The Buffalo Bills revived their staggering playoff hopes on Sunday with a 30-21 win over the Houston Texans, leveling their season record at 6-6. They’re still on the outside looking in (6 teams qualify, the Bills stand eighth), but a loss would have all but buried them as far as their postseason hopes were concerned, as it would have been a second consecutive loss to a team ahead of them in the standings. On offense, the team used the formula that they need to follow to be successful – run the ball, don’t turn it over and mix in some big plays in the passing game. Quarterback Tyrod Taylor had what was probably his best game of the season, completing 11 of 21 throws for 211 yards and 3 touchdowns, and running for another score. LeSean McCoy, priming up for a clash with his former team, the Eagles, next week, led the rushing attack with 112 yards on 21 carries, while Taylor and newcomer Mike Gillislee sprinkled in some nice runs to help amass 187 yards on the ground at a 5.2 yard per carry clip. Taylor also spread the ball around nicely to his weapons in the passing game, with Sammy Watkins, Robert Woods and Charles Clay having big games and scoring touchdowns through the air despite the team’s limited focus on the passing game.
Defensively, the Bills were somewhat disappointing again, as they still are struggling to put together a consistently dominating game. They did, however, make plays when they needed to as they now seem to have evolved into a “bend but don’t break” unit, despite their talent. Some defensive standouts in the game included linebackers Manny Lawson and Preston Brown, who were the team’s leading tacklers, Jerry Hughes and safety Bacarri Rambo, who both had 6 tackles and a sack. Rambo, who is developing into a playmaker in the Bills’ secondary, also had a key pass breakup late in the game to squelch a Texans’ drive with a big hit on the receiver.
Buffalo may have to run the table in their remaining 4 games to make the playoffs, and will begin their attempt to do that next week in Philadelphia against an Eagle team that should be bursting with confidence after knocking off New England on Sunday. That will be the first of the Bills’ NFC East tour, with games against the Redskins in Washington and the Dallas Cowboys at home to follow.