The Bills beat the Texans 36–31 in Houston, moving to 1–0. The Texans fell to 0–1.
For the Bills, Josh Allen went 20-for-29 for 334 yards with 2 touchdowns. Dalton Kincaid caught 5 passes for 130 yards.
For the Texans, C.J. Stroud went 26-for-38 for 274 yards with 2 touchdowns. David Montgomery ran for 60 yards on 20 carries and scored 2 touchdowns. Nico Collins caught 7 passes for 75 yards and a touchdown.
On defense, Greg Rousseau (Bills) had 2 sacks.
Recaps are written automatically from the final score and box score: player stats from nflverse (CC BY 4.0).
Bills quarterback Josh Allen against Texans quarterback C.J. Stroud. Lineups as listed before kickoff (Bills: Sep 13, 2026, 8:42 AM ET; Texans: Sep 13, 2026, 8:42 AM ET).
Bills in this game: shotgun 52%, under center 46%, pistol 2% · one back 63%, two backs 21%, empty 16% · motion 46% (56 charted snaps).
As the team lists it: three receivers, one tight end and one running back. Quarterback shown in the shotgun, where the Bills lined him up on most snaps.
LDE#51 Will Anderson Jr.Next up: Dominique Robinson
LDT#72 Tommy TogiaiNext up: Logan Hall
RDT#98 Sheldon RankinsNext up: Mario Edwards Jr.
RDE#55 Danielle HunterNext up: Jadeveon Clowney
WLB#39 Henry To'oTo'oNext up: Aiden Fisher
MLB#0 Azeez Al-ShaairNext up: Jake Hansen
SLB#33 Jake HummelNext up: Wade Woodaz
LCB#24 Derek Stingley Jr.Next up: Jaylin Smith
SS#6 Reed BlankenshipNext up: Kamari Ramsey
FS#2 Calen BullockNext up: M.J. Stewart
RCB#3 Kamari LassiterNext up: Tremon Smith
Two tight ends: the top two receivers stay on the field and the second tight end lines up on the left end. Quarterback shown in the shotgun, where the Bills lined him up on most snaps. Players beyond the listed starters come from the depth-chart order: this is who is most likely in, not a team announcement.
Bills offense, 2 TE
LT#73 Dion DawkinsNext up: Jude Bowry
LG#70 Alec AndersonNext up: Austin Corbett
C#66 Connor McGovernNext up: Lloyd Cushenberry III
LDE#51 Will Anderson Jr.Next up: Dominique Robinson
LDT#72 Tommy TogiaiNext up: Logan Hall
RDT#98 Sheldon RankinsNext up: Mario Edwards Jr.
RDE#55 Danielle HunterNext up: Jadeveon Clowney
WLB#39 Henry To'oTo'oNext up: Aiden Fisher
MLB#0 Azeez Al-ShaairNext up: Jake Hansen
SLB#33 Jake HummelNext up: Wade Woodaz
LCB#24 Derek Stingley Jr.Next up: Jaylin Smith
SS#6 Reed BlankenshipNext up: Kamari Ramsey
FS#2 Calen BullockNext up: M.J. Stewart
RCB#3 Kamari LassiterNext up: Tremon Smith
I-formation: two receivers and one tight end, with the quarterback under center and a fullback and running back stacked behind him. Two-back sets: 21% of snaps in this game. Players beyond the listed starters come from the depth-chart order: this is who is most likely in, not a team announcement. No fullback on the depth chart, so the second tight end, Dawson Knox, is shown at fullback.
Bills offense, I-form
LT#73 Dion DawkinsNext up: Jude Bowry
LG#70 Alec AndersonNext up: Austin Corbett
C#66 Connor McGovernNext up: Lloyd Cushenberry III
LDE#51 Will Anderson Jr.Next up: Dominique Robinson
LDT#72 Tommy TogiaiNext up: Logan Hall
RDT#98 Sheldon RankinsNext up: Mario Edwards Jr.
RDE#55 Danielle HunterNext up: Jadeveon Clowney
WLB#39 Henry To'oTo'oNext up: Aiden Fisher
MLB#0 Azeez Al-ShaairNext up: Jake Hansen
SLB#33 Jake HummelNext up: Wade Woodaz
LCB#24 Derek Stingley Jr.Next up: Jaylin Smith
SS#6 Reed BlankenshipNext up: Kamari Ramsey
FS#2 Calen BullockNext up: M.J. Stewart
RCB#3 Kamari LassiterNext up: Tremon Smith
Four receivers and no tight end: the next receiver on the depth chart comes in. Quarterback shown in the shotgun, where the Bills lined him up on most snaps. Empty-backfield sets: 16% of snaps in this game. Players beyond the listed starters come from the depth-chart order: this is who is most likely in, not a team announcement.
