Houston Texans backmost C. J. Stroud delivered a spectacular heavy walk to receiver Nico Collins successful the archetypal 4th of their constrictive 23-20 triumph implicit the Buffalo Bills connected Sunday.
Collins was near unmarked arsenic helium ran into the endzone for a 67-yard touchdown, putting the Texans up 14-3. Stroud remained chill and collected successful the backfield, showing nary emotion arsenic his teammates rushed to observe with him.
Despite a beardown start, the Texans began to falter arsenic Josh Allen and the Bills fought back, tying the crippled astatine 20 successful the 4th quarter. However, Houston's kicker Ka'imi Fairbairn secured the triumph with a 59-yard tract extremity arsenic clip ran out.
Unfortunately, Collins was incapable to lend further owed to a hamstring injury.
The fourth-year player, who entered the week arsenic the NFL's starring receiver with 489 receiving yards, had a breakout play past twelvemonth with rookie Stroud, much than doubling his vocation highs successful some receptions (80) and receiving yards (489).
Stroud erstwhile again proved his worth. The 2023 NFL Offensive Rookie of the Year completed 28-of-38 passes for 331 yards and a touchdown, solidifying his presumption arsenic 1 of the apical quarterbacks successful the sport.
A bid of injuries successful the Buffalo secondary aided him: apical country Taron Johnson and starting information Taylor Rapp were some absent from the game.
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Bob Levey/Getty Images)On the touchdown to Collins, cornerback Rasul Douglas appeared confused arsenic to wherefore helium didn't person information assistance. Ian Eagle connected the CBS broadcast highlighted however rookie information Cole Bishop, making his archetypal NFL start, was importantly retired of position.
Despite an aboriginal 14-3 deficit, Buffalo improved connected some sides of the shot to claw backmost to a necktie by the 4th quarter.
Bills backmost Josh Allen completed lone 9-of-30 passes but managed to link with receiver Keon Coleman for a 49-yard people precocious successful the third. A tract extremity thrust levelled the contention successful the fourth.
After a series of unusual timepiece decisions towards the end, Texans kicker Ka'imi Fairbairn had an accidental to triumph the crippled connected a 59-yard tract extremity with conscionable seconds remaining.
"Kai'mi is 1 of one, we've seen him bash that before," receiver Tank Dell said of his kicker. Fairbairn nailed the footwear to boost the Texans to a 3-1 record.