The Buffalo Bills were pushed around all night by the Houston Texans during Thursday Night Football. Josh Allen was battered and bruised by the relentless pressure generated by Houston’s front four, getting sacked a career-worst eight times while throwing two very ugly interceptions. The Bills’ defense failed to generate pressure on backup quarterback Davis Mills and allowed the Texans to score 20 first-half points, including a back-breaking, last-second touchdown following Ray Davis’ 97-yard kickoff
return for a touchdown.
Despite it all, the Bills still had a chance to walk away with a big conference win in Houston when Josh Allen, Joshua Palmer, and Khalil Shakir converted a 4th and 27 on a hook and ladder play. But as he was all night long, Allen was under duress on the final play, and his pass intended for Palmer was picked off by Calen Bullock, who forced three turnovers on the night, with 24 seconds left.
Today’s edition of Buffalo Rumblinks leads off with observations and analysis from the demoralizing setback in Houston.
Final thoughts on Bills loss to Texans
Linked below: the Bills knew the Texans’ pass rush would pose a mighty challenge for their offensive line, and in the end, Buffalo’s o-line had no answers for Will Anderson Jr. (2.5 sacks), Danielle Hunter (2 sacks) and the Texans, and Josh Allen remains winless in four career starts in Houston.
Plus, how offensive coordinator Joe Brady once again came up small with his short-yardage play-calling, often forgetting about running back James Cook III (averaged 6.8 yards per carry on 17 rushes) and then becoming too predictable when Buffalo faced a pivotal fourth-down scenario in the fourth quarter. And relive the viral moment on the sidelines after Brady dialed up that terrible play call that had Allen wondering “what are we doing?”
Also: how turnovers once again doomed Allen and the Bills’ chances at a last-minute win; how Buffalo’s beleaguered defense rebounded from a bad opening half; how the Bills’ now face a daunting task if they want to win their sixth straight AFC East title; how the injuries continued to pile up; how Matt Prater’s missed extra point loomed large at the end of the game; and more!
- Lance Lysowski: Josh Allen got beaten up, and the Bills’ offense has more problems to solve – Buffalo News (subscription required)
- Josh Allen sacked a career-high 8 times; Texans defense overwhelmed the Bills (Observations) – newyorkupstate.com
- Josh Allen, Bills left wounded and looking vulnerable after Texans mauling – The Athletic (subscription required)
- Allen roughed up, sacked 8 times in frustrating loss – ESPN.com Buffalo Bills blog
- Offensive line regression, terrible defense doom Bills in latest loss – Sports Illustrated Buffalo Bills
- Kiss the division goodbye: Buffalo Bills offense gets bullied by Texans in prime time – newyorkupstate.com
- Bills’ comeback falls short in nail-biter against Texans – WGR 550
- 5 things that stood out in Bills’ dismal Week 12 loss to Texans – Democrat & Chronicle
- Bills-Texans takeaways: Houston defense sacks Josh Allen 8 times for win – The Athletic (subscription required)
- Failed fourth-down run looms large for Bills in loss, plus other plays that shaped the game – Buffalo News (subscription required)
- Texans’ defense, Davis Mills come up big in TNF win against Bills – ESPN.com
- The Top 3 three things we learned from Bills vs. Texans | Week 12 – BuffaloBills.com
- Observations: Defense rebounds from nightmare start, but it’s not enough to push Bills to victory – Buffalo News (subscription required)
- ‘Had a chance to win it there at the end’ | Bills fall short to Texans Thursday night on the scoreboard and in personnel – BuffaloBills.com
- 3 winners & 4 losers in Buffalo Bills frustrating Week 12 loss to Texans – Sports Illustrated Buffalo Bills
- Bills wide receiver Khalil Shakir bounces back from fumble but comes up short: ‘That’s kind of killing me’ – Buffalo News (subscription required)
- Buffalo Bills’ Josh Allen vents his frustration with 4 words in loss to Texans – newyorkupstate.com
- Josh Allen wonders what the Bills are doing in clumsy loss to Texans – Democrat & Chronicle
Report cards and positional grades
Catch up on report cards to see what players are trending up and whose stock is on the decline following Buffalo’s loss in Houston.
- Bills Report Card: Lack of protection for Josh Allen leads to failing grade in pass game vs. Texans – Buffalo News (subscription required)
- OPINION: Capaccio: Arrow Up/Arrow Down: Bills at Texans – WGR 550
Bills react to latest loss
Hear from head coach Sean McDermott, quarterback Josh Allen, safety Jordan Poyer, and left tackle Dion Dawkins following Buffalo’s Week 12 setback in Houston.
- McDermott won’t let injuries be an excuse in Bills’ loss in Houston – WGR 550
- Sean McDermott: “We Battle, We Push Forward” – BuffaloBills.com
- Allen points finger at himself for prime-time loss to Texans – WGR 550
- Josh Allen: “We Gotta Execute” – BuffaloBills.com
- Jordan Poyer: “Guys Continued To Step Up” – BuffaloBills.com
- Dion Dawkins: “Best Days Yet To Come” – BuffaloBills.com
Even more Bills news
Get the latest news on injuries to linebacker Terrel Bernard and cornerback Maxwell Hairston; and find out the new game time for Buffalo’s Week 14 home game vs. the Cincinnati Bengals.
- Bills announce this injury update on Maxwell Hairston – BuffaloBills.com
- Bills announce this injury update on Terrel Bernard – BuffaloBills.com
- Bills linebacker Terrel Bernard writhes in pain with elbow injury vs. Texans – Democrat & Chronicle
- List of over 15 Bills players dealing with injuries following Week 12 loss to Texans – Sports Illustrated Buffalo Bills
- Bills suffer 10 injuries as they’re beat up by Texans – Democrat & Chronicle
- Bills’ Week 14 matchup with Bengals flexed to 1 p.m. – WGR 550
Buffalo Bills articles recently featured on Buffalo Rumblings
- Bills dominated in loss to physical Texans defense – Buffalo Rumblings
- Josh Allen injury: Shoulder goes numb for Buffalo Bills QB during Texans game – Buffalo Rumblings
- Josh Allen has a new career high in sacks taken in a single game – Buffalo Rumblings
- Spencer Brown tried to gut it out, but left the game against Houston with an injury – Buffalo Rumblings
- Terrel Bernard leaves game against Texans with arm injury – Buffalo Rumblings
- CB Maxwell Hairston heads to locker room with injury against Texans – Buffalo Rumblings
- Bills drop in playoff picture with loss and can fall further on Sunday – Buffalo Rumblings
- Bills playoff chances are still excellent, so breathe – Buffalo Rumblings
