The Houston Texans defeated the Buffalo Bills 23-19 on Thursday Night Football at NRG Stadium on November 20, 2025, improving to 6-5 and reaching above .500 for the first time this season. The victory marked the Texans’ third consecutive win, with backup quarterback Davis Mills excelling in his third consecutive start replacing injured C.J. Stroud. Houston’s dominant defensive display recorded eight sacks of Josh Allen “a career high for the Bills quarterback” and forced three turnovers.[1][2][3][4][5][6][7][8][9]
Texans Defensive Display Records Eight Sacks in Dominant Performance
Houston’s defensive unit systematically dismantled Buffalo’s offensive attack throughout Thursday night’s contest. Will Anderson Jr. tied the franchise record for consecutive games with at least one sack in a single season, matching Mario Williams’ 2007 mark with his sixth consecutive sack game.[10][11][12][13]
Will Anderson Jr. Achieves Historic Franchise Sack Record
Will Anderson Jr. recorded 2.5 sacks, including critical third-quarter pressure that forced a fumble. The defensive end’s consistent pass rush limited Allen’s time in the pocket and generated eight total team sacks.[14][15][16]
Calen Bullock Intercepts Allen Twice Including Game-Sealing Play
Safety Calen Bullock delivered two interceptions, with the second occurring with 24 seconds remaining on fourth-and-6 from Houston’s 9-yard line. Linebacker Azeez Al-Shaair tipped Bullock’s first interception in the second quarter, which would have been a touchdown return but was negated by block-in-back penalty.[17][18][19][20]
Danielle Hunter and Defensive Line Generate Consistent Pressure
Danielle Hunter added two sacks as part of the relentless pass rush. The Texans forced three total turnovers: two interceptions and one forced fumble recovered by Bullock and Justin Reid.[21][22][23]
Davis Mills Completes 153 Passing Yards Without Interception
Davis Mills completed 16 of 30 passes for 153 yards and two touchdowns while maintaining a perfect zero-interception record. Mills threw touchdown passes to Christian Kirk (2 yards) and Jayden Higgins (8 yards), both in the first half that gave Houston a 20-16 halftime lead.[24][25][26][27]
| Quarterback Stats | Texans (Mills) | Bills (Allen) |
|---|---|---|
| Completions | 16-30 | 25-35 |
| Passing Yards | 153 | 253 |
| Touchdowns | 2 | 0 |
| Interceptions | 0 | 2 |
| Sacks Taken | 0 | 8 |
Supporting Offensive Contributors:
- James Cook (Bills): 116 rushing yards, 1 TD (1,084 season total—third consecutive 1,000-yard season)[28][29]
- Khalil Shakir (Bills): 8 receptions, 110 yards[30]
- Ray Davis (Bills): 97-yard kickoff return touchdown[31]
- Wooden Marks (Texans): 16 carries, 74 yards[32]
- Ka’imi Fairbairn (Texans): 3-for-3 field goals (24, 43, 26 yards; returning from quadriceps injury)[33][34]
More For You: Live Score and Stats for Houston Texans vs. Baltimore Ravens
Fourth-and-27 Conversion Failed to Save Buffalo’s Playoff Chances
Buffalo executed a remarkable fourth-and-27 play in the final minutes when Joshua Palmer caught a short pass and lateraled to Khalil Shakir for a 44-yard gain. However, Dion Dawkins’ subsequent false-start penalty on fourth-and-1 created fourth-and-6, where Bullock’s interception ended the night.[35][36][37][38]
Game Injuries:
- Terrel Bernard (Bills linebacker): Right elbow injury—ruled out[39][40]
- Maxwell Hairston (Bills cornerback): Concussion evaluation—did not return[41]
- Ajani Carter (Texans cornerback): Hamstring injury—fourth quarter[42]
The Texans improved to 6-5, moving within a half-game of Jacksonville (6-4) in the AFC playoff race. Buffalo fell to 7-4 and sixth in AFC standings.[43][44][45]
