Texans’ defense comes up big in TNF win against Bills

HOUSTON — The Texans are squarely again within the playoff race after a large 23-19 win towards the Buffalo Payments on “Thursday Evening Soccer.”

The Texans’ protection displayed why they’re the No. 1-ranked protection in prime time as they held the Payments offense to 12 factors. Their protection got here in permitting solely 16.4 factors per sport and confirmed why they’re arguably among the best defenses in latest seasons. The unit sacked Payments quarterback Josh Allen eight occasions and when it mattered most, Houston’s protection sealed the win with an interception by security Calen Bullock.

Regardless that the unit gave up a fourth-and-27 on a hook-and-lateral over the last drive to present Houston trustworthy a scare, it did not find yourself costing them. Now the Texans are over .500 with a shot on the playoffs. They now have a 37% probability to make the playoffs now per ESPN Analytics.

Listed here are a very powerful issues to know from Thursday night time for each groups:

Shocking efficiency: Backup Davis Mills threw for 2 touchdowns and led the Texans offense to 23 factors whereas out-playing the MVP on the opposite aspect. Houston’s season regarded shaky when it misplaced quarterback C.J. Stroud towards the Denver Broncos to a concussion and the workforce sat at 3-5 general. However Mills stepped in and operated the offense properly sufficient to enhance his file to 3-0.

Turning level: It was when the Texans scored a landing earlier than the tip of the primary half after Payments operating again Ray Davis’ returned a 97-yard kickoff for a landing proper earlier than halftime. Mills discovered wideout Jayden Higgins for a landing with 5 seconds left to offer an enormous momentum swing because it allowed Houston to take a 20-16 lead. With how properly Houston’s protection has performed this season, getting 20 first-half factors was all they wanted to win.

Development to look at: The Texans protection allowed the fewest factors per sport (16.3) coming into Week 12, however their sacks had been center of the pack with 25 (14th). However towards Allen, Houston sacked him eight occasions, a season-high for the Texans. Now that Houston’s protection is placing up sacks to tag together with its No. 1-ranked scoring output, we might be trying among the best defenses in latest seasons.

Stat to know: A cause why Mills was in a position to play properly was as a result of he was protected. He was solely pressured on 14% of his dropbacks and wasn’t sacked in any respect. There have been performs the place he might scan the entire discipline earlier than throwing it to his targets. This was the very best the Texans offensive line has performed all season when factoring in who they had been taking part in within the Payments and the magnitude of this sport for playoff positioning. — DJ Bien-Aime

Subsequent sport: at Indianapolis Colts (1 p.m. ET, Nov. 30)

The Payments offense wanted a drive. The unit had struggled all through, however with 2:48 left within the sport, the reigning MVP obtained the ball again at his personal 18-yard line.

Then, quarterback Josh Allen was sacked for the seventh and eighth time. However the magic got here on fourth-and-27 as Allen threw the ball to huge receiver Joshua Palmer, who virtually instantly pitched the ball to huge receiver Khalil Shakir, who then ran up the sideline and picked up a primary down.

In the end, nonetheless, the magic ran out a number of performs later.

For a myriad causes, from playcalling to the Texans’ No. 1 protection, the Payments offense went many of the sport with out placing drives collectively. Allen didn’t have a landing for the ninth time in his profession.

And regardless of a valiant final effort, miscues, together with a false begin by left deal with Dion Dawkins on fourth-and-1, that lack of end got here up but once more because the Payments fell in need of the tip zone and misplaced to the Texans. Buffalo fell to 7-4, yet one more sport again of the New England Patriots within the race for the AFC East.

Stat to know: James Cook dinner III grew to become the third Payments participant with 1,000 speeding yards in three straight seasons together with his 45-yard landing within the first quarter. He joined OJ Simpson and Thurman Thomas as the one Payments to take action. The rating was additionally Cook dinner’s thirty sixth profession landing, breaking a tie with Joe Cribbs and Cookie Gilchrist for the second-most touchdowns for the Payments in a participant’s first 4 NFL seasons (Thurman Thomas is first with 39).

What to make of the QB efficiency: The large story right here is the sacks, all eight of them. The Texans had been efficient in doing so six of these occasions when sending 4 or fewer move rushers, which is probably the most such sacks he has taken in his profession. This struggling offense has been at its greatest when it stays briefly yardage conditions and the sacks — a mixed results of an absence of receivers open, decision-making by Allen, the offensive line having a tough day and an excellent Texans protection — made that few and much between.

Development to look at: Turnover margin. The Payments had an NFL-record streak of 26 straight video games of not shedding the turnover margin finish in Week 5, and it has been trending downward since. Within the six video games since then, Buffalo has gained the turnover margin twice. This sport was a first-rate instance of how turnovers should be a difficulty for this workforce, together with huge receiver Khalil Shakir’s fumble on the Buffalo 22-yard line. And whereas sure, the offense is popping it double as a lot as final yr (eight to 16), the protection has additionally struggled to take the ball away (32 takeaways final yr to 13 by way of 11 video games this season).— Alaina Getzenberg

Subsequent sport: at Pittsburgh Steelers (4:25 p.m. ET, Nov. 30)