Buffalo Bills Win Key Game Against The Houston Texans

It was a game they absolutely needed to keep their slim playoff hopes alive and the Buffalo Bills came thru with a 30-21 victory over the Houston Texans. The Texans came into the game as one of the hottest teams in the league and a lot of had to do with the play of defensive end Jamie Watt.  The key for the Bills offense was to stop Watt and for the most part they did by coming up with schemes to stop him.

The second part was for the Bills playmakers to make big plays and they did that too.  Sammy Watkins caught three passes including catches for 56 and 53 yards plus a 3-yard touchdown.  Charles Clay caught four balls including the game winning touchdown on a 40-yard catch.

Tyrod Taylor was an efficient 11 of 21 for 211 yards with three touchdowns and set a Bills record by going 176 passes without throwing an interception - a record previously held by Drew Bledsoe set in 2002.

And another huge day by Lesean McCoy with 112 yards rushing including one for 32 yards.  It was his third 100-yard game this season with a trip to his former team the Philadelphia Eagles coming up next week.

It was the Bills first game at home in almost a month and after the game coach Rex Ryan said it felt good to be home and almost strange that they'd been away so long.  That good feeling won't last long.  They play their next two on the road in Philadelphia and Washington before returning to Wilson Stadium to host Dallas and the Jets to close the season.

The victory was all the more key because the Jets rallied to beat the Giants in overtime while Miami surprised Baltimore.  It keeps the Bills in third place in the AFC East with the Jets one game ahead of the Bills and the Dolphins one game back.

The win came at a price though.  The Bills lost defensive backs Stephon Gilmore and Ron Brooks to shoulder injuries.