HOUSTON – The Buffalo Payments are in rebound mode Sunday afternoon once they tackle the Houston Texans at NRG Stadium.

On the heels of a 35-10 beatdown by the hands of the Baltimore Ravens, issues actually gained’t be simple for the Payments of their quest to get again on observe as a result of the 3-1 Texans are with out query top-of-the-line groups within the NFL.

Oh, and so they’ll even be going through a reasonably motivated opponent by the identify of Stefon Diggs, the star large receiver who Buffalo traded to Houston within the offseason.

Diggs performed it cool throughout the week, opting to not feed into the storyline, as an illustration, together with his ever lively social media accounts. As for the Payments, they too spent the week complimenting Diggs for the 4 excellent years he had in Buffalo.

“Stef’s enjoying at a excessive stage,” coach Sean McDermott stated. “He was a extremely good participant right here and aggressive, as you guys know, and he’s extremely aggressive on tape, as I watch, and enjoying at a excessive stage. So, it’ll be an enormous problem for us.”

Keep right here all day for updates:

Closing rating: Houston Texans 23, Buffalo Payments 20 on Ka’imi Fairbairn’s game-winning discipline aim

Houston solely wanted seven seconds. C.J. Stroud accomplished over the center to Dare Ogunbowale for five yards and the Texans known as timeout with two seconds remaining. Ka’imi Fairbairn drilled a 59-yard discipline aim as time expired.

Josh Allen accomplished 9 of 30 passes for 131 yards and a landing and James Cook dinner rushed for 82 yards and a landing on 20 carries. Dorian Williams led the Payments protection with 12 tackles and recovered a fumble.

C.J. Stroud went 28 of 38 with for 331 yards with a landing, interception and misplaced a fumble. Stefon Diggs had six catches for 82 yards towards his former staff.

Houston improves to 4-1. Buffalo has misplaced two straight video games and is 3-2.

Payments throw three deep incompletions as an alternative of heading to extra time

Buffalo basically compelled extra time however ended up giving Houston one other likelihood at a game-winning drive. The Payments, with no timeouts left and beginning at their 3-yard line with 32 seconds left, selected to throw. Josh Allen went deep for Curtis Samuel, Mack Hollins and Keon Coleman and all had been incomplete. That solely took 16 seconds of recreation clock. Sam Martin punted 56 yards and Robert Woods returned it 13 yards to the Payments’ 46-yard line with seven seconds remaining.

C.J. Stroud intentional grounding ruins go-ahead discipline aim try – :32 4th quarter

Houston put itself in place for a protracted discipline aim try. C.J. Stroud transformed a third-and-6 with an 11-yard completion to Dalton Schultz. Dare Ogunbowale took a brief reception 11 yards to the Payments’ 44 on third-and-10. Ogunbowale rushed for two yards and Schultz caught a cross for 3 yards to the Payments’ 39. Houston snapped the ball with 44 seconds left and determined to cross though the Payments had no timeouts left. Stroud was flagged for intentional grounding, taking Houston out of discipline aim vary. Tommy Townsend caught a 46-yard punt on the Payments’ 3-yard line.

Texans 20, Payments 20: Tyler Bass makes 33-yard discipline aim as Josh Allen returns

Josh Allen missed one play and re-entered the sport. He threw two incompletions and Tyler Bass tied the sport with a 33-yard discipline aim after the Texans’ turnover.

Payments recuperate strip sack on C.J. Stroud deep in Houston territory – 4:21 4th quarter

Buffalo’s protection compelled a large turnover. Defensive finish Dawuane Smoot received a strip sack on C.J. Stroud and linebacker Dorian Williams recovered on the Texans’ 15-yard line.

Josh Allen injured and Payments punt – 5:50 4th quarter

Buffalo gained a primary down on an 18-yard scramble by Josh Allen however Allen was injured on the following third down. Allen threw an incomplete cross and was taken down by his legs by defensive finish Mario Edwards Jr. Allen stayed down on his facet, rolled onto his again and was tended to by medical employees. He went into the medical tent for analysis.

Payments linebacker Terrel Bernard makes interception in his return

Buffalo is joyful to have Terrel Benard again. Bernard picked off C.J. Stroud over the center on a cross meant for Stefon Diggs on the Payments’ 19 yard line.

