Buffalo Rumblings
The Buffalo Bills were pushed around all night by the Houston Texans during Thursday Night Football. Josh Allen was battered and bruised by the relentless pressure generated by Houston’s front four, getting sacked a career-worst eight times while throwing two very ugly interceptions. The Bills’ defense failed to generate pressure on backup quarterback Davis Mills and allowed the Texans to score 20 first-half points, including a back-breaking, last-second touchdown following Ray Davis’ 97-yard kickoff return for a touchdown.
Despite it all, the Bills still had a chance to walk away with a big conference win in Houston when Josh Allen, Joshua Palmer, and Khalil Shakir converted a 4th and 27 on a hook and ladder play. But as he was all night long, Allen was under duress on the final play, and his pass intended for Palmer was picked off by Calen Bullock, who forced three turnovers on the night, with 24 seconds left.
Today’s edition of Buffalo Rumblinks leads off with observations and analysis from the demoralizing setback in Houston.
Linked below: the Bills knew the Texans’ pass rush would pose a mighty challenge for their offensive line, and in the end, Buffalo’s o-line had no answers for Will Anderson Jr. (2.5 sacks), Danielle Hunter (2 sacks) and the Texans, and Josh Allen remains winless in four career starts in Houston.
Plus, how offensive coordinator Joe Brady once again came up small with his short-yardage play-calling, often forgetting about running back James Cook III (averaged 6.8 yards per carry on 17 rushes) and then becoming too predictable when Buffalo faced a pivotal fourth-down scenario in the fourth quarter. And relive the viral moment on the sidelines after Brady dialed up that terrible play call that had Allen wondering “what are we doing?”
Also: how turnovers once again doomed Allen and the Bills’ chances at a last-minute win; how Buffalo’s beleaguered defense rebounded from a bad opening half; how the Bills’ now face a daunting task if they want to win their sixth straight AFC East title; how the injuries continued to pile up; how Matt Prater’s missed extra point loomed large at the end of the game; and more!
