Official Texans vs. Bills Game Thread, 9/28/2014
 

The 2-1 Texans will be hosting the 2-1 Buffalo Bills this Sunday in an early game. Both teams are coming off their first loss of the season. Both teams currently occupy first place in their respective divisions, though the Bills are tied with New England.

The Texans fell 6 spots to #20 in the ESPN Power Rankings. The Bills fell 7 spots to #19.

TV = CBS (channel 11 local), Sunday, noon, Sept 28

Announcers = Spero Dedes, Solomon Wilcots

The line = Texans by 3

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Bye weeks begin this week with Cincinnati, Cleveland, Denver, St. Louis, Arizona and Seattle all having the week off.

Sure looks like an even matchup from that description. For those who don't know Vegaspeak, the home team normally gets three points just for being at home so the oddsmakers are essentially saying that, on a neutral field, this game is a "pick em".

Bills did not look that good against the Chargers at home but, frankly, the Bills will rise and fall on the play of second-year QB E.J. Manuel. If he's not sharp, the defense can play up against the Bills' running attack which is probably the best group of backs we've faced so far this year.

Sammy Watkins hasn't really gotten into the offense the way the elite receivers do but he's always a threat. Hopefully J-Jo is healthy.

The Bills, like the Texans, have some good players on defense but they don't really add up to a dominating force. Houston will need to tighten up their run defense while the Bills must improve on pass defense in order to get the W.

Really tough call this Sunday, sort of like choosing between Manuel and Fitzpatrick.

Foster active. Buoye out.

If pregame warmup speeches are any indication, Fitzpatrick sure is fired up and ready to face one of his former teams today.

Bill down the opening kickoff in the end zone. Bill's ball at their 20.

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Pass to FB Sommers is good for 3.

Pass to Watkins goes inc. 3rd and 7 coming up.

Manuel hit as he passes....ball is inc.....flag on Bills for hand to the face is declined. Bills have to punt.

D Johnson brings the punt back to the Texan 33. Texan's ball.

Fitz hits AJ for 13.

Foster caught in the backfield for loss of 6.

Pass to Hopkins over the middle goes for 10. 3rd and 6 coming up.

Fitz scrambles but throws inc. Texans have to punt.

Lechler's punt is downed at the Bill's 2 yard line. Bill's ball.

Previous punt was reviewed and one of the Texans had his foot on line in coverage = touchback, Bills ball at their 20.

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Spiller for 2.

Crick with the sack! Loss of 5. 3rd and 13 coming up.

Pass is deflected, inc but they get JJ for roughing the passer. First down at the Bills 32.

Spiller for 5.

Pass to Williams down the sideline goes inc. 3rd and 5 coming up.

Spiller TFL'ed by Morris. Bills will have to punt.

Punt is downed at about the Texan 31 yard line. Texan's ball.

Pass over the middle to Hopkins gets 4.

Pass to Hopkins gets 5. 3rd and 1 coming up.

Fitz scrambles for a half yard, short of the 1st down. Texans will have to punt.

Punt is fair caught at the Bills 18 yard line. Bill's ball.

Spiller for 3 or 4.

Manuel pressured, runs for no gain. 3rd and 4 coming up.

Pass to Watkins is dropped, inc. Bills will have to punt.

D Johnson brings the punt back to the Texan 24 yard line. Texan's ball.

(It's a 3-and-out puntfest!)

Foster for no gain.

Pass to Foster in the flat goes for about 12 and a 1st down.

Foster for no gain.

Pass over the middle to Graham gets 5. 3rd and 5 coming up. D Brown shaken up on the play. Injury timeout.

Fitz is pressured and sacked for loss of 2. Texans will have to punt.

Bills fair catch the punt at about their 19 yard line. Bill's ball.

Pass by Manuel is deflected at the LOS, inc.

Jackson for 9. Brings up 3rd and 1.