Buffalo punts after crossing midfield – 13:30 4th quarter

The Payments closed the third quarter with a James Cook dinner 11-yard run, Houston defensive holding penalty and Josh Allen scramble for 19 yards to the Texans’ 46-yard line. James Cook dinner rushed for two yards, Ty Johnson was hit within the backfield for a 2-yard loss and cornerback Derek Stingley Jr. knocked the ball away from Marquez Valdes-Scantling on third-and-9. Sam Martin punted 33 yards to the Texans’ 12-yard line.

Houston offense nonetheless struggling with out Nico Collins – 1:14 third quarter

The Payments have scored 14 straight factors and the Texans punted once more. Stefon Diggs opened the possession with a 17-yard catch however then Houston could not get one other first down. Offensive guard Shaq Mason was flagged for holding, C.J. Stroud’s completion to Cade Stover gained 1 yard, Cam Akers made a 6-yard catch and Stroud was compelled to scramble for five yards on third-and-13. Tommy Townsend punted 41 yards and Houston was penalized 5 yards for an unlawful contact kick to star the Payments at their 19-yard line.

Texans 20, Payments 17: Keon Coleman scores 49-yard landing on fourth down

Buffalo went for it on fourth-and-5 from the Texans’ 49-yard line. Rookie large receiver Keon Coleman made Houston pay. Coleman made a brief catch, Texans rookie cornerback Kamari Lassiter whiffed and Coleman went down the left sideline for the landing.

The Payments are 7-for-7 this yr on fourth down.

Houston goes three-and-out – 7:06 third quarter

Houston has two discipline targets on its final 5 possessions. This time the Texans went three-and-out. Tank Dell caught a display cross for two yards, Cam Akers ran up the center for five yards however Houston confronted third-and-8 after a false begin. C.J. Stroud’s cross for Dalton Schultz was incomplete. Tommy Townsend punted simply 33 yards to the Payments’ 35.

Texans 20, Payments 10: James Cook dinner scores dashing landing

Josh Allen has accomplished 7 of 20 passes for 82 yards. Someway the Payments are solely down 10 factors. James Cook dinner ran for a 5-yard landing to cap a 70-yard landing drive for Buffalo. Ty Johnson opened the drive with a 19-yard run. Two performs later, Allen scrambled for 8 yards and Houston security Jalen Pitre was known as for pointless roughness for hitting Allen after the quarterback slid. Allen accomplished a cross over the center to Dalton Kincaid for 26 yards to arrange the the landing.

Texans 20, Payments 3: Ka’imi Fairbairn makes 47-yard discipline aim

Houston received three factors on the primary possession of the second half. C.J. Stroud had back-to-back completions to Xavier Hutchinson for 12 yards and 19 yards to get into field-goal vary. Stroud took a shot from defensive finish Greg Rousseau on third-and-5 and his cross went off the palms of Dalton Schultz. Ka’imi Fairbairn made his second discipline aim of the sport.

Texans’ Nico Collins and Jimmie Ward dominated out with accidents

Houston large receiver Nico Collins is not going to return with a hamstring damage and security Jimmie Ward is out for the rest of the sport with a groin damage.

Halftime rating: Texans 17, Payments 3

That was an unpleasant half for the Payments. Josh Allen has accomplished 6 of 18 passes for 56 yards for the Payments, who’ve 103 yards of offense. C.J. Stroud is 12 of 15 for 187 yards and a landing for the Texans.

Texans 17, Payments 3: Ka’imi Fairbairn makes 50-yard discipline aim

Within the worst half Josh Allen has performed in years, the Payments are lucky to stroll into the locker room down solely 17-3 as a result of it certain felt prefer it was worse.

The Payments shut an terrible first half with Allen almost throwing two interceptions, after which they allowed a 36-yard punt return to close midfield which allowed the Texans’ Ka’imi Fairbairn to kick a 50-yard discipline aim as time expired.

Allen completed the half 6 of 18 for 56 yards and the Payments appeared helpless on offense.

