NFL · Sep 13, 2026
Allen’s Late Touchdown Pass Lifts BUF Past HOU 36–31
By Row Seventeen ·
Buffalo Bills beat Houston Texans 36–31 (NFL) on September 13, 2026.
J. Allen connected with J. Palmer in the fourth quarter, and BUF finished a five-point win at Reliant Stadium.
36–31FINAL
Key moments
Sources ↓- Opening
In the opening quarter, Stroud was sacked for a two-yard loss and lost a fumble with the game still scoreless.
Read in context ↘ - Middle stages
J. Allen’s 21-yard touchdown run gave BUF a 9–7 lead early in the second quarter, and the extra point made it 10–7.
Read in context ↘ - Closing stages
On a later HOU play, C. Stroud was sacked for a six-yard loss and lost a fumble. The score remained 36–31, and the game ended at that score.
Read in context ↘
An early HOU lead
HOU started with C.J. Stroud at quarterback, while Josh Allen started for BUF. In the opening quarter, Stroud was sacked for a two-yard loss and lost a fumble with the game still scoreless. BUF put the first points on the board with a 46-yard field goal, taking a 3–0 lead.
HOU answered late in the first quarter on a one-yard touchdown run by D. Montgomery. The extra point gave HOU a 7–3 lead, which it held at the end of the quarter.
The lead changes hands in the second quarter
J. Allen’s 21-yard touchdown run gave BUF a 9–7 lead early in the second quarter, and the extra point made it 10–7. HOU moved back in front when D. Montgomery scored on an 18-yard run. With the extra point, HOU led 14–10. Those two rushing touchdowns produced the first two lead changes of the quarter.
BUF responded with another J. Allen rushing touchdown, this one from one yard out. The extra point put BUF ahead 17–14. Later in the quarter, J. Allen threw a 43-yard touchdown pass to D. Moore, and the extra point extended the lead to 24–14. HOU cut into it before halftime: C. Stroud threw a 12-yard touchdown pass to N. Collins, followed by an extra point. BUF went to the break ahead 24–21.
Field goals and another HOU lead
BUF made a 34-yard field goal in the third quarter, moving the score to 27–21. That remained the score at the end of the quarter. HOU then took the lead early in the fourth when C. Stroud threw a seven-yard touchdown pass to D. Montgomery. The touchdown tied the game at 27, and the extra point put HOU ahead 28–27.
The lead changed twice more on field goals. BUF made a 33-yarder to go ahead 30–28. HOU answered with a 58-yard field goal for a 31–30 lead. After those kicks, the teams were separated by one point, with HOU in front entering the final scoring play.
BUF takes the final lead
J. Allen threw a 34-yard touchdown pass to J. Palmer in the fourth quarter, putting BUF ahead 36–31. BUF attempted a two-point conversion on a pass intended for K. Coleman, but it failed, leaving the margin at five. The touchdown was the game’s final scoring play.
On a later HOU play, C. Stroud was sacked for a six-yard loss and lost a fumble. The score remained 36–31, and the game ended at that score. BUF’s final lead followed a fourth quarter in which HOU had twice moved ahead, first on a touchdown and extra point and then on the long field goal. There was no overtime.
Based on nflverse schedule and play-by-play data (CC BY 4.0). Source endpoints are cross-checked within the same source family, not independent reporting. This is an original, AI-assisted recap.
- nflverse game schedules and results
- nflverse season play-by-play data
- Source data license
- Download the supporting facts and attribution
Published 2026-10-15. Game date shown above.
Correction & update: Updated October 16, 2026 with additional verified game-flow detail and a fresh factual review.
Related game reviews
- Detroit Lions vs. Buffalo Bills: Bills Beat Lions 41–31 After Building Early Lead · Sep 17, 2026
- Joe Burrow throws two touchdowns to J. Chase as CIN beats HOU 20–6 · Sep 20, 2026
- Los Angeles Chargers vs. Buffalo Bills: Bills rally from 10-point deficit to beat Chargers 24–16 · Sep 27, 2026
- Houston Texans vs. Indianapolis Colts: Indianapolis edges Houston 19–17 on late field goal · Sep 27, 2026
- NE beats BUF 29–26 after fourth-quarter lead changes · Oct 4, 2026
- Dallas Cowboys vs. Houston Texans: D. Prescott Throws Late Touchdown Pass to C. Lamb in Dallas’ 34–30 Win Over Houston · Oct 4, 2026