Buffalo has lost six consecutive games in Houston, including four with Josh Allen behind center. Perhaps it is time to leave this streak in the past.
The Buffalo Bills will open the 2026 season on the road against the Houston Texans, giving them an immediate opportunity to end one of the strangest and most stubborn droughts on their schedule.
The Bills have not won a game in Houston since November 19, 2006.
Yes, 2006.
The Nintendo Wii was released in North America that very same day. Twitter had launched
publicly just a few months earlier. Hannah Montana had recently finished its first season on Disney Channel. Josh Allen was 10 years old.
It has been a while.
Remembering the Lee Evans game
Both the Bills and the Texans entered that Week 11 matchup with a 3-6 record.
Lee Evans made it memorable anyway.
On Buffalo’s first possession, Losman found Evans for an 83-yard touchdown. On the Bills’ next possession, they did it again. Another Losman-to-Evans connection. Another 83-yard touchdown. Evans finished the afternoon with 11 receptions for 265 yards, breaking the Bills’ single game receiving record.
That franchise record still stands today.
Another thing froze in time from that day…It remains the last time Buffalo won in Houston.
Six trips, six losses
Since that day, the Bills have returned to Houston six times. They have lost all six:
- 2012: Texans 21, Bills 9
- 2014: Texans 23, Bills 17
- 2018: Texans 20, Bills 13
- 2019 Postseason: Texans 22, Bills 19 in overtime
- 2024: Texans 23, Bills 20
- 2025: Texans 23, Bills 19
The last four losses have all come during the Josh Allen era. The first was Allen’s rookie season in 2018, when he suffered an elbow injury and was replaced by Nathan Peterman. Peterman briefly gave Buffalo the lead with a touchdown pass before throwing two interceptions, including the go-ahead pick-six.
Then came the 2019 Wild Card game, played in January 2020. Buffalo built a 16-0 lead before Houston came back in the second half and eventually won 22-19 in overtime.
In 2024, Buffalo erased a 20-3 deficit only to lose on a Ka’imi Fairbairn 59-yard field goal as time expired. Allen completed just nine of his 30 pass attempts during the 23-20 loss.
Buffalo returned to Houston in 2025 and lost again, this time 23-19. Allen was sacked eight times and intercepted twice as the Texans’ defense overwhelmed Buffalo’s offense.
Allen is now 0-4 in Houston.
Time to end it
A season opener already comes with plenty of pressure, excitement and overreaction. This one also carries nearly 20 years of unwanted history. It is time to end the losing streak. The Bills simply need to leave Houston with a win.