Payments have the ball for 19 seconds – :30 2nd quarter

Josh Allen threw three straight incompletions. Sam Martin punted 59 yards however Robert Woods returned it 36 yards to the Texans’ 49-yard line.

Houston goes three-and-out – 1:02 2nd quarter

C.J. Stroud threw an incompletion on third-and-2 and the Payments compelled a punt to get the ball again earlier than halftime. Tommy Townsend punted 61 yards and Brandon Codrington returned it 5 yards to the Payments’ 28-yard line.

Buffalo offense cannot capitalize on defensive cease – 2:42 2nd quarter

Dalton Kincaid almost made a protracted catch for a primary down however officers dominated he juggled the ball as he was making an attempt to pull his toes for a toe faucet. Payments head coach Sean McDermott did not problem the play and Sam Martin punted 41 yards to the Texans’ 8-yard line.

Buffalo’s offense appeared higher, with Allen finishing passes to Dalton Kincaid and Mack Hollins for 8 yards and 6 yards, respectively. Allen linked with Hollins for 21 yards to cross midfield earlier than a cross to James Cook dinner misplaced 7 yards.

Payments protection forces turnover on downs – 7:55 2nd quarter

Payments linebacker Terrel Bernard, making his return from a pectoral damage, made an enormous cease on fourth-and-1. Bernard stuffed Dare Ogunbowale for no achieve on the Payments’ 16-yard line. Stefon Diggs and Tank Dell did a lot of the harm to get Houston into the purple zone. Diggs had catches of 14 yards and 13 yards and Dell made receptions for 9 yards and 19 yards.

Buffalo punts once more – 14:38 2nd quarter

Buffalo gained one first down and punted. Josh Allen scrambled for 10 yards and almost fumbled the ball however was out of bounds first. James Cook dinner rushed for 1 yards, Allen threw two straight incompletions and after a false begin on the punt formation, Sam Martin punted 63 yards to the Texans’ 2. Robert Woods returned it 17 yards to the Texans’ 19-yard line.

Josh Allen has began 1 for 9 for twenty-four yards.

Nico Collins has hamstring damage

Nico Collins headed into the locker room with a hamstring damage early within the second quarter. He is questionable to return.

Texans 14, Payments 3: C.J. Stroud throws deep landing to Nico Collins

The Texans started their third possession at their 33 because of a poor 38-yard punt by Sam Martin, and as soon as once more, the Payments protection was merely terrible. All it took was one play as Nico Collins blew previous the secondary and reeled in a superbly thrown 67-yard TD cross from CJ Stroud. Damar Hamlin appeared foolish on the play.

Josh Allen begins gradual and Payments punt – 1:43 1st quarter

Buffalo went backward after beginning at its 30-yard line following a touchback. Josh Allen was pressured by defensive finish Danielle Hunter and threw incomplete, James Cook dinner ran up the center for 4 yards and a false begin by offensive deal with Spencer Brown pushed the Payments right into a third-and-11. On third down Allen threw incomplete close to the left sideline for Keon Coleman. Sam Martin punted 38 yards to the Texans’ 33-yard line.

Allen has began 1 of seven for twenty-four yards.

Texans 7, Payments 3: Cam Akers runs for 15-yard landing

The Payments protection received completely smoked on Houston’s second possession and the Texans now have a 7-3 lead as Cam Akers ran 15 yards by the center virtually untouched for a landing.

The Texans wanted solely six performs to go 70 yards because of a CJ Stroud 28-yard cross to Dare Ogunbowale, an 11-yard cross to Nico Collins because of a horrible missed deal with by rookie security Cole Bishop, and an 11-yard run by Akers earlier than his rating.

Texans linebacker Azeez Al-Shaair coping with sickness on sideline

Houston beginning linebacker Azeez Al-Shaair acquired oxygen and spoke with athletic trainers on the sideline when the Texans’ offense was on the sphere. Al-Shaair was listed as questionable with an sickness.

Payments 3, Texans 0: Tyler Bass makes 38-yard discipline aim

The Payments began their second possession at midfield after a brief Houston punt, and so they had been transferring well downfield till they reached first-and-goal on the 9 after which all of it blew up.

