Location: NRG Stadium, Houston, TX
Regular season records: Buffalo (2-4), Houston (3-3)
In a nutshell:
Buffalo's defensive front played its best game of the season in Week 6, taking Houston quarterback Deshaun Watson down six times. Unfortunately, a late pick-six cost the team a victory, as the Bills lost the game by a score of 20-13.
Josh Allen played well in the game, completing 10 of 17 passes for 84 yards. The rookie injured his throwing arm in the third quarter. Sophomore Nathan Peterman entered the game in relief of Allen, completing six passes and even finding Zay Jones in the end zone. Peterman also threw two interceptions.
Buffalo's defense played well enough to win the game, keeping Houston to 216 net yards. The unit picked Watson off twice and forced three fumbles. Kyle Williams was a menace on Sunday, totaling two sacks and one forced fumble.
With the loss, the Bills fell to 2-4 on the season.
How it went down:
- After forcing a punt on Houston's opening drive, Buffalo's defense returned to the field after Ray-Ray McCloud fumbled the ball on the return. Texans linebacker Brennan Scarlett recovered the ball at the Bills' 29-yard line. Houston took advantage of the excellent field position, as Deshaun Watson quickly connected with Deandre Hopkins for a touchdown (7-0).
- The Texans made another big special teams play midway through the second quarter. Tyrell Adams blocked a Corey Bojorquez punt, giving Houston the ball deep in Bills territory. Buffalo's defense continued its strong play, however, stopping the Texans from picking up a first down. Houston increased its lead to double-digits with a 33-yard Ka'imi Fairbairn field goal (10-0).
- A Lorenzo Alexander interception set Buffalo up at Houston's 35-yard line. Josh Allen and company were able to pick up two first downs, but the Texans' defense ultimately kept the Bills out of the end zone. Stephen Hauschka put the ball through the uprights from 22-yards out to give Buffalo its first points of the day (10-3).
- A 39-yard bomb from Allen to Kelvin Benjamin got the Bills into Houston territory late in the third quarter. The drive quickly stalled out, however. Hauschka shrank the Texans' lead to four with a 52-yard field goal (10-6).
- The Bills took possession of the ball at the Texans' 32-yard line after Trent Murphy forced a Watson fumble. Nathan Peterman, playing in place of the injured Allen, found Zay Jones in the back of the end zone on the fifth play of the drive, giving Buffalo its first lead of the game (13-10).
- The Texans kicked off a potential game-winning drive at their own eight-yard line with less than four minutes to go. Watson worked Houston up the field before taking a shot at the end zone. Bills cornerback Phillip Gaines took a pass interference penalty on the play, giving the Texans a fresh set of downs at the Buffalo one-yard line. The Bills stuffed Houston, forcing a game-tying field goal from 27-yards out (13-13).
- With less than two minutes remaining in the game, Peterman threw an interception to Jonathan Joseph, who took the ball to the end zone for the winning score (20-13).
Subplots:
- DT Kyle Williams recorded his first multi-sack game since 2016 on Sunday, totaling two sacks.
- LB Lorenzo Alexander finished the game with four tackles, 1.5 sacks, one interception, and one pass deflection.
- LB Tremaine Edmunds led the team in tackles on the day with nine.
- Kelvin Benjamin finished the game as Buffalo's leading receiver, catching two passes for 43 yards.
- S Jordan Poyer intercepted a Deshaun Watson pass on Sunday, his third takeaway in as many games. The defensive back now finds himself on second three-game takeaway streak as a Bill.
- CB Donate Johnson made his Bills debut on Sunday.
- Inactive for the game were QB Derek Anderson, CB Ryan Lewis, RB Marcus Murphy, LB Julian Stanford, OL Ike Boettger, OT Conor McDermott, and OG Wyatt Teller
Up next:
The Bills will finish off their tour of the AFC South next Sunday when they take on the Indianapolis Colts at Lucas Oil Stadium. Kickoff is scheduled for 1 p.m.
