The predator became the prey on Thursday night in Houston.
Just five days after scoring six touchdowns, Buffalo Bills quarterback Josh Allen was swarmed by the Houston Texans’ ferocious pass rush, taking a career-high eight sacks and failing to reach the end zone in a 23-19 defeat.
Allen took responsibility for the offense’s struggles — and for the sacks.
“It’s not fun. I ran into a couple myself,” Allen said, according to the team’s transcript. “I have to be better with throwing the ball away, living to see another down… Too many times I was going backwards, and I have to be better on that.”
Some of the sacks he could have escaped. Many he couldn’t. Houston’s aggressive front — led by Will Anderson Jr. and Danielle Hunter — bullied Buffalo’s offensive line all night.
“It’s a tough night,” left tackle Dion Dawkins admitted. “Probably won’t be able to sleep. When I see the kid get hit and he rolls around on the ground, it’s a tough day for the boys.”
That painful moment came in the second quarter when Allen was hit from behind and landed awkwardly on his shoulder, briefly experiencing numbness. Still, he didn’t miss a snap.
“When they hit the quarterback 12 times, I don’t like that,” coach Sean McDermott said. “It’s not a healthy way to play or keep our quarterback healthy. That’s just not a good formula.”
Allen finished 24-of-34 for 253 yards with zero touchdowns — his second game this season without a score. He is now 2-7 in his career when he doesn’t record a passing or rushing touchdown.
The loss drops Buffalo to 7-4, two games behind New England in the AFC East and settling into the No. 5 seed. Houston moves to 6-5 and now holds a potential tiebreaker over the Bills.
Texans’ Defense Dominates Under the Lights
HOUSTON — The Texans entered Thursday night with the NFL’s top-ranked defense, and they proved exactly why in their 23-19 win.
It was strength versus strength: the Bills’ high-powered offense against Houston’s No. 1 defense. Buffalo came in averaging 29.2 points per game, fresh off a 44-32 win where Allen accounted for six touchdowns. Houston, meanwhile, allowed the fewest points (16.4) and yards (258) per game.
The Texans’ defense smothered Buffalo, sacking Allen eight times and forcing three turnovers — all created by breakout safety Calen Bullock, who snagged two interceptions and forced a fumble. His final pick sealed the victory.
“We definitely got the best defense in the league,” linebacker Azeez Al-Shaair said. “You just got to put it on tape every day.”
Houston’s eight sacks tied a franchise single-game record, previously set in 2024 and 2016. The Texans pressured Allen on a third of his dropbacks and allowed just two completions on those plays.
Bullock’s night was one to remember. His late interception on fourth-and-6 came just moments after Buffalo converted a wild fourth-and-27 hook-and-lateral — the longest such fourth-down conversion in a one-score game’s fourth quarter since 2012.
Coach DeMeco Ryans said emotions were high on the sideline.
“For Calen to come down with that interception was my favorite play, because it meant it was over,” Ryans said.
Bullock even had a pick-six erased by a penalty, but still finished with one of the season’s best defensive performances. He’s now up to nine interceptions since 2024 — the third-most in the league during that span.
“A dream come true… everybody watching,” Bullock told ESPN.
Houston’s defensive line played a massive role, with Anderson Jr. and Hunter each recording five pressures and combining for 4.5 sacks.
“Credit goes to our defensive line,” Ryans said. “When we play together like that, we’re tough to move the ball against.”
At 6-5, Houston has a 35% chance to make the playoffs and a 7% chance to win the AFC South, per ESPN Analytics. Not great odds — but their defense gives them a chance every week.
“We have that mindset, that we are the best every time we step on the field,” Bullock said.
Next up: after a short break, the Texans face the 8-2 division-leading Colts in Week 13 — a massive matchup as Houston attempts to climb back into the AFC South race after starting the year 0-3.