A James Cook dinner run was stuffed, Josh Allen suffered a sack, Keon Coleman had a false begin, and on third-and-20 Allen threw incomplete towards Coleman, so that they needed to accept a 38-yard Tyler Bass discipline aim, which, sure, he did make.

The drive started so properly as James Cook dinner had a 24-yard cross reception and 4 straight runs that totaled 26 yards earlier than the drive died.

Texans punt provides Payments nice discipline possession – 12:04 1st quarter

Buffalo’s protection received an immediate increase in linebacker Terrel Bernard’s return. Dare Ogunbowale was dropped for a 2-yard loss on a reception by rookie defensive deal with DeWayne Carter, Ogunbowale ran up the center for 4 yards then misplaced a yard on a carry. Tommy Townsend punted 40 yards to the Texans’ 49-yard line and Buffalo begins in Houston territory.

Payments go three-and-out on first possession – 14:21 1st quarter

Buffalo acquired the ball first and went three-and-out. James Cook dinner ran for 7 yards on the primary play however Josh Allen threw incomplete to Mack Hollins and Dalton Kincaid. Sam Martin punted 55 yards to the Texans’ 8-yard line.

Payments will keep in first place

Effectively, even when the Payments had been to lose Sunday to the Texans, they are going to stay alone in first place within the AFC East.

The Jets had an opportunity to get to 3-2 in London towards the Vikings, and after falling behind 17-0 and searching overmatched, they rallied to inside 23-17 and had the ball with an opportunity tp win within the closing minute, however Aaron Rodgers threw his third interception of the sport to outdated buddy Stephone Gilmore, killing their comeback effort.

The Jets at the moment are 2-3 and so they’ll be fairly determined subsequent Monday evening once they host the Payments, so perhaps that’s not such a terrific factor for the Payments.

NRG Stadium has not been pleasant to the Payments

The final thrice that Buffalo has ventured right down to Houston, some loopy stuff has taken place which led to a few Payments’ loss.

The final recreation right here, after all, was the 2019 wild-card playoff showdown when the Payments blew a 16-0 third-quarter lead and fell 22-19 in extra time with Taiwan Jones – a Payments participant earlier than this recreation after which once more after – made an enormous catch and run play in extra time to arrange the game-winning Houston discipline aim on a day when Deshaun Watson outplayed Josh Allen.

In 2018, Allen was making his fifth NFL begin and within the third quarter, he suffered the one damage that has compelled him to overlook any video games. He damage his elbow when it was hit whereas he was making a throw, and Nathan Peterman needed to come on in aid with the Payments trailing 10-3. Peterman led the Payments to a discipline aim and in addition threw a go-ahead TD cross to Zay Jones early within the fourth, however then he threw a game-deciding pick-six with 1:23 remaining and the Payments fell 20-13.

And again in 2014, EJ Manuel’s Payments’ profession basically ended when he threw an interception that JJ Watt returned 80 yards for a go-ahead Houston TD within the third quarter. And though Manuel threw an 80-yard TD to Mike Williams to get the Payments inside 20-17 within the fourth, however they ultimately misplaced 23-17 and coach Doug Marrone benched Manuel the next week in favor or Kyle Orton. Manuel began solely two video games thereafter earlier than leaving the Payments on the finish of 2016.

Buffalo Payments inactive: Taron Johnson stays out

The Payments will certainly have linebacker Terrel Bernard again Sunday towards the Texans, however nickel cornerback Taron Johnson remains to be unable to return and is inactive for the sport.

He’s joined by large receiver Khalil Shakir, defensive tackles Ed Oliver and Austin Johnson, security Taylor Rapp, linebacker Edefuan Ulofoshio and offensive lineman Will Clapp.

Energetic for the Payments is newly-acquired defensive deal with Zion Logue in addition to Branson Deen who was elevated from the observe squad. With Javon Solomon on the sting and DeWayne Carter at deal with, that’s 4 rookies on the Payments defensive position for this recreation.

The Texans even have a few key gamers out. Operating backs Joe Mixon and Dameon Pierce are down, so Cam Akers is prone to shoulder the majority of the working recreation, and proper deal with Tytus Howard is one other starter who will not play.

