Texans Defeat Bills 23-19 with Strong Defense and Touchdowns

The Houston Texans secured a thrilling 23-19 win over the visiting Buffalo Bills on Thursday night thanks to strong defense and timely scoring. Davis Mills led Houston with two touchdown passes, while Caden Bullock made key plays with two interceptions and a forced fumble. The Texans’ defense also recorded eight sacks, applying constant pressure on Bills quarterback Josh Allen.

Allen completed 24 of 34 passes for 253 yards but threw two interceptions, contributing to Buffalo’s second loss in three games. The Bills’ running back, James Cook, ran for 116 yards and scored a touchdown on 17 carries. Wide receiver Khalil Shakir caught eight passes for 110 yards, and Ray Davis returned a kickoff for a touchdown to keep Buffalo in the game.

For the Texans, Mills completed 16 of 30 passes for 153 yards in his third straight start, replacing C.J. Stroud, who is recovering from a concussion. Houston’s touchdown catches came from Christian Kirk and Jayden Higgins, helping the team (6-5) win for the fourth time in five games.

The game was intense in the closing minutes. Buffalo faced fourth-and-27 from their own 30-yard line but managed an 11-yard pass from Allen to Joshua Palmer. Palmer lateraled to Shakir, gaining 33 more yards to bring the ball to Houston’s 26 with 41 seconds left. Later, Buffalo faced fourth-and-6 from the Houston 22-yard line, but Allen’s pass was intercepted by Bullock, sealing the Texans’ victory.

The game began with the Bills taking an early lead. Cook ran 45 yards for a touchdown in the first quarter, but Matt Prater missed the extra point. Both teams exchanged field goals in the second quarter, and Mills threw a 2-yard touchdown pass to Kirk to give Houston a 10-9 lead. Bullock’s first interception of Allen helped set up a 43-yard field goal by Houston’s kicker Ka’imi Fairbairn.

However, Buffalo responded immediately. Ray Davis returned the kickoff 97 yards for a touchdown, putting the Bills ahead 16-13 before halftime. Houston regained the lead in the third quarter with a 26-yard field goal from Fairbairn, making it 23-16. Prater later narrowed the gap with a 38-yard field goal, but the Texans’ defense held strong to secure the win.

Houston’s defensive line was particularly effective, with Will Anderson recording 2 ½ sacks and Danielle Hunter adding two more, bringing constant pressure on Allen, who was tackled for 70 yards in losses. This strong defensive effort, combined with key offensive plays from Mills, helped Houston overcome the Bills’ late-game pushes.

The Texans’ victory shows their resilience and growing confidence as they aim to build momentum in the NFL season. Bullock’s interceptions and the team’s eight sacks were crucial in disrupting Buffalo’s offense and turning the game in Houston’s favor.

With this win, Houston improves to 6-5, keeping their playoff hopes alive. Meanwhile, the Bills drop to 7-4, needing to regroup and focus on upcoming matches to secure a strong postseason position.