If this was a preview of what the AFC could look like in January, sign me up for the rematch.
The Buffalo Bills and Houston Texans traded punches throughout one of the best games of Week 1, but when Buffalo needed one final drive, Josh Allen delivered.
Starting from his own 4-yard line with just over three minutes remaining and Buffalo trailing 31-30, Allen drove the Bills 96 yards and found Joshua Palmer for a 34-yard touchdown. Houston still had one final opportunity and drove deep into Buffalo territory, but Greg Rousseau forced a C.J. Stroud fumble in the closing seconds to seal a wild 36-31 Bills victory.
Houston Strikes First
Buffalo opened the scoring with a Tyler Bass field goal, but Houston answered with its first glimpse of what David Montgomery could bring to this offense.
Montgomery capped a long Texans possession with a 1-yard touchdown run to put Houston ahead 7-3.
That lead wouldn’t last long.
Allen took matters into his own hands early in the second quarter, escaping for a 21-yard rushing touchdown to put Buffalo back ahead 10-7.
Houston responded again.
Montgomery broke loose for an 18-yard touchdown, his second score of the afternoon, and the Texans reclaimed a 14-10 advantage.
This was quickly becoming the back-and-forth battle everyone hoped it would be.
Josh Allen Takes Over
Buffalo answered Houston’s touchdown almost immediately.
Allen finished a quick drive with a 1-yard rushing touchdown, giving him his second rushing score of the game and putting Buffalo back ahead 17-14.
Then came one of Buffalo’s biggest sequences of the afternoon.
After forcing Houston to punt, the Bills went 96 yards in just three plays.
Allen connected with Dalton Kincaid for a huge gain. DJ Moore followed with another reception. Then Allen went right back to Moore for a 43-yard touchdown.
Just like that, Buffalo had turned a three-point deficit into a 24-14 lead.
Houston refused to let Buffalo pull away.
C.J. Stroud answered with a touchdown drive, finding Nico Collins for a 12-yard score with just seconds remaining in the half.
After all that offense, Buffalo entered halftime leading just 24-21.
The Game Tightens Up
After 45 combined points in the first half, things finally slowed down after halftime.
Buffalo added another field goal in the third quarter to extend its advantage to 27-21, but Houston remained within striking distance.
Then Stroud and Montgomery struck again.
Early in the fourth quarter, Stroud found Montgomery for a 7-yard touchdown, giving Montgomery his third total touchdown of the game and putting Houston ahead 28-27.
Buffalo responded with another field goal.
30-28 Bills.
Then Ka’imi Fairbairn drilled a massive 58-yard field goal to put Houston back in front.
31-30 Texans.
The game had changed hands again.
And Buffalo was about to get the football with almost the entire field in front of them.
Josh Allen Gets One More Chance
Buffalo took possession at its own 4-yard line with just over three minutes remaining.
This is where great quarterbacks earn their reputation.
Allen immediately went to work.
The Bills marched down the field, and Houston even had an opportunity to end the drive with an interception but couldn’t complete the play.
That missed opportunity proved costly.
Allen found Joshua Palmer for a 34-yard touchdown to put Buffalo back in front.
Buffalo had gone 96 yards when it absolutely needed a touchdown.
Bills 36, Texans 31.
Houston Still Had a Chance
The game still wasn’t over.
Stroud got the Texans moving quickly and eventually drove Houston deep into Buffalo territory.
The Texans had a legitimate chance to steal the game back.
Then Buffalo’s pass rush took over.
Stroud was sacked, pushing Houston backward. With only seconds remaining, Greg Rousseau got to Stroud and knocked the football loose.
Buffalo recovered.
Ballgame.
Vintage Josh Allen
This was Josh Allen at his best.
Allen finished 20-of-29 for 334 passing yards and two touchdowns while adding another two touchdowns on the ground.
Most importantly, he didn’t turn the football over.
When Buffalo needed him most, Allen responded with a 96-yard go-ahead touchdown drive.
It was also a huge afternoon for two of his weapons.
Dalton Kincaid finished with 130 receiving yards, repeatedly creating explosive plays down the field.
And what a Buffalo debut for DJ Moore.
Moore finished with 100 receiving yards and a touchdown, immediately showing exactly why Buffalo wanted another dangerous weapon around Allen.
David Montgomery Makes an Immediate Impact
Houston didn’t win, but David Montgomery couldn’t have asked for a much better individual performance.
Montgomery scored three touchdowns, twice on the ground and once through the air.
Houston needed more production from its running game, and Montgomery immediately gave the Texans another dimension offensively.
Stroud also had plenty of good moments.
He finished with 274 passing yards and two touchdowns, including scoring throws to Nico Collins and Montgomery.
But Houston’s turnovers ultimately proved devastating, especially the final fumble with the Texans threatening to steal the game.
Buffalo Makes an Early AFC Statement
It’s Week 1. Nobody wins a championship in September.
But this felt bigger than your average season opener.
These are two teams expecting to play meaningful football deep into the season, and for four quarters they looked like it.
Houston showed it could trade punches with Buffalo. Stroud made plays. Montgomery immediately looked like an important addition. The Texans repeatedly responded whenever Buffalo threatened to pull away.
But when the game reached its biggest moments, Buffalo made one more play.
Allen drove the Bills 96 yards for the go-ahead touchdown.
Then Rousseau forced the turnover that ended it.
After a back-and-forth battle that featured multiple lead changes and 67 combined points, Buffalo leaves Houston with a statement road victory.
And if these teams see each other again in January, I don’t think anybody will complain.
Final: Buffalo Bills 36, Houston Texans 31.
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