Terrel Bernard could play

The Payments would possibly get linebacker Terrel Bernard into the lineup for the primary time since early within the Week 2 victory over Miami when he partially tore a pectoral muscle.

Bernard practiced throughout the week and was given a recreation standing of questionable, however Ian Rapaport of NFL Community reported Sunday morning that Bernard is predicted to play. As for cornerback Taron Johnson, we gained’t be certain till the inactives are introduced at 11:30 a.m.

With large receiver Khalil Shakir and defensive tackles Ed Oliver and Austin Johnson out, the Payments used their two observe squad elevations on large receiver Tyrell Shavers and defensive deal with Branson Deen.

Shavers was an apparent alternative, however the undrafted rookie Deen being picked over veteran Eli Ankou was a little bit of a shock.

Join the Payments Blast publicationDelivered straight to your inbox, further Payments evaluation, perception, stats, quotes and staff historical past from Sal Maiorana

• Date: Sunday, Oct. 6
• Time: 1 p.m.
• Place: NRG Stadium

Who’s favored to win Payments vs. Texans recreation

• Betting line: Payments +1
• Over-under: 47.5
• Cash line: Texans minus-120 (guess $120 to win $100) and Payments plus-100 (guess $100 to win $100).

As soon as once more, I don’t just like the matchup for the Payments. Whereas true, they need to be a motivated staff trying to bounce again from that debacle in Baltimore Sunday evening and that makes them a bit frisky and harmful, however the continued lack of a downfield passing recreation is problematic, particularly with Shakir out. And defensively, with Oliver and Miller out, if the Payments need to additionally play with out Bernard, Johnson and Rapp, the Texans might have an enormous day on offense. That is why I’ve it Texans 28, Payments 23

Who’s saying the Payments vs. Texans recreation

• Play-by-play: Ian Eagle
• Analyst: Charles Davis
• Sideline reporter: Evan Washburn

∎ Cable/Community TV: CBS. The sport can be accessible domestically by way of the next stations: WROC channel 8 (Rochester space), WIVB channel 4 (Buffalo space), WTVH channel 5 (Syracuse space), WKTV channel 2 (Utica space), WENY channel 2 (Elmira space), WRGB channel 10 (Albany space), and WBNG channel 12 (Binghamton space).

∎ On-line streaming providers: You possibly can watch video games on NFL.com and the NFL cell app, and you’ll subscribe to NFL+, the league’s personal streaming service, although you may’t forged the video games to your TV – it’s essential to watch in your cellphone or pill.

∎ TV streaming: You may as well stream video games when you’ve got subscriptions to Spectrum, DirecTV, fuboTV, Sling, Vidgo, Hulu + Reside TV, YouTube TV, and Paramount+.

On the radio: The best way to take heed to the Payments vs Texans recreation

You possibly can hear on SiriusXM satellite tv for pc radio on channel 381 (Payments feed) and channel 229 (Texans feed), and on conventional radio, the Payments Radio Community has stations all throughout the state. Chris Brown has the play-by-play, Eric Wooden is the analyst, and Sal Capaccio is the sideline reporter. The community consists of:

• Rochester (WCMF 96.5 and WROC 950 AM)
• Buffalo (WGR550, 550 AM)
• Syracuse (WTKW 99.5/WTKV 105.5)
• Binghamton (WDRE 100.5FM)
• Ithaca (WIII 99.9/100.3 FM)
• Bathtub (WVIN 98.3 FM)
• Newark (WACK 1420 AM)
• Dansville (WDNY 93.9 FM)
• Elmira (WNGZ 1490 AM)
• Auburn (WAUB 98.1 FM/1590 AM)
• Geneva (WGVA 95.9 FM, 1240 AM)

Sal Maiorana has coated the Buffalo Payments for 4 many years together with 35 years because the full-time beat author for the D&C, and he has written quite a few books in regards to the historical past of the staff. He might be reached at maiorana@gannett.com, and you’ll comply with him on Twitter @salmaiorana.https://profile.democratandchronicle.com/newsletters/bills-blast

We sometimes advocate attention-grabbing services and products. When you make a purchase order by clicking one of many hyperlinks, we could earn an affiliate payment. USA TODAY Community newsrooms function independently, and this doesn’t affect our protection.