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Buffalo Bills vs. Houston Texans: Thu, Nov 20 8:15 PM (ET) - Full Game Recap
The Houston Texans secured a 23–19 victory over the Buffalo Bills on Thursday night, relying on a dominant defensive performance and key takeaways to extend their winning streak to three games.
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Texans Defense Overwhelms Josh Allen
Houston’s defense dictated the pace from the start. The Texans sacked Josh Allen eight times, the highest total he has ever taken in a single game. Houston also hit him four additional times, consistently disrupting Buffalo’s passing attack.
Safety Calen Bullock delivered one of the best defensive performances of the season, forcing three turnovers, including the interception that ended Buffalo’s final drive with 24 seconds remaining. According to Bullock, the pressure from the defensive line triggered the late-game mistake that sealed the win.
Coach DeMeco Ryans praised his team’s mindset, especially after Buffalo nearly broke the game open with a long multi-lateral play late in the fourth quarter. Ryans emphasized that the Texans “don’t waver,” even after momentum shifts.
Davis Mills Leads Texans in Stroud’s Absence
Filling in for the concussed C.J. Stroud, quarterback Davis Mills gave Houston a steady performance. He threw for 153 yards and two first-half touchdowns, guiding the team to a halftime lead they never surrendered.
Wide receivers Christian Kirk and Jayden Higgins each caught touchdown passes, with Higgins scoring just before halftime on an 8-yard reception. Kirk also helped set up that drive with a crucial 33-yard catch-and-run.
Bills Offense Shows Flashes but Struggles Under Pressure
Despite the constant pressure, Allen threw for 253 yards, though he failed to record a passing touchdown. A week earlier he accounted for six total touchdowns, but Houston’s pass rush prevented any similar breakout.
Running back James Cook was Buffalo’s most reliable weapon, finishing with 116 rushing yards and a 45-yard touchdown. His performance pushed him past 1,000 rushing yards for the third straight season, joining Thurman Thomas and O.J. Simpson as the only Bills players with such a streak.
Buffalo’s biggest momentum swing came from Ray Davis, who returned a kickoff 97 yards for a touchdown—the Bills’ first kick-return touchdown since 2023 and their first on the road since 2010.
Key Moments That Shaped the Game
Bullock’s forced fumble in the third quarter set up a Texans field goal that extended their lead.
On a critical fourth-and-1, Houston stopped Cook for a 2-yard loss, ending a promising Buffalo drive.
Defensive end Will Anderson Jr. had 2.5 sacks, extending his streak to six straight games with at least one sack, tying a franchise record.
Buffalo kept hope alive with a stunning 44-yard multi-lateral play, but a false start and Bullock’s interception ended the comeback attempt.
Injuries
Bills: LB Terrel Bernard exited with an elbow injury; CB Maxwell Hairston was evaluated for a concussion.
Texans: CB Ajani Carter left in the fourth quarter with a hamstring issue.
Next Games
Bills: at Pittsburgh on Nov. 30
Texans: at Indianapolis on Nov. 30
Conclusion
Houston earned its win through defensive pressure, timely takeaways, and steady quarterback play from Davis Mills. Buffalo stayed competitive through big plays from James Cook and Ray Davis, but protection issues and late-game turnovers proved too much to overcome. As the season advances, Houston’s improving defense could become a defining strength, while Buffalo looks to regroup and better protect its franchise quarterback moving forward.
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