Josh Allen #17 of the Buffalo Bills looks to pass against the Houston Texans during the first quarter at NRG Stadium on November 20, 2025 in Houston, Texas.
Josh Allen #17 of the Buffalo Bills looks to pass against the Houston Texans during the first quarter at NRG Stadium on November 20, 2025 in Houston, Texas.
Josh Allen had a tough night in Houston
The Buffalo Bills quarterback was sacked eight times, and hit another four, in the 23-19 loss to the Texans
"Too many times, I was going backwards, and I have to be better on that," Allen said
Josh Allen’s frustration was evident during the Bills' Thursday Night Football game against the Houston Texans.
The Buffalo Bills quarterback slammed his helmet to the ground after a stalled drive late in the game on Thursday, Nov. 20, seemingly questioning the team’s ineffectiveness against the .500 team.
“We had a chance to win it there at the end,” Allen, 29, told reporters after the 23-19 loss. “We did a good job of staying in it and our defense bailed us out a couple of times. We’ve got to find a way, and we didn’t.”
For Allen, the night was not a memorable one. The signal-caller was sacked eight times by Houston’s stifling defense.
“When they hit our quarterback 12 times, I don’t like that,” Bills coach Sean McDermott said, referring to an additional four hits on the reigning NFL MVP. “I don’t like that stat at all. It’s just not a healthy way to play and it’s not a good way to keep our quarterback healthy for the rest of the season. We’ve got to play better.”
Josh Allen #17 of the Buffalo Bills reacts as he's sacked during an NFL football game against the Houston Texans at NRG Stadium on November 20, 2025 in Houston, Texas.
Josh Allen #17 of the Buffalo Bills reacts as he's sacked during an NFL football game against the Houston Texans at NRG Stadium on November 20, 2025 in Houston, Texas.
Allen threw for 253 yards on 24-for-34 passing with two interceptions and the team struggled to have much to show for it.
The helmet-slamming came after a particularly upsetting-for-Bills-fans series in which the team went nine plays involving five straight runs by James Cook III.
Facing 4th-and-1 from Houston’s 23, the Bills were stopped for a two-yard loss.
The team also faced an injury scare in the first half when Allen was hit from behind by Texans defensive end Will Anderson, who smothered the quarterback, sending him to the ground where he briefly stayed.
After the game, Allen said he landed on his shoulder and his arm briefly “felt numb.”
The Thursday Night Football game left the Bills feeling the same way.
"It's not fun. I ran into a couple myself," Allen said, via the team's official transcript, about the sacks. "I have to be better with throwing the ball away, living to see another down, letting us play some situational football and pinning them deep. Too many times, I was going backwards, and I have to be better on that."
His teammate Dion Dawkins had another way to sum up the disappointment in H-Town.
"It's a tough night," left tackle Dawkins said. "Probably won't be able to sleep. When I see the kid get hit and he rolls around on the ground, it's a tough day for the boys."