Josh Allen Sends Message to Joe Brady After Win

Josh Allen threw a 34-yard touchdown pass to Joshua Palmer with 1:36 remaining. Buffalo defeated Houston 36-31 in a back-and-forth Sunday opener.

• 334 passing yards and four total touchdowns for Allen on the day.
• 96 yards covered by the game-winning drive, starting at Buffalo's own 4.
• Greg Rousseau recorded two sacks, including the strip sack that sealed the win.
• 58-yard field goal by Ka'imi Fairbairn gave Houston a 31-30 lead with 6:44 left.

Why it matters: The game was the first for Bills coach Joe Brady, who was promoted from offensive coordinator after Sean McDermott's firing. Buffalo had not won in Houston since 2006.

• David Montgomery, acquired from Detroit, scored three touchdowns in his Texans debut.
• DJ Moore, in his Buffalo debut after a trade from Chicago, caught five passes for 100 yards and a touchdown.

How 15 sources split on this story

Where they split: Pre-game coverage split on whether Allen's historically poor record in Houston or Houston's top-ranked defense would define the outcome.

What’s next: Buffalo hosts Detroit on Thursday night, their first game in their new stadium.

• Houston hosts Cincinnati next Sunday.
• Can C.J. Stroud and Houston's offense limit turnovers — Stroud lost two fumbles Sunday — against better competition?
• Will Joe Brady manage play-calling and overall game management consistently as the season progresses?