Buffalo
Bills
0-0
14
FINAL
24
Houston
Texans
0-0
AI Recap
AI RECAP
Franchise Hub Beat· 38d ago
The Houston Texans opened the 2026 season with a statement, holding off the Buffalo Bills 24-14 at home in Week 1. It was the kind of measured, physical win that sets a tone for a franchise with playoff expectations, and Houston never let the visitors dictate terms. Buffalo arrived as one of the AFC's marquee road tests, and left without an answer for the Texans' balance. C.J. Stroud was efficient and in command, throwing for 245 yards while leaning on a run game that did the heavy lifting. David Montgomery was the engine, pounding out 115 yards on the ground and keeping Houston ahead of the chains all afternoon. Nico Collins led all receivers with 75 yards, consistently winning on the outside when the Texans needed a conversion. For Buffalo, Josh Allen accounted for the game's only passing touchdown, but the Bills couldn't match Houston's steady production. Buffalo's defense had its moments, with Deone Walker collecting a pair of sacks and Kaleb Elarms-Orr piling up a game-high 10 tackles. But volume tackles told the story: the Bills' front spent too much of the day absorbing Montgomery's carries rather than finishing drives behind the line. The turning point came as Houston's ground game wore Buffalo down in the second half, flipping field position and shrinking the clock. By the time the Bills found rhythm through the air, the Texans had already banked the cushion they needed.
Passing
Box score: passing stats by player
PlayerPosATTCMPYDSTDINTRTG
C.J. StroudQB281924510106.9
Josh AllenQB272020310107.4
Rushing
Box score: rushing stats by player
PlayerPosATTYDSYPCTDLNGFUM
David MontgomeryHB141158.20290
Woody MarksHB15543.6180
Tyjae SpearsHB9404.40190
Josh AllenQB6284.7070
James Cook IIIHB681.3150
Jawhar JordanHB351.7140
C.J. StroudQB221.0030
Jaylin NoelWR000.0000
Jayden HigginsWR000.0000
Khalil ShakirWR000.0000
Foster MoreauTE000.0000
Receiving
Box score: receiving stats by player
PlayerPosRECYDSYPRTDLNGDROP
Nico CollinsWR57515.00270
Dalton KincaidTE57314.60271
Jaylin NoelWR17070.01700
Tank DellWR67011.70260
Joshua PalmerWR47017.50280
Khalil ShakirWR5397.80120
Dalton SchultzTE2178.5090
DJ MooreWR2157.5080
Foster MoreauTE188.0080
Jayden HigginsWR166.0060
Tyjae SpearsHB155.0050
British BrooksFB133.0030
Ben VanSumerenFB122.0020
James Cook IIIHB1-2-2.0000
David MontgomeryHB1-2-2.0000
Woody MarksHB1-2-2.0000
Kicking
Box score: kicking stats by player
PlayerPosFGMFGAXPMLNG
Daniel CarlsonK22247
Ka'imi FairbairnK12343