The Buffalo Bills came into this season with Super Bowl dreams. Those hopes have dwindled down to praying Josh Allen can have a historic run of four games in the playoffs. Assuming the Bills make the playoffs.
The Bills are a surprising 7-4 after a rough outing against the Houston Texans, who won 23-19 despite being without quarterback C.J. Stroud, who missed his second straight start due to a concussion. The Texans (6-5) harassed Allen all night, sacking him eight times, a single-game career-high for the reigning NFL MVP.
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The Bills’ defense allowed 20 points and more than 200 yards in the first half to a Davis Mills-led team, and saw linebacker Terrel Bernard and cornerback Maxwell Hairston leave the game with injuries.
The Bills had a shot in the final minutes to get the lead. They pulled off a wild hook-and-ladder play for 44 yards on fourth-and-27 to keep the game alive. But on fourth down in Texans territory, Allen threw an interception and the Texans had the win.
The Bills started the season 4-0 and are 3-4 since. They’ve had ugly losses to the Falcons, Dolphins and now the Texans.
Allen is one of the best players in football, but still hasn’t gotten Buffalo to the Super Bowl. That goal seems to be further away than it has been in a few years.
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Texans come out strong
The first half was surprisingly entertaining and a funny thing was happening: The Texans looked like the better team.
Houston had 201 yards in the first half to 155 for the Bills. The Bills had two big plays, a 45-yard touchdown run by James Cook and a 97-yard kickoff return touchdown by Ray Davis, but there wasn’t much else. The Texans’ fantastic defense did a good job containing Allen. Houston also got a field goal off an Allen interception in Bills territory.
Mills missed a lot of passes and the offense still was effective. Mills did warm up in the second half with a pair of touchdown passes. His second touchdown pass was to rookie Jayden Higgins with five seconds left in the half. That gave Houston a 20-16 lead going into halftime.
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The Bills came in expected to win, but they were fortunate they were trailing by only four points at halftime.
Texans D clamps down
The Texans’ defense, which came into Week 12 leading the NFL in points allowed and yards allowed, started to take over the game in the second half.
Allen isn’t an easy quarterback to sack but the Texans consistently got to him. A forced fumble after Khalil Shakir caught a short pass led to a Houston field goal. When the Bills went for it on fourth-and-1 in Texans territory, Cook had no chance. He was hit three yards behind the line of scrimmage. After the play, Allen slammed his helmet on the bench and seemed to say, “What are we doing?” in frustration.
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Allen finished 24-of-34 passing for 253 yards and two interceptions, and Cook ran for 116 yards on 17 carries.
The Bills have turned to Allen time after time to carry them. There wasn’t much Allen could do against Houston’s defense.
Still, the Texans’ offense couldn’t put the game away. The Bills cut the lead to 23-19, with a drive that was cut short due to Houston’s intense pass rush. The Bills got another stop and their offense got the ball back with 2:48 left to play needing a touchdown to win.
Allen got the Bills moving downfield. Some quick passes picked up key first downs. But when Allen tried to scramble, he was sacked for the seventh time. That set up a third-and-20. Then on third down Allen was sacked for an eighth time. Allen was sacked only 14 times all last season. Usually Allen gets away with extending plays, but the Texans’ defensive line did a great job closing on him and making plays.
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The Bills had a trick up their sleeve. On fourth-and-27, Josh Palmer caught a pass and pulled off a hook and ladder with Shakir. The play picked up 44 yards. The Bills were somehow still alive. But on fourth-and-6 after that, following a false start penalty that pushed them back five yards, Allen threw an interception that ended their hopes.
The Bills haven’t looked anywhere close to a Super Bowl contender since September. They haven’t even looked like a playoff team most of that time. Having Allen gives them hope for a late-season surge. But that hope might be dwindling.
Live coverage is over41 updatesThu, November 20, 2025 at 8:00 PM PST
Yahoo Sports Staff
Thu, November 20, 2025 at 8:27 PM PST
Yahoo Sports Staff
Josh Allen gets picked by Calen Bullock on a fourth-and-6 from Houston’s 22.
That’s the dagger.
Thu, November 20, 2025 at 8:22 PM PST
Yahoo Sports Staff
Houston couldn’t put this game away.
Well done, Joe Brady and that playbook of yours.
Here’s why:
Thu, November 20, 2025 at 8:19 PM PST
Yahoo Sports Staff
Josh Allen was sacked for the seventh time tonight, forcing Buffalo to use a timeout.
It’s looking bleak for Buffalo, who face a third-and-20 from their own 37.
Thu, November 20, 2025 at 8:14 PM PST
Yahoo Sports Staff
Josh Allen and the Bills need to go 73 yards with 2 minutes left in order to win.
No pressure.
Thu, November 20, 2025 at 8:11 PM PST
Yahoo Sports Staff
Davis Mills couldn’t salt away this game for Houston. The Texans picked up a first down on a drive, but don’t do much after that.
