Bills Fall to Texans: Josh Allen Sacked 8 Times
The Buffalo Bills faced a tough challenge on Week 12 against the Houston Texans, resulting in a narrow 23-19 defeat. This loss dropped the Bills’ record to 7-4, putting them two games behind the New England Patriots in the AFC East.
Bills Fall to Texans: A Game of Struggles
The game began positively for Buffalo, with a strong opening 10-play, 81-yard touchdown drive. James Cook capped off the drive with a powerful 45-yard run. However, the offense struggled to regain momentum thereafter, failing to score again.
Josh Allen’s Difficult Night
Quarterback Josh Allen faced relentless pressure throughout the game, being sacked a career-high eight times. He also experienced four additional hits. This performance marked his third career game without a touchdown, alongside multiple turnovers.
- Career-high sacks: 8
- Quarterback hits: 12
- Game record: 7-4
Allen expressed disappointment following the game, stating, “They wanted it today. We had a chance to win there at the end and got to find a way.” The final drive for the Bills included a remarkable fourth-and-27 conversion, but critical mistakes ultimately sealed their fate.
Key Game Events
Left tackle Dion Dawkins faced criticism after receiving a false start penalty on a crucial fourth-and-1 situation. In the same series, Allen threw his second interception, which effectively ended any chance for a comeback.
Allen’s struggles wer magnified by injuries affecting the team. Although he was evaluated for a shoulder injury, he managed to continue playing. Coach Sean McDermott highlighted the risks of Allen being hit 12 times, stressing the need for a better protective strategy for the rest of the season.
Defensive Performances and Injuries
The Bills’ defense allowed two significant touchdowns in the second quarter but showed resilience by limiting the Texans to only 60 yards in the second half. Despite this, injuries plagued the team’s defense as well.
- Linebacker Terrel Bernard: elbow injury
- Cornerback Maxwell Hairston: evaluated for concussion
- Right tackle Spencer Brown: shoulder injury
Throughout the game, the frustration was palpable. On a crucial fourth-and-1 play, James Cook was tackled for a two-yard loss. A visibly upset Allen was overheard expressing confusion about the decision-making process.
Offensive Inefficiencies
The Bills struggled offensively, averaging just 2.3 yards per play on first down. This inefficiency contributed to longer second and third downs, further exacerbating the pressures faced by Allen. The coaching staff, including McDermott, acknowledged the need to address the team’s predictability and improve performance on first down.
As the Bills look ahead, the focus will be on improving their offensive execution and protecting Allen to enhance their chances of success in the remaining games of the season.
