Texans Defense Dominates Bills on TNF

by Jake Lax, November 24, 2025

Source: AP Photo

Week 12 of the NFL season kicked off with the Buffalo Bills taking on the Houston Texans on Thursday Night Football, where the Bills entered as 4.5-point road favorites (opening at -3.5) with a moneyline of -245 and an over/under total of 44.5 points. The Bills entered this game at 7-3, placing them in second place in the AFC East, behind the Patriots. The Texans came in at 5-5 as +4.5 underdogs with a moneyline of +205 and were still fighting to stay alive in the playoff hunt, though they would also be without their starting quarterback, C.J. Stroud, as he continued recovering from a concussion suffered in Week 9. In a stunning upset, Houston prevailed 23-19, covering the spread as +4.5 underdogs (closing at +4.5, -105) and cashing the +205 moneyline ticket, while the under hit on the 44.5 total (closing o44.5 at -102, with 42 points scored).

Key Betting Outcomes

• Spread: Texans (+4.5) covered with a 4-point victory, paying out at -105 on the closing line after opening at +3.5 (-110).
• Moneyline: Houston’s outright win as underdogs returned +205, a massive payout for backers betting against the favored Bills (-245 open, implied 71% win probability).
• Total: The under 44.5 cashed comfortably at -112 closing odds, as the game totaled just 42 points—well below the o44.5 (-102) over line.
• Notable Line Movement: The spread tightened from an opening -3.5 to -4.5 for Buffalo, reflecting slight public lean toward the Bills despite Houston’s home edge and Stroud’s absence.

James Cook Strikes First

The Texans opened the game quietly, going three-and-out on their first possession. Buffalo then took control on their opening drive, leaning on running back James Cook. Josh Allen had a pair of short completions to Dawson Knox and Ty Johnson, moving the Bills into Houston territory. Facing 3rd-and-1 at the Texans’ 45-yard line, Cook took the handoff and outran the secondary for a 45-yard touchdown. The Bills missed the extra point but jumped out to an early 6–0 lead.

Texans quarterback Davis Mills had another start with C.J. Stroud still sidelined. Running backs Nick Chubb and Woody Marks powered their way down the field, combining for chunk gains that pushed the Texans all the way to the Bills’ 6-yard line. But once they reached the red zone, the drive stalled. Mills threw back-to-back incompletions, forcing Houston to settle for a 24-yard field goal, trimming the deficit to 6–3.

Both teams traded back-to-back three-and-outs as the defenses tightened up early in the second quarter. But Josh Allen got going, hitting Gabe Davis on a 22-yard strike to jump-start the Bills’ next drive. A few plays later, facing 4th-and-2, Allen found Ty Johnson for a 23-yard gain to keep the drive alive. Houston’s defense held firm in the red zone, though, as Will Anderson Jr. got a big sack that forced Buffalo to settle for a field goal, leading 9-3.

On the Texans next possession, Davis Mills connected with his top target, Nico Collins, for a 24-yard pickup. Woody Marks followed with a series of strong runs, powering Houston deep into Buffalo territory and down to the 2-yard line. From there, Mills found Christian Kirk for a short 2-yard touchdown, giving the Texans their first lead of the night at 10–9.

Momentum Swings on Turnovers and Kick Return TD

Josh Allen’s next pass was intercepted by Calen Bullock, giving the Texans a short field to work with. Houston capitalized, knocking through a field goal to extend their lead to 13–9. But the momentum flipped instantly on the kickoff. Bills running back Ray Davis fielded it at the 3-yard line and exploded down the field for a 97-yard touchdown return. Just like that, Buffalo jumped back in front, 16–13.

The Texans closed the half with their best drive of the night, as Davis Mills stayed aggressive through the air. He hit Christian Kirk on a 33-yard throw to push into Buffalo territory. Mills then capped the drive with an 8-yard touchdown to Jayden Higgins, sending the Texans into halftime with a 20–16 lead.

Defense Owns the Second Half

The second half opened with both teams trading punts and three-and-outs until the Texans finally broke through. Khalil Shakir caught a short pass from Josh Allen but was stripped immediately, and Houston recovered in prime field position. They turned the turnover into a field goal, pushing the lead to 23–16.

Buffalo responded with a strong drive to start the fourth quarter, but on 4th-and-1 from the Texans’ 23, James Cook was stuffed for a loss. The Bills’ defense quickly forced a three-and-out, and this time the offense converted the opportunity into a field goal, trimming the score to 23–19.

After forcing another Texans punt, the Bills had one final chance. Josh Allen led a sharp late drive, firing completions down the field, but a crucial Houston sack set up a daunting 4th-and-27. Allen somehow converted, hitting Josh Palmer, who lateraled to Khalil Shakir to keep the Bills alive.

But just outside the red zone, Buffalo faced another fourth down with the game on the line. This time, Allen’s pass was intercepted by Calen Bullock, his second of the night, sealing the Texans’ 23–19 victory.

Final Stats and Takeaways

• Davis Mills: 16/30, 153 Yards, 2 TD
• James Cook: 129 Total Yards, 1 TD
• Texans Defense: 8 Sacks, 2 INT

The Bills fall to 7-4 on the season and will take on the Steelers in Pittsburgh next week. The Texans improve to 6-5 and are above .500 for the first time this season. Houston will travel to Indianapolis to take on the Colts next week.