Bills rally past Texans 36-31 in season opener

Josh Allen completed 20 of 29 passes for 334 yards as the Buffalo Bills edged the Houston Texans 36-31 at Reliant Stadium on Sunday. Allen connected with wide receiver Joshua Palmer on a 34-yard pass with 1:36 remaining, giving Buffalo the lead that held up after a late fumble by Houston quarterback C.J. Stroud.

Palmer, who had not been targeted until the final two plays, said he felt confident he would make the game-winning catch. > "I felt confident I was going to get the game-winning touchdown," he said after the play.

The Bills amassed 409 total yards and avoided turnovers, while the defense forced a crucial sack and fumble by Greg Rousseau in the final seconds. Linebacker Terrel Bernard recovered the ball at the Buffalo 24-yard line with nine seconds left.

Offensive contributions also came from newly signed receiver D.J. Moore, who recorded 100 receiving yards and a touchdown, and rookie tight end Dalton Kincaid, who posted a career-high 130 yards on five catches. > "I think it's just being out there feeling really good, a completely different ball game," Kincaid said.

Offensive lineman O’Cyrus Torrence recovered a fumble on the opening snap of the game-winning drive, a play he said reflects the team's emphasis on chasing loose balls. > "That's something we practice all the time," he explained.

Defensive coordinator Jim Leonhard, in his debut, noted the need to improve third-down stops after Houston compiled 381 yards and 26 first downs. Linebacker Terrel Bernard described the effort as "frustrating to give up those third-and-longs" and emphasized the importance of reducing penalties.

The victory marks a turnaround after the Bills were beaten in the two previous meetings with the Texans, and it sets a positive tone for the start of the season.