By admin 
The Buffalo Bills opened the 2026 season with a thrilling 36-31 victory over the Houston Texans on Sunday.
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Buffalo needed a 96-yard game winning drive and a last-second defensive takeaway to escape Houston with its first Victor at Reliant Stadium since 2006.
Here are two winners and two losers from the Bills’ dramatic Week 1 win.
Winner: Greg Rousseau
Greg Rousseau delivered when the Bills’ defense needed him most.
The veteran pass rusher finished with two sacks and forced two fumbles against C.J. Stroud, helping Buffalo overcome an inconsistent defensive performance. His biggest play came with Houston threatening to score in the final seconds.
With the Texans in Buffalo territory’s, Rousseau brought down Stroud and forced a fumble that Terrel Bernard recovered with nine seconds remaining. The turnover officially secured the Bills’ victory.
Buffalo’s defense allowed four touchdown drives and surrendered the lead twice during the fourth quarter, but Rousseau consistently created pressure off the edge. His ability to produce game-changing plays could become even more important under new defensive coordinator Jim Leonhard.
Winner: Dalton Kincaid
Dalton Kincaid provided the type of explosive performance the Bills have been waiting to see from their talented tight end.
Kincaid caught five passes for a career-high 130 yards, including big yardage plays throughout the game giving the Bills the necessary boosts on offense. He consistently found openings in Houston’s defense and became Josh Allen’s most productive target.
Buffalo added DJ Moore during the offseason to give its passing attack another proven playmaker, but Kincaid showed he can also become a featured weapon. If Sunday’s performance is a sign of what is ahead, the former-first round pick could be headed toward a breakout season.
Loser: Keon Coleman
While Buffalo’s other pass catchers made significant contributions, Keon Coleman was nearly invisible.
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The third-year receiver finished with just one catch for one yard. Meanwhile, Kincaid and Moore combined for 230 receiving yards, and Joshua Palmer caught the game-winning 34 yard touchdown with 1:36 remaining.
One quiet performance should not create panic, especially with Allen distributing the ball among several targets. However, Coleman entered the season needing to establish a more consistent role in Buffalo’s offense.
With Moore, Kincaid, Palmer and Khalil Shakir competing for opportunities, Coleman cannot afford to disappear regularly.
Loser: Buffalo’s defensive consistency
The Bills’ defense made the play that sealed the victory, but it struggled througout much of the afternoon.
Houston produced four touchdown drives and were doing really well through the air and on the ground. Stroud completed 26 of 38 passes for 274 yards and two touchdowns, while David Montgomery scored three times in his debut and Nico Collins had 7 receptions for 75 yards and one touchdown.
Buffalo also surrendered the lead twice during the fourth quarter. Those lapses could prove costly against other AFC contenders.
Rousseau’s late strip-sack saved the afternoon, but the Bills must become more consistent defense if they want to avoid placing so much pressure on Allen and the offense every week.
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This story was originally published September 13, 2026 at 4:00 PM.