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Bills vs. Texans final score, results: Texans defense suffocates Josh Allen and Bills in 23-19 win

Jake Mozarsky

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Bills vs. Texans final score, results: Texans defense suffocates Josh Allen and Bills in 23-19 win image

JUMP TO:

The Houston Texans entered their matchup with Josh Allen and the Buffalo Bills as the No. 1 scoring defense in the NFL. On Thursday night, they showed the reigning MVP and the football world why they’ve earned that ranking through 12 weeks.

After an early touchdown, Allen and the Bills offense struggled, generating only six points as the Texans defense sacked Allen seven times and forced three turnovers. Behind two second quarter touchdowns by Davis Mills, Houston beat Buffalo 23-19 on Thursday night.

Buffalo made the final minutes interesting, with Allen driving the Bills into the Texans' 20-yard line. It was a miraculous 4th & 27 call -- a Josh Palmer to Khalil Shakir hook-and-ladder -- that set the Bills up, Though, Houston got one final stop, Allen threw his second interception of the game on fourth down as the Texans defense showed why it’s the league’s best.

Allen finished the day completing 24-of-34 passes for 253 yards and two interceptions while being sacked eight times. On the other side, Davis Mills threw two touchdown passes in the second quarter, and it was enough; though Houston scored only three points in the second half, the defense got the stops necessary to win.

The Texans advanced to 6-5 on the season with the win. With a C.J. Stroud return on the horizon, Houston sent a message that it can be contenders down the road. Buffalo, on the other hand, fell to 7-4, two games back of the New England Patriots in the AFC East.

AllSportsPeople followed all the action from a dominant Thursday night from the Texans defense as Houston moved into playoff position. Check out all the action below.

STREAM: Watch Bills vs. Texans live with Amazon Prime

Bills vs. Texans score

 

Bills vs. Texans live updates, highlights from 'Monday Night Football'

Final: Texans 23, Bills 19

11:26 p.m.:  The Houston defense puts a final stamp on the game that it headlined.

On 4th & 6, Allen throws an interception, and it's Bullock again, picking off a pass to Gabe Davis on the Houston nine.

The Texans defense was a catalyst to a huge victory, 23-19 over the Bills. Buffalo turned it over three times, and though it was not the best offensive performance for the Texans, the defense won them the game.

Houston advances to 6-5 and hops into a wild card spot. Buffalo drops to 8-4. 

11:23 p.m.:  Buffalo has used a timeout as a completion to Johnson moves them into the red zone.

There are 28 seconds left, with the Bills facing a 3rd & 1.

11:20 p.m.:  Buffalo just dialed up some magic on 4th & 27. 

With the Texans deep in coverage, Buffalo throws a hook-and-ladder. First, Allen hits Josh Palmer, who then laterals it to Shakir who takes it all the way down to the Texans 26 for 33 yards.

Buffalo is in Houston territory after the miraculous play.

11:19 p.m.:  Make that eight.

Allen tries to buy time in the pocket again with no receivers downfield, and Houston sacks him for a nine yard loss. It's a 4th & 27.

11:18 p.m.:  The Texans pass rush gets to Allen for the seventh time of the night.

On 2nd & 10, the quarterback is wrapped up by Danielle Hunter, making it a 3rd & long for Buffalo.

11:16 p.m.:  Shakir has been Allen's favorite target of the night, and they connect again here for a first down. This one goes for eight yards and Shakir gets out of bounds.

Two plays later, the Bills get another first down with Dawson Knox catching a three-yard pass

11:12 p.m.:  With two minutes remaining, Allen and the Bills trail by four with a 3rd & 1 coming up.

Allen has two fourth quarter comebacks this season, the first in Week 1 against the Ravens and the second the last game against Tampa Bay. 

It's time to see if he'll have another one.

11:10 p.m.:  Mills and the offense could not get anything going after the long completion to Higgins, and the Texans punt it back to Buffalo.

Houston has only scored three points in the half, but the defense has kept the lead.

11:07 p.m.:  Looking to take some time off the clock, Houston moves the ball immediately.

On 1st & 10, Mills hits Higgins ahead of the sticks for 16 yards, moving the Texans to their 37-yard line.

Texans 23, Bills 19

11:01 p.m.:  Right when Buffalo gets into the red zone, Allen goes down again. He has been sacked six times tonight. While a pass to Shakir makes it a 3rd & 10, the Buffalo offensive line is once again overpowered, with Houston getting to Allen as he throws an incomplete pass.

Prater comes in to hit a 38-yard field goal, and it's back to a four-point game with 5:44 remaining in the game.

