The Buffalo Bills got outmuscled on national TV, but Dion Dawkins wasn’t ready to label Houston as the more physical team. His stance raised eyebrows after Josh Allen spent most of Thursday night under siege. Buffalo’s Week 12 matchup against the Houston Texans looked like a trench nightmare, ending in a 23-19 defeat that cracked open big questions about the Bills’ toughness up front. Plus, the AFC East race tightened a bit more as Buffalo slipped to 7-4.
In the latest post-game interview, the lineman said, “It’s a game of inches. At the end of the game, Gabe’s feet were just a few inches the other way. Could’ve been different.”
YIKES: #Bills LT Dion Dawkins postgame denied that the #Texans are a more physical team.
“It’s a game of inches. At the end of the game, Gabe’s feet were just a few inches the other way. Could’ve been different”
Dawkins had an awful game with poor effort.pic.twitter.com/QHqYYI0tFi
— MLFootball (@MLFootball) November 21, 2025
Dion Dawkins Insists Texans Weren’t Tougher Despite Bills Getting Overwhelmed
Buffalo Bills, Dion Dawkins
Bills offensive lineman Dion Dawkins waves to fans as he heads to the field on the opening day of Buffalo Bills training camp at St. John Fisher University in Pittsford Wednesday, July 24, 2024.
So far this season, the Bills’ offensive line has been a strength. On Thursday night, it wasn’t closed. Houston racked up 28 quarterback pressures and sacked Allen a career-high eight times, according to Sports Illustrated. Meanwhile, Allen was hit by another 12. Additionally, the Texans’ front continued to press, and Buffalo struggled to respond.
Even so, Dawkins refused to admit that they had been bullied. When he was asked if Houston was the more physical team, he pointed back to the near-miracle deep ball to Gabe Davis. One more toe in bounds, and the vibe could have flipped. Then, the Bills might have been celebrating a gut-check win rather than explaining a missed opportunity.
The final drive turned chaotic. Buffalo converted a wild fourth-and-27 with a lateral that gave them life. But then Dawkins flinched early on fourth-and-1. The false start pushed the Bills back and set up the desperation throw that ended in Calen Bullock’s second interception of the night. Dawkins owned it afterward, telling reporters he has to be better in loud moments and prides himself on playing at a high level.
Meanwhile, Sean McDermott didn’t sugarcoat the physical beating. He called the hits on Allen “not a good formula” for finishing the season strong. Allen even appeared shaken up after a sack by Tim Settle Jr., clutching his wrist before gutting it out to the end.
So now, Buffalo heads into a mini-bye looking for answers up front. The Texans improved to 6-5 and continued winning without C.J. Stroud. The Bills, even at 7-4, suddenly look vulnerable in the AFC East. Thursday proved one thing. Inches matter. And so does protection.