The Texans' defense hinders the Buffalo passing attack

The Texans, as Ryans said, only released Allen once. Defensive tackle Khalil Davis was credited with dropping Allen for a loss of five yards in the first half. But Houston pounded Allen, hitting him nine times and knocking him out of the game for one play in the fourth quarter.

“They did a great job of keeping the pressure on him and our back-end guys, the way they covered. That’s why we played tight coverage and made the plays we needed to make,” Ryans said. “It was this collective effort to combine hustle and reporting.

Stroud added that “the defense had my back” in terms of the way they played in the second half and particularly in the final series.

After a 46-yard punt by Tommy Townsend was knocked down by Kris Boyd at the Buffalo 3-yard line, the Bills attempted three straight passes. The first attack was incomplete and had a good chance of being intercepted by freshman Kamari Lassiter had he not been hindered. The offensive pass interference penalty was declined and Allen shot an incomplete over the middle in the second period. Defensive end Will Anderson, Jr. rocked Allen into the end zone on third down and his final throw of the day was his 30th incompletion.