11:00 p.m.:  Desperately needing a third down, Allen hits Shakir out of the backfield, and the wide receiver breaks a tackle and takes it up the right sideline for 44 yards.

Just like that, Buffalo is at the Houston 20.

10:55 p.m.:  The Buffalo defense is keeping them in the game, getting to Mills on a 3rd & 9 and forcing him to rush a pass to the sideline.

Tommy Townsend drives a punt to Shakir, who brings it a few yards before going into a pile.

With 9:09 remaining, Allen and the Bills take back over, down seven.

10:51 p.m.:  The Texans defense, which entered the night as the top scoring defense in the NFL, just made another game-changing play.

Sean McDermott opts to go for it on 4th & 1, and when Allen handed it off to Cook, he was immediately swarmed in the backfield. It goes for -2 yards and Houston takes back over.

10:48 p.m.:  Cook has hit a few big plays tonight, and he does again on second down.

Earlier in the game, he bounced to the right to pick up a first down. This time, its to the left, going to the Houston 32 for 20 yards.

Cook is now over 100 yards on the night.

10:47 p.m.:  On 3rd & 13, Allen gets a huge first down with his legs, scrambling for 14 yards to the Buffalo 46. 

The Bills offense has not threatened since the second-quarter field goal.

End of the third quarter: Texans 23, Bills 16

10:42 p.m.:  On the first play of the series, Allen is lit up by Henry To'oTo'o in the backfield, this time for a seven-yard loss.

The clock hits zeroes in the third and Buffalo trails by seven, facing a 2nd & 17 as we enter the final frame.

Texans 23, Bills 16

10:39 p.m. FIELD GOAL: Mills and the Texans can't do much after the turnover, getting only one first down, as Buffalo keeps it a one-score game.

Fairbairn hits a 26-yard field goal, his third of the night, and Houston now leads by a touchdown.

10:36 p.m.:  Houston moves the chains, with Marks taking a carry three yards to the Buffalo 11 for a first down.

The Texans are looking to add on to a four point lead.

10:34 p.m.:  Allen finally finds a receiver downfield in Shakir, who hauls in a pass in stride. But, the ball is punched out Bullock — who also got the interception — and it is jumped on by Jaylen Reid.

It's the second Buffalo turnover of the game, and Houston takes over inside the 30.

10:30 p.m.:  Though Houston got across midfield, it can't get into scoring position. 

Chubb gets stifled on a 3rd & 2 run, forcing the Texans to punt it back to Buffalo.

Khalil Shakir fields it inside the 10, where Buffalo will start the drive.

10:25 p.m.:  There's an injury not to a player, but one of the officials.

Referee Adrian Hill had a non-contact injury and had to be carted into the locker room.

10:20 p.m.:  Allen and the Bills offense just can't get anything going.

Here, facing a 3rd & 6 in his own territory, Allen once again gets sacked trying to scramble and the Bills need to punt for the second straight time to begin the half.

The Texans have sacked him three times tonight.

10:14 p.m.:  The Texans offensive line has driven them back this drive, with a false start penalty and a holding penalty sandwiched between a one-yard loss. Mills scrambles for 10 yards to make it a 3rd & 16, but throws an incomplete pass; there was another Houston penalty on the play, which was declined.

The teams have exchanged punts to start the second half. Allen and the Buffalo offense is looking to point puts on the board for the first time in three drives.

10:05 p.m.:  On 3rd & 6, Allen scrambles left in the pocket after evading a sack from Anderson, but as he rolls to his left and is chased by Texans defenders, Anderson brings him down.

It's the second sack of the game for the edge out of Alabama, and Buffalo has to punt to start the half. Houston takes back over up four.

10:01 p.m.:  Half two is underway in Houston.

Allen and the Bills offense, who didn't do much besides the Cook touchdown, will start the half down four.

Halftime: Texans 20, Bills 16

9:47 p.m.:  Allen kneels it, and Buffalo goes into the locker room trailing by four.

Mills and Houston scored on three straight drives to end the half, with two touchdowns and a field goal. The quarterback has 122 yards and two touchdowns at half.

On the other side, the reigning MVP has only 88 yards and an interception. Both Buffalo touchdowns came on big plays, with the Cook run and Davis kick return.

Texans 20, Bills 16

9:44 p.m. TOUCHDOWN:  Houston gets another chunk play, and this time it's Kirk taking it 33 yards down to the Buffalo 8. 

A few plays later, Mills hits Higgins for an eight-yard touchdown, scoring with five seconds left. 

After a slow start, it is Mills' second touchdown of the quarter.

