In a tightly contested season opener, the Buffalo Bills held off the Houston Texans with a final score of 26-20. Both teams were looking to make a statement as they kicked off the 2026 season, but it was the Bills who ultimately came out on top in this Week 1 matchup. Josh Allen led the Bills with a solid performance, racking up 206 passing yards, while C.J. Stroud kept the Texans competitive with two touchdown passes. Houston's ground game was spearheaded by David Montgomery, who rushed for 114 yards, and Nico Collins matched that effort in the receiving game, also accumulating 114 yards. The offensive firepower on both sides kept fans on the edge of their seats. The defensive battle was fierce, highlighted by Alex Highsmith's impressive 1.5 sacks for the Bills. Calen Bullock of the Texans was a standout with 11 total tackles, but it was Highsmith’s pressure that proved pivotal, disrupting Stroud at critical moments. The game's turning point came late in the fourth quarter when Buffalo's defense stifled a potential game-tying drive, allowing the Bills to hold on for the victory.