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Josh Allen earns Week 1 game ball after leading Bills to win in Houston

Josh Allen kicked off the 2026 NFL campaign in spectacular fashion, securing Week 1 game ball honors after directing Buffalo to a thrilling 36-31 road triumph against the Houston Texans. In what served as Joe Brady's head-coaching debut, the star quarterback accounted for four total touchdowns and authored a clutch 96-yard march in the final minutes, culminating in a decisive score to Joshua Palmer with under two minutes remaining.

The hard-fought outcome brought an end to an almost twenty-year winless dry spell for the franchise in Houston.

Allen's clutch performance also pushed him further up the league's all-time historical marks while conquering a recurring rival that had frequently troubled him throughout his career. Defensively, Greg Rousseau delivered steady pressure up front to thwart Houston's offense and help secure Brady's first career victory on the Buffalo sideline.