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The Houston Texans came painfully close in their season opener, falling 36-31 to the Buffalo Bills at home in a back-and-forth thriller that went down to the final seconds. The Texans’ chances to take the lead were halted by the Buffalo defense, which made the key plays in the closing moments.
C.J. Stroud completed 26 of 38 passes for 274 yards and two touchdowns before the late collapse. He also lost two forced fumbles on strip-sacks by defensive end Greg Rousseau, though Head Coach DeMeco Ryans saw plenty to build on from his quarterback.
“C.J. was very much in control the entire game,” Ryans said, via texanscommenter, according Pro Football Talk. “Took what the defense gave him. Made great decisions with the football. Proud of the way he played today. He showed what he’s been showing all camp, that confidence, that growth. Was very calm, great demeanor, putting us in a great position to win the game.”
“Unfortunately, we lost the football there two times. Don’t want those plays at all, but not going to let that overshadow the game that he had,” Ryans added.
Reflecting on the final sack by Rousseau, Stroud noted, ” Can’t get stalemated like that. That sack kind of made it tougher, but even then, we still had a chance. I’m trying my best to protect the ball but also to make plays. We needed seven right there, so I can’t be super conservative.”
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Texans Have More to Fix After Josh Allen’s Big Day
The highly anticipated Texans defense was unable to live up to the hype. Buffalo gained 409 total yards, with Josh Allen throwing for 334 yards and accounting four touchdowns. Houston had dominated Allen in previous meetings, but that control disappeared Sunday.
DJ Moore delivered a 43-yard touchdown catch, while Allen repeatedly found room downfield. Ryans admitted Houston gave up too many explosive plays and failed to capitalize on chances to take the ball away.
The pass rush also needed to deliver more impact. Houston recorded only two sacks after registering eight against Allen in their previous win. Will Anderson Jr. and Danielle Hunter still created pressure, but the defense could not consistently finish the job.
Offensively, David Montgomery scored three touchdowns, and Stroud moved the ball effectively for most of the afternoon. However, two late sacks turned a potential game-winning drive into a turnover.
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This story was originally published September 13, 2026 at 11:39 PM.