Bills offense, 4 WR
LT#73 Dion DawkinsNext up: Jude Bowry
LG#70 Alec AndersonNext up: Austin Corbett
C#66 Connor McGovernNext up: Lloyd Cushenberry III
LDE#51 Will Anderson Jr.Next up: Dominique Robinson
LDT#72 Tommy TogiaiNext up: Logan Hall
RDT#98 Sheldon RankinsNext up: Mario Edwards Jr.
RDE#55 Danielle HunterNext up: Jadeveon Clowney
WLB#39 Henry To'oTo'oNext up: Aiden Fisher
MLB#0 Azeez Al-ShaairNext up: Jake Hansen
SLB#33 Jake HummelNext up: Wade Woodaz
LCB#24 Derek Stingley Jr.Next up: Jaylin Smith
SS#6 Reed BlankenshipNext up: Kamari Ramsey
FS#2 Calen BullockNext up: M.J. Stewart
RCB#3 Kamari LassiterNext up: Tremon Smith
Defense shown in its base front.
Texans offense vs Bills defense
Texans in this game: shotgun 57%, under center 29%, pistol 14% · one back 86%, two backs 13%, empty 1% · motion 43% (79 charted snaps).
As the team lists it: three receivers, one tight end and one running back. Quarterback shown in the shotgun, where the Texans lined him up on most snaps.
LDE#98 T.J. Sanders Questionable (knee)Next up: Landon Jackson
NT#96 Deone WalkerNext up: Greg Gaines
RDE#91 Ed OliverNext up: DeWayne Carter
WLB#15 Greg RousseauNext up: Michael Hoecht
LILB#42 Dorian WilliamsNext up: Kaleb Elarms-Orr
RILB#8 Terrel BernardNext up: Joe Andreessen
SLB#9 Bradley ChubbNext up: TJ Parker
LCB#47 Christian BenfordNext up: Dee Alford
SS#24 Cole BishopNext up: Jalon Kilgore
FS#22 C.J. Gardner-JohnsonNext up: Damar Hamlin
RCB#1 Maxwell HairstonNext up: Davison Igbinosun
Two tight ends: the top two receivers stay on the field and the second tight end lines up on the left end. Quarterback shown in the shotgun, where the Texans lined him up on most snaps. Players beyond the listed starters come from the depth-chart order: this is who is most likely in, not a team announcement.
LDE#98 T.J. Sanders Questionable (knee)Next up: Landon Jackson
NT#96 Deone WalkerNext up: Greg Gaines
RDE#91 Ed OliverNext up: DeWayne Carter
WLB#15 Greg RousseauNext up: Michael Hoecht
LILB#42 Dorian WilliamsNext up: Kaleb Elarms-Orr
RILB#8 Terrel BernardNext up: Joe Andreessen
SLB#9 Bradley ChubbNext up: TJ Parker
LCB#47 Christian BenfordNext up: Dee Alford
SS#24 Cole BishopNext up: Jalon Kilgore
FS#22 C.J. Gardner-JohnsonNext up: Damar Hamlin
RCB#1 Maxwell HairstonNext up: Davison Igbinosun
I-formation: two receivers and one tight end, with the quarterback under center and a fullback and running back stacked behind him. Two-back sets: 13% of snaps in this game. Players beyond the listed starters come from the depth-chart order: this is who is most likely in, not a team announcement. No fullback on the depth chart, so the second tight end, Foster Moreau, is shown at fullback.
LDE#98 T.J. Sanders Questionable (knee)Next up: Landon Jackson
NT#96 Deone WalkerNext up: Greg Gaines
RDE#91 Ed OliverNext up: DeWayne Carter
WLB#15 Greg RousseauNext up: Michael Hoecht
LILB#42 Dorian WilliamsNext up: Kaleb Elarms-Orr
RILB#8 Terrel BernardNext up: Joe Andreessen
SLB#9 Bradley ChubbNext up: TJ Parker
LCB#47 Christian BenfordNext up: Dee Alford
SS#24 Cole BishopNext up: Jalon Kilgore
FS#22 C.J. Gardner-JohnsonNext up: Damar Hamlin
RCB#1 Maxwell HairstonNext up: Davison Igbinosun
Four receivers and no tight end: the next receiver on the depth chart comes in. Quarterback shown in the shotgun, where the Texans lined him up on most snaps. Empty-backfield sets: 1% of snaps in this game. Players beyond the listed starters come from the depth-chart order: this is who is most likely in, not a team announcement.