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

[Arky]

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.

[HPF Bob]

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.

[Keith]

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.

[Arky]

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.

[Arky]

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.

[Arky]

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.

[Arky]

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.

[Arky]

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!)

[Arky]

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.

[Arky]

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.

[Nconroe]

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

[Arky]

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.

[Arky]

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.

[Arky]

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.

[chuck]

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.

[Arky]

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.

[Arky]

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.

[Arky]

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.

[Arky]

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.

[Arky]

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.