The Houston Texans’ defence gave Josh Allen a torrid time as they claimed a 23-19 win over the Buffalo Bills.
The Texans sacked last season’s Most Valuable Player eight times – the most the Bills quarterback has endured in a single game – and claimed two interceptions.
Both were by Houston safety Calen Bullock, who also forced a fumble, with his second interception at the death ensuring the hosts held on for victory after leading 20-16 at half-time.
Former Super Bowl favourites Buffalo have a record of seven wins and four defeats, after losing four of their past seven games, while Houston are now 6-5.
Although their starting quarterback CJ Stroud missed a fourth game following a concussion, back-up Davis Mills led the Texans to a third straight win, giving them a winning record for the first time this season.
Bills running back James Cook had a game-high 116 rushing yards, opening the scoring with a 45-yard touchdown.
The two sides exchanged field goals before Mills found Christian Kirk for a two-yard touchdown, and Bullock intercepted Allen with the Texans’ Ka’imi Fairbairn kicking another field goal from the resulting possession.
Ray Davis returned the kick-off for a 97-yard touchdown to help the Bills into a 16-13 lead, but the Texans hit straight back with Mills making an eight-yard touchdown pass to Jayden Higgins five seconds before the end of the first half.
Bullock knocked the ball out of Khalil Shakir’s grasp and the Texans recovered it, with Fairbairn kicking a third field goal at the end of the third quarter.
And although the Bills cut the deficit with a field goal and got in position to score a game-winning touchdown with 24 seconds left, Allen was picked off by Bullock for his ninth interception of the season and fifth in three games.
Houston finished with 12 quarterback hits and Allen will face an in-form Pittsburgh Steelers defence next week.
“I don’t like that stat at all,” said Buffalo’s head coach Sean McDermott. “It’s not a good way to keep our quarterback healthy for the rest of the season. We’ve got to play better.”
