Josh Allen threw a 34-yard touchdown pass to Joshua Palmer with 1:36 remaining to lift the Buffalo Bills to a 36-31 victory over the Houston Texans in a back-and-forth season opener at NRG Stadium on Sunday, September 13, 2026.
The wild Week 1 matchup featured nine lead changes and showcased high-powered offenses before Buffalo’s defense slammed the door in the final seconds. Allen, who entered the contest winless in four previous appearances in Houston, finished the afternoon with 334 passing yards and two touchdowns while adding two more scores on the ground (according to CBS Sports). The victory also marked a successful head coaching debut for Joe Brady, who stepped into the role after being promoted from offensive coordinator.
Late-Game Heroics and Defensive Stops at NRG Stadium
Trailing 31-30 in the closing minutes, the Bills drove down the field as Allen split two defenders to find Palmer for the go-ahead score. Although the subsequent two-point conversion failed, Buffalo’s defense made sure the three-point cushion held up.
The Texans threatened in the dying seconds, driving to the Buffalo 9-yard line with 25 seconds left on the clock. Deone Walker wrecked the sequence by sacking C.J. Stroud for a 9-yard loss. Following an incompletion, edge rusher Greg Rousseau delivered a game-clinching strip-sack of Stroud, allowing linebacker Terrel Bernard to recover the fumble with just nine ticks remaining (as reported by Pro Football Talk).
“Josh Allen, who was 0-4 in Houston, threw a 34-yard touchdown pass to Josh Palmer with 1:36 remaining for a 36-31 lead and then had to watch from the bench as the Bills held on.”
Pro Football Talk, NBC Sports
New Additions Make Immediate Impact for Both Franchises
Both teams integrated high-profile offseason acquisitions into their game plans immediately. His 7-yard touchdown reception early in the fourth quarter had briefly pushed Houston ahead 28-27.
On the other side, wide receiver DJ Moore made his presence felt in his first game with Buffalo following a trade from Chicago, hauling in five passes for 100 yards and a touchdown (CBS Sports). Tight end Dalton Kincaid also dominated through the air, pacing the Bills with five receptions for 130 yards.
Stroud’s Performance and the Decisive Turnovers
Texans quarterback C.J. Stroud completed 26 of 38 passes for 274 yards and two touchdowns, but two costly turnovers ultimately derailed Houston’s bid for an opening-day win. Stroud lost a fumble on a first-half strip-sack by Rousseau, setting up an early Buffalo field goal, and committed a second fumble on the game’s final offensive play.
The back-and-forth scoring included a 58-yard field goal by Houston kicker Kaʻimi Fairbairn that gave the Texans a brief lead before Allen orchestrated the game-winning drive. Tyler Bass contributed crucially for Buffalo with field goals from 46 and 33 yards out.
Quick Turnarounds for Week 2
The demanding opening week leaves neither team much time to recover. The Buffalo Bills return home to host the Detroit Lions on Thursday night in their first game at their brand-new stadium, while the Houston Texans prepare to host the Cincinnati Bengals next Sunday (Associated Press).
