Instant analysis: Ka’imi Fairbairn’s game-winning field goal secures 23-20 win

Ka’imi Fairbairn’s can’t-miss leg secured the Houston Texans another win on Sunday afternoon at NRG Stadium.

(This story was updated because an earlier version included an inaccuracy.)

The Houston Texans love the theatrics.

A week after C.J. Stroud threw a game-winning touchdown pass to Dare Ogunbowale with 18 seconds remaining against the Jacksonville Jaguars, Ka’imi Fairbairn drained a 59-yard field goal as time expired to secure a 23-20 win over the Buffalo Bills at NRG Stadium.

The Texans improved to 4-1 and 3-0 at home before hitting the road for two games. Stroud, a favorite to win the MVP, threw for 331 yards and a touchdown while completing 73.7 percent of his passes.

Houston jumped out to an early 17-6 lead entering halftime thanks to a pair of touchdowns from Cam Akers and Nico Collins. Fairbairn, who became the Texans’ all-time leader in points, also drilled a 50-yard field goal to close out the second quarter.

But Josh Allen and the Bills never broke despite bending their will. They rallied to outscore the Texans 17-3 in the second half. Keon Coleman’s 49-yard reception on fourth-and-5 put Buffalo within three with 4:20 remaining in the third quarter.

Allen, who entered Sunday as the MVP favorite, was 9 of 30 for 131 yards and picked up another 54 with his legs. He evaded a sack on third down with 3:18 remaining to set up a 33-yard field goal for Tyler Bass.

The Texans had a chance to put the game out of reach midway through the fourth quarter and were driving after back-to-back first-down gains. Stroud tried to find Stefon Diggs for first down, but the pass was intercepted by Bills linebacker Terrel Bernard.

On the ensuing drive, defensive end Dawuane Smoot’s strip-sack of Stroud on third down gave Buffalo the ball at the 15-yard line. Allen left on the previous drive to be evaluated for a concussion, yet somehow managed to return to set up the Bass field goal.

Robert Woods returned a punt 13 yards to put Houston at midfield after the defense forced a three-and-out. Dare Ogunbowale had a 5-yard run to set up Fairbairn for the game-winner.

After drilling a 61-yard field goal earlier this season, a 59-yarder felt like a chip shot.

Diggs, who was traded to Houston this offseason after spending four seasons with the Bills, finished with a team-leading six receptions for 82 yards.

Collins, who entered Saturday as the NFL’s leading receiver, caught two passes for 78 yards, including a 67-yard touchdown in the first quarter before leaving with a hamstring injury.

The Texans travel to face off against the New England Patriots next Sunday at noon CT.