The Buffalo Bills could not complete a come-from-behind win in Houston against the Texans on Sunday, falling to an AFC playoff contender for the second consecutive week.
Buffalo’s second loss of the year ended with a final score of 23-20 in NFL Week 5 thanks to a 59-yard game-winning field goal by Houston kicker Ka’imi Fairbairn.
59 yards had significance more than once during the game.
On a 1st-and-20 in the first quarter, Bills quarterback Josh Allen threw a deep shot downfield to receiver Mack Hollins, who lost some acceleration watching the ball overhead and missed what could have been a 59-yard catch with a clear path to the endzone off the fingers of his extended hands.
Allen had the least productive outing of his career and his worst since he made his debut in 2018, completing a career-low 30% of his passes while going 9-of-30 for 131 yards and a touchdown with 54 yards rushing. 49 of those yards came courtesy of a single scoring play by WR Keon Coleman, and 82 yards of that production went scoreless.
“Starts with making better decisions on my part,” Allen said after the game. “I know I didn’t complete the ball at a high rate. I put the ball in harm’s way, especially in that first half.”
The Bills QB found himself on the wrong side of history, recording the lowest completion percentage in a game with at least 30 pass attempts in the last 30 seasons, per ESPN Stats & Info.
The offense struggled on first down and was also without their leading receiver this season, Khalil Shakir, who was out with an ankle injury. Without him, they looked one-dimensional, as the rest of the receivers struggled to get open or catch passes, only hauling in four catches.
Coleman had two catches for touchdowns in the last few games, though the Bills’ other significant 3-year $24 million offseason addition to the receivers group, Curtis Samuel, has yet to make a meaningful impact. There remains a clear need for a reliable deep threat and target in the passing game that can take the top off defenses, perhaps setting the stage for a signature Brandon Beane trade acquisition.
“We missed by a little bit,” Allen added of the offensive effort. “We were off slightly. That’s something I have to clean up. I’m proud of how we responded in the second half … we gave ourselves a chance to win the football game.”
Coleman took responsibility on the receiver’s side after only hauling in the scoring catch, missing another target, and getting flagged for offensive pass interference on a play as well.
“It was all self-inflicted,” Coleman said. “Mostly on me and the communication and doing what I need to do.”
He also spoke in support of his QB.
“I would never, ever criticize Josh ever,” he added. “He is the heartbeat of our offense and our football team. We go as he goes. He is the man. I could easily point to myself on one of those third downs, not being able to pick up one of the stunts. So, this game is not on Josh.”
Allen stood by his teammates as well.
“I’m proud of how we responded in the second half,” Bills QB Josh Allen said. “Got on our horses and gave ourselves a chance to win a football game.”
Even with the worst passing percentage performance of his career and an underwhelming lack of help, the Bills came back to tie the game twice and could have at least put the game into overtime by running out the clock.
“This isn’t a defining moment in our season,” Allen noted. “It’s a chance to learn and grow from this. That’s what we’re going to do.”
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