Pass to Jackson goes for about 3 and the 1st down. Ball at the Bill 33.

Jackson tripped up for loss of 1. 2nd and 11 coming up.

Pass to Jackson gets 3. Flag on Watt again for roughing the passer. Places the ball at midfield.

Spiller hits the right side for 22 yards.

Flags presnap.....false start Bills, -5. Makes it 1st and 15.

End of the 1st quarter.

two tough roughing calls and first downs on JJ, but he's hitting Manuel right at the knees.

On 1st and 15, Spiller gets 1 or 2.

Pass to Watkins complete for 7. Brings up 3rd and 5.

Manuel hits Chandler for the 1st down at the Texan 12 yard line.

Pass to Chandler good for 4.

Timeout Bills.

Jackson for maybe 1. Brings up 3rd and 6 at the Texan 8.

Bills use another timeout.

Flags presnap. Offsides Bills. Brings up 3rd and 11.

Pass to Williams is knocked loose, inc. Bills to go for the FG.

Carpenter's 31-yarder is good.

Bills 3, Texans 0

11:37 left in the half.

The ensuing kickoff sails out of the end zone, touchback. Texan's ball at their 20.

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Pass to Hopkins down the sideline, inc but flag on the play. Illegal contact on the Bills, 5 yards and an auto 1st down.

Blue for 1.

Pass to AJ good for 9 and the 1st down.

Pass to AJ good for big gainer. Ball at the Bills 40 yard line.

Short pass to AJ only good for 3 or 4 but AJ fumbles going to the ground. Unnecessary roughness called on D Brown adds 15 more. Bills will get the ball at the Texan 49.

Spiller goes left for about 7.

Manuel's pass too high, inc. 3rd and 3 coming up.

Pass to Watkins good for 7 and the 1st down.

Jackson for 2.

Draw to Jackson goes for 13 and a 1st down at the Texan 21.

Texans use a timeout.

Spiller goes left for 9. 2nd and 1 coming up.

Pass to Spiller goes to the 5. 1st and goal.

Pass to Watkins good for the TD.

Bills 10, Texans 0

5:54 left in the half.

The Texans have negative yards rushing and their second-round pick, 33 overall, an interior lineman, sucks so much that he can't even see the fcking field.

This is a terrible team and they have received effectively zero production from their first six picks. It's amazing, really.

The ensuing kickoff goes out of the end zone, touchback. Texan's ball at their 20.

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Fitz's deep pass is INT'ed by McKelvin. Bill's ball at their 37.

5:47 left in the half.

Pass to Watkins too high, inc. 2nd and 10 coming up.

Pass to Watkins good for 10 and the 1st down.

Bills use their final timeout. 5:01 left in the half.

Dumpoff to Spiller goes for 5. 2nd and 5 coming up.

Spiller fumbles for the Bills recover. Brings up 3rd and 4.

Pass to Woods goes inc. Bills will have to punt w/3:38 left to go in the half.

Punt goes into the end zone, touchback. Texan's ball at their 20.

Foster for 4.

Foster for 3. Brings up 3rd and 3.

Flare pass to Foster goes for nice gainer. 17 yards and a 1st down. Ball at the Texan 44.

2 minute warning.

Foster for 1. A Bill (Dareus) is injured on the play...... 2nd and 9 coming up.

Fitz is pressured, throws inc. 3rd and 9 coming up.

Fitz scrambles for 12 and the 1st down.

Pass to Graham goes for 9. Texans use a timeout (#2).

Pass to Hopkins down the sideline goes for the TD! 35 yards.

Flag down for excessive celebration by Hopkins. Will be enforced on the kickoff.

Illegal formation on the Bills on the extra point = -5 so, a net of -10 against the Texans on the kickoff.

Bills 10, Texans 7

57 seconds left in the half.

Bullock's ensuing kickoff is brought back by Spiller to the Bills 34 yard line. Bill's ball.

