HOUSTON — Stefon Diggs expressed that the victory over his former team held significant meaning for him, as the Texans edged out the Buffalo Bills 23-20 to improve their record to 4-1.
This match marked the first encounter between the Texans and Bills since Diggs was traded to Houston during the offseason for a second-round pick in 2025. Following the win, both coaches and players emphasized their desire to secure the victory for the star receiver.
Throughout the week leading up to the game, Diggs noted that he kept his emotions in check and didn’t overly discuss the importance of the matchup with his teammates. However, he was thrilled to see his team come together for the win.
“We got a dub this week. We’re 1-0. Obviously, playing my old team, I can’t pretend it was just another game,” Diggs said. “It meant a lot to me, and it was reassuring that my teammates understood that, even if I didn’t say it. I try to maintain a calm mentality and treat every week the same. But I’d be lying if I said this game didn’t mean a lot to me.”
The Texans established a strong early lead of 14-3 in the first quarter, highlighted by wide receiver Nico Collins’ 67-yard touchdown catch. Collins, who is currently leading the NFL in receiving yards with 567, suffered a hamstring injury on that play and did not return.
Despite Collins’ exit, quarterback C.J. Stroud finished with 331 passing yards and a passer rating of 97, relying on Diggs to help offset the loss of Collins. Diggs ended the game with a team-high 82 receiving yards.
“It was huge. I know Diggs was a bit emotional today. He really wanted to perform well against his former team,” Stroud said. “He did a great job channeling his emotions into his performance, and I’m just glad he’s satisfied with this win.”
Stroud encountered some turnover issues in the second half, including a fumble and an interception, allowing the Bills to come back from an early 20-3 deficit to tie the game with three minutes left. Nevertheless, Stroud orchestrated a drive to get the Texans into field goal range with just two seconds remaining, leading kicker Ka’imi Fairbairn to successfully convert a 59-yard field goal for the win.
A key factor in the Texans’ success was coach DeMeco Ryans’ defensive strategy against Bills quarterback Josh Allen, who finished the game with a season-low 131 passing yards, completing only 9 of 30 attempts and registering a passer rating of 56.
Ryans’ defense pressured Allen into achieving the lowest completion percentage (30.0%) in a game with 30 or more attempts in the last 30 seasons, according to ESPN Research.
“I’m really happy for Diggs,” Ryans stated. “I understood how significant this win was for him and how crucial this week was. We had to get this one for Diggs.”
The Texans’ pass rush and coverage were pivotal in limiting Allen’s effectiveness. No Bills’ receiver surpassed 50 receiving yards, and Allen faced pressure on 45% of his dropbacks – a season-high. Under pressure, he only completed one pass for 24 yards on 14 attempts.
“Limiting Josh is no easy task. He’s a great player and tough to contain. It took a collective effort from everyone,” Ryans remarked. “We knew we wouldn’t get many sacks due to his elusiveness, but we kept the pressure on him. Our secondary also played a vital role in shutting down their receivers.”
Looking ahead, the Texans are set to face the New England Patriots in Week 6, though they might have to do so without Collins. Reports indicate that Collins experienced tightness in one of his hamstrings after the touchdown reception and chose not to push himself further.
Ryans confirmed that Collins is currently “day-to-day.”