 of 30 passes for 131 yards and a touchdown, while James Cook rushed for 82 yards and a touchdown. On defense, Dorian Williams led with 12 tackles and recovered a fumble. Meanwhile, Stroud completed 28 of 38 passes for 331 yards, with one touchdown and an interception. Diggs caught six passes for 82 yards against Buffalo.
The game’s final moments saw Buffalo attempting to force overtime but instead giving Houston another chance. With no timeouts left and starting from their own 3-yard line, the Bills threw three deep incompletions, allowing the Texans to secure a comeback opportunity.
In a significant moment late in the fourth quarter, Buffalo’s defense forced a crucial turnover deep in Houston territory. Bernard’s return from injury was impactful, as he intercepted Stroud’s pass intended for Diggs, but the Bills failed to capitalize further.
The Texans had a challenging day without key players like Nico Collins and Jimmie Ward, while the Bills were without cornerback Taron Johnson and others. They managed a few offensive highlights including a 49-yard touchdown from Keon Coleman, but their overall performance was inconsistent.
Despite the defeat, the Bills remain at the top of the AFC East with a 3-2 record, while the Texans improved to 4-1. Coming up next, the Bills will look to regroup as they prepare for their next matchup.