9:37 p.m.:  The Texans get a big play to start the drive, with Mills once again hitting Collins on the left seam. Collins takes it for 19 yards to the Buffalo 49, but gets leveled on the hit. He is being checked out by trainers.

Bills 16, Texans 13

9:33 p.m.: Allen doesn't even touch the field and Buffalo takes the lead back.

The Bills' kick returner, Ray Davis, fields the ball at the Buffalo three-yard line then takes it 97 yards, all the way to the end zone. Just like that, the Bills are on top again, 15-13.

Texans 13, Bills 9

9:32 p.m. FIELD GOAL:  Out of the two minute warning, Fairbairn drills a 43-yarder to make it 13-9 Houston. The Texans have scored on three of their last four drives.

9:29 p.m.:  On second down, Matt Milano hits Marks — who caught the ball from Mills behind the line of scrimmage — immediately for a loss of five yards. It sets up a 3rd & 17, where Mills finds Collins, who brings it near the line to gain but not close enough.

It's the two minute warning, looking like Houston will kick a field goal.

9:26 p.m.:  We have our first turnover of the night. 

Allen tries hitting Elijah Moore on the first play of the drive, but a Texans defender tips it and the ball falls in the hands of Calen Bullock. It's the third straight game the quarterback has thrown an interception.

Houston takes back over in Buffalo territory.

Texans 10, Bills 9

9:21 p.m. TOUCHDOWN:  The Texans cap off a 12-play, 77-yard drive with a touchdown to take the lead.

Mills throws the first touchdown pass of the game, hitting Kirk in the back-right corner of the end zone for a two-yard score.

Houston takes the lead, 10-9.

9:17 p.m.:  On 1st & 10 from the Buffalo 16, Mills hits Xavier Hutchinson, who brings the ball all the way from the right side of the field to the left side for nine yards, setting up a 2nd & short.

Though they don't get it on second down, the Texans do on third, with Marks squirming his way through the pile, as Houston moves inside the five.

9:14 p.m.:  After Houston got deep into Bills territory, Marks takes a carry up the middle on fourth down for six yards.

The Texans are on the Buffalo 18, down six.

9:10 p.m.:  On the first play for Houston, Nico Collins has his first reception of the night.

It's a big one, with Mills hitting the superstar for 24 yards, and Houston is near midfield.

Bills 9, Texans 3

9:05 p.m. FIELD GOAL:  After a Will Anderson sack sets up a 3rd & long, Allen is unable to connect with a receiver, setting up fourth down.

Matt Prater comes on to hit a 44-yard field goal, and the lead is back to six.

9:03 p.m.:  For the second time tonight, Allen connects with Johnson for a first down. Here, it comes on 4th & 2, where he hits Johnson on a wheel route for 23 yards down the Houston 14. 

Buffalo is looking to add on to the three point lead.

9:00 p.m.:  Cook has another big run, bouncing to the right for 13 yards down to the Houston 45.

End of the first quarter: Bills 6, Texans 3

8:55 p.m.:  Deep in their own territory, the Bills get a chunk play. Allen hits Gabe Davis — who is in his second game back with Buffalo — on a curl route on the left side. It goes for 22 yards to the Buffalo 28, and the Bills has a new set of downs.

8:52 p.m.:  Houston goes three-and-out on for the second time tonight.

Though it looked like Mills hit Higgins for a first down, the receiver did not get a foot down.

Houston punts, and it lands inside the Buffalo drive. Allen is back on the field with the Buffalo offense.

8:46 p.m.:  Josh Allen is down.

The quarterback was brought down by Will Anderson on third down, and he was in pain as he went down. Though, Allen walked off the field and is being checked by trainers.

Buffalo punts back to Houston, who will take over at the 34.

Bills 6, Texans 3

8:38 p.m. FIELD GOAL:  Houston is unable to punch it in.

Mills tries hitting Christian Kirk on an out-route on third down, but it comes up unsuccessful.

Kaimi Fairbairn comes in to hit a 24 yard field goal and Buffalo's lead is cut in half.

8:36 p.m.:  The Texans have a promising first-year running back in Woody Marks, and he has his first big play of the game.

On 2nd & 10, Marks takes a carry to the Buffalo 25.

The next play, Mills tosses it to Marks on a pitch to the right side, and Marks once again takes it for a first down. Houston is inside the 10-yard line.

8:34 p.m.:  The Texans have their first first down on the play, with Nick Chubb taking a carry right up the middle. It goes for seven yards, and Houston is across midfield.

Two plays later, Mills rolls out on a play-action pass and connects with Higgins for nine yards.

8:32 p.m.:  Houston will start its second drive in good territory, after Jaylin Noel returns the kickoff to the Houston 41 for 37 yards.