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Manuel's pass over the middle goes inc.

Pass to Jackson goes for 13.

Pass to Morris goes for -2.

Spike with 7 seconds left in the half. 3rd and 11 coming up.

Pass to Jackson gets about 11 but time runs out.

Halftime.

Halftime stats:

Passing: Fitz 12/15, 151 yards, 1 TD, 1 INT

Rushing: Foster 6/1, Fitz 2/11, Blue 1/0

Receiving: Hopkins 4/54, AJ 4/52, Foster 2/29, Graham 2/16

Tackles: Cushing 6, Watt 4, JJo/Swearinger/Morris/Jackson/Crick/Tuggle 3 each

Total yards: Texans 161, Bills 156

1st downs: Texans 8, Bills 12

3rd down efficiency: Texans 2/5, Bills 4/9

Red zone: Texans 0/0, Bills 1/2

Penalties: Texans 4/60, Bills 4/20

Time of possession: Texans 11:11, Bills 18:49

Turnovers: Texans 2, Bills 0

The 2nd half kickoff goes out of the end zone. Texans will have the ball at their 20.

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Fitz's pass is tipped at the LOS and INT'ed by the Bills. Bills will have the ball at the Texan 19. Oy.

Spiller for about 4.

Spiller for 4. Brings up 3rd and 2.

Woohoo! Pick 6 by Watt! 79 yards!

Texans 14, Bills 10

Officially 80 yards on the Watt INT.

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Bills bring the ensuing kickoff back to their 21. 13:22 left in the 3rd qtr.

Jackson for about 7. 2nd and 3 coming up.

Manuel's pass to Woods sails inc. 3rd and 3 coming up.

Pass to Watkins broken up by JJo, inc. Bills will have to punt.

Martin brings the punt back to about the Texan 36. Texan's ball.

Pass to Graham goes for 12.

Pass to Fido is popped loose, inc. 2nd and 10 coming up.

Fitz's pass sails over Graham, inc. 3rd and 10 coming up.

Screen to D Johnson goes for 10 and the 1st down.

Foster for 2 or 3.

Pass to Foster over the middle goes for 8 and the 1st down.

Foster for almost 2. 2nd and 8 coming up at the Bills 31.

Pass to Foster goes for 7. 3rd and 1 coming up.

Flags presnap. Offsides Bills gives the Texans a 1st down at the Bills 18.

Short pass to AJ goes for 4.

Fitz starts to scramble but loses 2. 3rd and 8 coming up.

Flags presnap. Offsides D Brown -5. 3rd and 13 coming up.

Fitz muffs the snap, falls on it and loses 2. Texans to go for the FG.

Bullock's 42-yarder is good.

Texans 17, Bills 10

6:18 left in the 3rd qtr.

The ensuing kickoff is downed in the end zone, touchback. Bills will have the ball at their 20.

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Spiller for 8.

Spiller for 2 and the 1st down.

Screen to Jackson gets 9. 2nd and 1 coming up.

Screen to Spiller goes for nice gain, 1st down.

Screen to Woods gets 3.

Lewis gets the TFL for a loss of 4. 3rd and 10 coming up.

Manuel's pass to Woods thrown short, inc. Bills will punt.

Punt goes into the end zone, touchback. Texans will have the ball at their 20.

Fitz's pass to AJ goes inc but flag on the Bills for holding, 5 yards and an auto 1st down.

Pass to AJ gets 15.

Pass to AJ gets 5 but flags down..... They get D Brown for blocking downfield, makes it 1st and 20.

Fitz gets sacked by M Williams....flag down....holding against the Bills, 5 yards and an auto 1st down.

Pass to Prosch good for 29. Nice play call. Ball at the Bills 41.

Blue powers for 3.

Blue for no gain.

End of the 3rd qtr.

3rd and 7 on the Bills 38 coming up.

Timeout Texans.

