By admin 
Josh Allen finally solved Houston on Sunday, as the Buffalo Bills left NRG Stadium with a 36-31 victory. The Bills quarterback delivered when it mattered most, leading a 96-yard fourth-quarter drive and finding Joshua Palmer for the 34-yard go-ahead touchdown with 1:36 left.
Read more Paul Finebaum Hasn’t Changed His Mind On Alabama After Two Weeks
Analyst Stephen A. Smith saw more than just a Week 1 win and put the AFC on notice.
“Josh Allen goes out there throws for over 300 yards, throws for two touchdowns, runs for another two, oh by the way connects with Palmer, you know, with 136 left for a TD pass, you know, where was the defense? ” Smith said on ESPN’s First Take.
“The fact of the matter… you also can look at it and say that’s what that’s why Josh Allen is considered so special.”
Allen completed 20 of 29 passes for 334 yards and two touchdowns. He added two rushing touchdowns to finish with four total scores. His final drive was the defining moment, especially after Houston had taken a 31-30 lead.
“As far as I’m concerned. The Buffalo Bills put us on notice,” Smith added. “They are a team to be reckoned with within the AFC. Josh Allen is something special. And if they can do that drop 36 points on a defense like Houston’s…. this is a statement by the Buffalo Bills that they are very legit.”
Read more Maxx Crosby’s Load Management Continues Into Season
Texans’ Defense Has Plenty to Fix
As Smith noted, the Texans entered the season with lofty expectations on their defense. So giving up 36 points in Week 1 was a major surprise. Will Anderson Jr. admitted the performance was “not our standard” and said the unit needed to go back to the drawing board.
Dalton Kincaid was a major problem for Houston, posing five catches for 130 yards, while DJ Moore added five receptions for 100 yards and a touchdown in his Buffalo debut. That balance helped Allen expose a Texans defense that allowed 409 total yards.
Allen consistently found gaps in Houston defense, and their secondary failed to contain him. C.J. Stroud threw for 274 yards and two touchdowns, but lost two fumbles, including the decisive strip-sack late in the fourth quarter. Head Coach DeMeco Ryans still believed Stroud played well enough to win.
While the offense showed promise behind David Montgomery’s three-touchdown debut, the defense must make immediate adjustments.
Read more Snap Counts From Steelers’ Week 1 Win, and What They Mean
Copyright 2026 The Arena Group, Inc. All Rights Reserved
This story was originally published September 14, 2026 at 9:34 AM.