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Bills-Texans looked like an AFC Championship preview in Week 1, and Buffalo was a step ahead

The Buffalo Bills kicked off their season with an exhilarating 36-31 triumph over the Houston Texans on Sunday, September 13, 2026. In an offensive slugfest that produced 67 total points and eight lead shifts, Buffalo ended an almost twenty-year winless streak in Houston.

Quarterback Josh Allen delivered a standout four-touchdown showing, capping the afternoon by orchestrating a 96-yard march in roughly ninety seconds to secure the decisive score with just 1:36 showing on the game clock.

Defensive contributions proved equally pivotal for the visitors, with Greg Rousseau spearheading a relentless Buffalo pass rush. J.

Stroud alongside new arrivals David Montgomery and Keylan Rutledge, pushed the contest to the wire after early highlights that included a critical fourth-down stop on the opening sequence by Pro Bowl cornerback Kamari Lassiter. Tight end Dalton Kincaid also played a key role for Buffalo, while safety Reed Blankenship and the Texans secondary faced tough fourth-quarter struggles in the narrow defeat.