Flags presnap......neutral zone on the Bills.... Makes it 3rd and 2 coming up.

Flags presnap. False start on Brooks. Makes it 3rd and 7 coming up.

Deep pass to AJ goes inc. Texans to punt.

Punt goes out of bounds at the Bills 13. Bills' ball.

Manuel's pass is nearly INT'ed by KJ but inc. 2nd and 10 coming up.

Spiller caught by JJo for a loss of 2. 3rd and 12 coming up.

Manuel pressured, throws it deep and inc. Bills will have to punt.

K Martin brings the punt back to the Texan 48. Texan's ball.

Blue for -2.

Fitz dumps off to Blue for a gain of 4. 3rd and 8 coming up.

Dumpoff to Foster is dropped, inc. Texans will have to punt.

Lechler's punt is downed at the Bills 1 yard line. Bills' ball.

honorable mention to left handed shuttle pass by Fitz.

Texans unable to establish much running attack today.

Jackson for 2. 2nd and 8 coming up.

Pass to Chandler broken up, inc. 3rd and 8 coming up.

Bills use a timeout (#1, two left).

On 3rd and 8, deep pass sails inc. Bills will have to punt.

Punt is brought back by K Martin to the Bills 43. Texan's ball.

Blue for 3.

Pass to Graham off the mark, inc. 3rd and 7 coming up.

Pass to Foster goes for 4 or 5.... Texans will try the long FG..

Bullock's 55-yarder is good!

Texans 20, Bills 10

9:21 left in the game.

AJ going to the locker room.....

I think Bullock is officially fixed. Crazy how mental kickers are. I remember Kris Brown sandwiching 2 great seasons around a year with like 10+ missed FGs. It's like these guys just fall apart and forget how to kick it.

Spiller downs the ensuing kickoff in the end zone. Bills will have the ball at their 20.

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Wow, deep pass to Williams goes for 80 yards and the TD.

Texans 20, Bills 17

9:08 left in the game.

Manning brings the ensuing kickoff back to the Texan 35. Texan's ball.

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Pass to Blue goes for 12. Ball at the Texan 48.

Short pass to Blue inc. 2nd and 10 coming up.

Blue for 6. Brings up 3rd and 4.

Fitz scrambles for just enough for the 1st down.

Pass to Martin goes for nice gainer but flag is down. PI on Hopkins, -10. Makes it 1st and 20.

Reverse/end around to D Johnson goes for 8. 2nd and 12 coming up.

Pass to Hopkins gets 10. 3rd and 2 coming up.

Screen to Foster goes inc. Texans to go for the FG.

Bullock's 50-yarder is good!

Texans 23, Bill 17

4:49 left in the game.

C'mon defense!

Spiller brings the ensuing kickoff back to the 20 yard line. Bills' ball.

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Short pass to Williams goes for 4.

Manuel's pass to Chandler goes inc. 3rd and 6 coming up.

Manuel's deep pass down the sideline sails inc. Bills will punt.

K Martin fair catches the punt at the Texan 32. Texan's ball.

Blue for no gain. About 3 minutes left in the game.

Fitz's pass to Prosch off the mark, inc. 3rd and 10 coming up.

Pass to Foster goes for 10. Smart by Foster to roll for the 1st down.

Blue caught in the backfield for loss of 4. Bills use a timeout w/2:07 left.

Blue goes right side for 2. 3rd and 12 coming up.

2 minute warning.

On 3rd and 12, screen to Foster loses 2. Texans will punt on 4th and 14.

Bill bring the punt back to their 28. Bills' ball.

Manuel can't find a receiver and scrambles for 3.

Manuel pressured by Mohammed throws it away, inc. 3rd and 7 coming up.

Screen to Jackson goes for 13 and the 1st down. 1:21 left in the game.

Pass to Wood good for 12. Ball at the Texan 41.

Manuel's pass is INT'ed by Morris! Whew! Texan's ball.