Bills 6, Texans 0

8:28 p.m. TOUCHDOWN:  We have our first big play of the game, and it gets Buffalo on the board.

On 2nd & inches, Allen hands it to superstar back James Cook, who bursts up the middle and is gone, just like that.

Buffalo misses the extra point, but it's a 45-yard touchdown for Cook to open the scoring. The fourth-year back, who is second in rushing yards behind Jonathan Taylor, is now over 1,000 on the season.

8:26 p.m.:  Facing a 3rd & 8, Allen swings the ball out to Ty Johnson, who has blockers and runs upfield for a first down.

The next play, Allen hits Dawson Knox, who brings it right by the sticks.

8:23 p.m.:  The Bills decide to go for it on 4th & 1 in their own territory, and it's Allen who leaps over the pile and keeps the drive going.

Buffalo has a new set of downs.

8:18 p.m.:  On the first third down of the game, Mills tries hitting Jayden Higgins on a wheel route but it comes up incomplete.

Houston goes three-and-out to open the game, and Josh Allen and the Bills offense are on the field for the first time.

8:16 p.m.:  Buffalo has kicked off, and we are underway in Houston.

Davis Mills and the Texans offense has the ball first.

8:08 p.m.:  It's a big matchup tonight when it comes to AFC playoff implications.

While Buffalo will remain in a wild card spot with a win, it will pick up critical ground on New England. For Houston, a win propels them into playoff positioning, as it has the head-to-head tiebreaker over the Jacksonville Jaguars.

7:52 p.m.:  Kickoff is less than half an hour away, and Josh Allen and the Bills are looking for their second straight victory.

Buffalo currently sits at 7-3, chasing the New England Patriots (9-2) for the AFC East. With a win tonight, Buffalo would be one game behind. 

7:40 p.m.:  Houston is breaking out their alternate red uniforms for tonight's primetime matchup.

7:32 p.m.:  Allen and the Bills offense is coming off a 44-point performance, but they have no easy feat tonight.

The Houston defense ranks first in the NFL in yards per game and points per game, while also being 3rd in passing yards per game. Derek Stingley, Danielle Hunter and co. Look to give the MVP a tough night.

7:07 p.m.:  For Week 13, players will wear special cleats for the "My Cause, My Cleats initiative." 

Josh Allen is repping Oishei Children's Hospital, where he has a special relationship with many of the patients. Allen even teared up when they made him a video after winning the 2024 NFL MVP.

6:50 p.m.:  Houston has announced its inactives for tonight, headlined by quarterback C.J. Stroud.

6:48 p.m.:  While Coleman headlines the Buffalo inactives, the offense will also be without receiver Curtis Samuel. Here's the full list of Buffalo inactives for tonight's game.

6:45 p.m.:  For the second straight week, Bills wide receiver Keon Coleman will be a healthy scratch.

Coleman was spotted pregame talking with Bills minority owner Tracy McGrady before Thursday's game. 

5:54 p.m.:  With kickoff a few hours away, let's revisit Josh Allen's first ever playoff game, which came against the Texans.

Allen, who was in his second year in the NFL, finished completing 24-of-46 passing for 264 yards, while adding 92 rushing yards on nine carries and a 16-yard receiving touchdown on a trick play. The Bills lost the game 22–19 in overtime after blowing a 16–0 lead.  

5:45 p.m.:  Both teams have started arriving for tonight's contest. Texans WR Nico Collins caught nine passes for 92 yards and a touchdown last time out against the Titans, and he looks to have another big day against the Buffalo secondary.

Where to watch Bills vs. Texans

Bills vs. Texans start time

  • Date: Thursday, Nov. 20
  • Start time: 8:15 p.m. ET

The Bills and Texans will kick off Week 12 with "Thursday Night Football" from NRG Stadium in Houston, Texas.

What channel is Bills vs. Texans on today?

"Thursday Night Football" will air on Prime Video. Like every week, Al Michaels will be on play-by-play with Kirk Herbstreit on color. Kaylee Hartung will be on the sidelines.

Bills remaining 2025 schedule

Date OpponentTime (ET)
11/30at Steelers4:25 PM
12/07vs. Bengals4:25 PM
12/14at Patriots1:00 PM
12/21at Browns1:00 PM
12/28vs. Eagles4:25 PM
01/04vs. JetsTBD

Texans remaining 2025 schedule 

DateOpponentTime (ET)
11/30at Colts1:00 PM
12/07at Chiefs8:20 PM
12/14vs. Cardinals1:00 PM
12/21vs. Raiders4:25 PM
12/28at ChargersTBD
01/04vs. ColtsTBD

Staff Writer