Josh Allen will get the ball back with 2:48 and all his timeouts for a chance to win.
Thu, November 20, 2025 at 8:05 PM PST
Yahoo Sports Staff
The Texans keep bringing the heat on Josh Allen. They sacked him — for the sixth time tonight! — after a big gain from Khalil Shakir and force a rushed throw on third-and-10.
The Bills are forced to kick a 38-yard field goal.
Thu, November 20, 2025 at 8:02 PM PST
Yahoo Sports Staff
Khalil Shakir turned a short pass from Josh Allen into a 44-yard gain on third-and-12, getting Buffalo to Houston’s 25-yard line.
Andy Backstrom
Kamari Lassiter came flying in on a corner blitz, and defensive tackle Sheldon Rankins fired off the ball to stuff Bills running back James Cook two yards behind the line of scrimmage on fourth-and-1.
Just like that, a promising Buffalo drive has been turned over on downs.
Andy Backstrom
Despite the beating he’s taken, Josh Allen isn’t shying away from using his legs. After escaping a collapsing pocket, he scrambled for a 14-yard pickup on third-and-13 to move the sticks early in the fourth quarter.
Andy Backstrom
The Bills bounced back from their second turnover of the night, holding Houston to 19 yards after its forced fumble and recovery.
The Texans had to settle for a field goal. Ka’imi Fairbairn knocked in the 26-yarder to increase Houston’s lead to 23-16.
It’s still a one-score game, though.
Andy Backstrom
The Houston Texans have the No. 1 defense in the league for a reason. They’re suffocating and opportunistic.
Safety Calen Bullock, who caught the tip-drill interception earlier in the game, forced a fumble after Bills receiver Khalil Shakir made a third-down catch that would have given Buffalo a much-needed first down.
Another Texans safety, Jaylen Reed, recovered the loose ball and returned it nine yards to the Bills’ 22-yard line.
Andy Backstrom
The Bills are dealing with quite a bit of attrition right now. Cornerback Maxwell Hairston is the latest Buffalo player to go down. The rookie is now headed to the locker room.
Meanwhile, linebacker Terrel Bernard is out of there but wearing a sling. He’s out for the rest of the game, per the broadcast.
Andy Backstrom
Just as Josh Allen was sacked by Texans defensive end Danielle Hunter, a referee, Adrian Hill, suffered a non-contact, left-leg injury.
Hill had to be carted off the field into the locker room.
The game’s umpire, Roy Ellison, will now move to the referee position and will work the backfield on his own.
Andy Backstrom
Texans defensive end Danielle Hunter wanted in on the sack party, and he got one on third-and-6 to throw a wrench in a Bills drive that never got off the ground.
Houston now has three sacks on the night.
Andy Backstrom
Following a first-down stop, Bills linebacker Terrel Bernard was taken to the locker room. He looked to be in pain as he held his right arm.
On the other side of the ball, Texans wide receiver Nico Collins has returned to the field after taking a big hit late in the first half.
Andy Backstrom
The Bills’ first drive of the second half was jumpstarted with an 18-yard gain. It ended with an 18-yard loss.
That’s not a typo.
Josh Allen tried to keep the play alive on third-and-6 after Texans defensive end Will Anderson Jr. nearly brought him down. But Anderson stuck with it and ultimately wrangled a scrambling Allen for a costly sack.
Anderson has been giving Allen a headache tonight. He’s got a pair of sacks already.
Andy Backstrom
Since starting 1-of-8 passing, Davis Mills has completed 10 of his last 13 attempts with a pair of touchdown tosses to his name.
Here are some first-half stats to know…
HOUSTON
Mills: 11-of-21, 122 yards, 2 TDs
Marks: 8 rush, 44 yards
Collins: 3 rec, 55 yards
3rd Down: 1-of-6
4th Down: 1-of-1
BUFFALO
Allen: 11-of-15, 88 yards, 1 INT
Cook: 7 rush, 75 yards, 1 TD
R. Davis: 97-yard kickoff return
3rd Down: 2-of-6
4th Down: 2-of-2
Andy Backstrom
What a response by the Houston Texans. Following the Bills’ special teams touchdown, the Texans swung momentum right back their way with a six-play, 75-yard scoring drive before halftime.
Davis Mills engineered a smooth 2-minute drill, which featured a 33-yard completion to Christian Kirk and an 8-yard touchdown toss to rookie wideout Jayden Higgins.
Mills is now 11-of-21 with 122 yards and 2 touchdowns through the air.
Here’s a look at the big play Kirk made to set the stage for Mills’ touchdown strike:
Andy Backstrom
Texans wide receiver Nico Collins initially stayed on his feet after taking a big hit from Bills safety Cole Bishop, but Bishop stuck his arm out to finish the tackle, and then Collins stayed on the ground in pain.
He’s getting checked out for a potential injury.