Texans 21, Bills 9: Stalled Drives Kill Buffalo In Road Loss

The Buffalo Bills didn't get enough from either their offense or their defense in a 21-9 road loss to the Houston Texans.

Matt Schaub, Garrett Graham Extend Texans Lead To 21-9

The Houston Texans are scoring touchdowns, and the Buffalo Bills' field goals are no longer keeping them in the game.

Matt Schaub found backup tight end Garrett Graham on a short touchdown pass on third and goal to extend Houston's lead to 21-9 with just under 12 minutes remaining in the fourth quarter. That play capped off an 11-play scoring drive that didn't feature many big plays; instead, it was a methodical march down the field that, prior to the final play of the drive, featured just one third down.

Buffalo's defense has now given up two touchdowns after holding firm for just seven points in the first half. If the Bills' offense can't respond, the flood gates will open up as they have countless times before this Sunday. They may open up anyway, but if the Bills can get something going, they'll make a game of it, at least, over the final 11 minutes.

Rian Lindell's Third Field Goal Makes It Texans 14, Bills 9

The Buffalo Bills continue to move the football with a solid level of efficiency against a very good Houston Texans defense, but for a fourth time today, a Rian Lindell field goal attempt capped off a stalled drive. His third make (he missed his first of the day) cut Houston's lead to 14-9 mid-way through the third quarter.

Buffalo was moving the ball nicely after a horrid three-and-out to start the half, but Stevie Johnson couldn't corral a short slant on third and two, leading to the field goal try. Scott Chandler had the big play on the drive, hauling in a beautifully thrown Ryan Fitzpatrick pass up the seam for a 27-yard gain to get into Texans territory.

At some point - ideally before the defense buckles and the score gets out of hand - the Bills need to get their running backs more involved. Combined, C.J. Spiller and Fred Jackson have just 18 touches to this point in the game, including just six carries apiece. That's particularly problematic regarding Spiller, who has 39 rushing yards and another 40 through the air. He, especially, needs the football more.

Texans 14, Bills 6 After Quick Arian Foster Touchdown

Remember all of that momentum that the Buffalo Bills had going into the second half against the Houston Texans? Well, it's gone. The offense took 20 seconds to go three-and-out, and the Texans promptly responded by driving 43 yards on five plays to go up 14-6 on an Arian Foster touchdown run.

Houston's drive was set up by a lengthy Keshawn Martin punt return that spotted the Texans the ball in Bills territory.

It didn't help that Ryan Fitzpatrick and the offense went five-wide on three straight plays to start the second half. Spreading the field was a clear game plan emphasis today, but the three straight incompletions and punt really dissipated any energy the team might have been building, and put the momentum right back into Houston's hands. Is it really surprising, therefore, that the Texans extended their lead less than three minutes into the second half?

Buffalo gets the ball back with 12:11 left in the third quarter, and it's still a one-score game. Maybe they can come up with a different plan of attack this time around.

Texans 7, Bills 6 At Halftime: Buffalo Hanging In There

The Buffalo Bills trail the Houston Texans 7-6 at halftime. Bills fans discuss the second half live.

Bills vs. Texans: Owen Daniels Gives Houston 7-0 Lead

For about ten minutes, the Buffalo Bills' defense didn't look an awful lot like the Buffalo Bills' defense. Then the Houston Texans finally got going on offense, and the Bills now trail 7-0 at Reliant Stadium.

Owen Daniels hauled in a 39-yard touchdown pass from Matt Schaub for the first score of the game. The play was a beautifully executed play-action pass wherein Daniels ran a wheel route up the right sideline. Buffalo's defenders lost track of the tight end, who could not have been more wide open on the play.

Daniels' touchdown was set up by an 18-yard completion to Kevin Walter on the same play call; Schaub play faked, rolled to his left and threw back across the field to the right on both plays. Arian Foster also had a 14-yard run on the scoring drive for Houston.

We've officially hit the end of the first quarter, with the Bills trying to get going offensively trailing 7-0.

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Bills vs. Texans: Erik Pears Out, Doesn't Travel To Houston

Originally listed as doubtful with a hip injury that caused him to miss practice on Thursday and Friday, Buffalo Bills right tackle Erik Pears did not travel with the team to Houston and has been downgraded to out for today's game against the Texans.

Pears missed large chunks of training camp and pre-season play with what then was reported as a groin injury. Bills head coach Chan Gailey told reporters this week that this is the same injury, but it's now being labeled a hip ailment. Pears saw a hip specialist and received treatment on Thursday, but clearly, said treatment wasn't going to get him ready in time to take on the likes of J.J. Watt this afternoon.

That means that second-year pro Chris Hairston will make his fourth straight start, this time at right tackle in place of Pears. Early in the season, as Pears was getting back into football shape following a light pre-season, Hairston took anywhere between 25 and 33 percent of snaps per game on the right side, so he's played over there quite a bit this season. Making the switch from left tackle to right in one week and being asked to block a Defensive Player of the Year candidate in Watt, however, is a tall order for the Clemson product.

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