HOUSTON (AP) – Deshaun Watson spun out of a would-be sack and
coolly completed a pass that set up the winning field goal in
overtime as the Texans rallied from a double-digit second-half
deficit for a victory over Buffalo in the first round of the
playoffs.
Both teams punted on their first possessions of overtime – the
first extra period in an AFC wild-card game since January 2012. On
Houston’s next drive, Watson evaded a sack by wriggling away from
one defender and bouncing off another before rolling out to find
Taiwan Jones for a 34-yard reception to set up first-and-goal.
Watson flexed both arms as the crowd at NRG Stadium went wild –
knowing their team was in position to pull off another comeback win
to Houston’s playoff history.
Ka’imi Fairbairn then kicked a 28-yard field goal to lift Houston
to the victory.
The Texans (11-6) advance to the divisional round of the playoffs
next weekend where they’ll face the Chiefs.
The Texans got a boost from the return of J.J. Watt, who had a sack
that helped spark his team. Houston scored 19 straight points to
take the lead before Stephen Hauschka’s 47-yard field goal tied it
with 5 seconds left to force overtime.
It was Watt’s first game after sitting out since October with a
torn pectoral muscle.
The win gives the Texans their first playoff victory since the 2016
season and extends Buffalo’s postseason losing streak to six games,
with their most recent playoff win coming in 1995. It’s the first
wild-card overtime game since the Broncos beat the Steelers 29-23
in the 2011 season.
This time Josh Allen and the Bills (10-7) used a dominant first
half to build a 13-point lead and were up 16-0 in the third quarter.
Watson had 247 yards passing and ran for 55 yards and DeAndre
Hopkins had 90 yards receiving.
Allen threw for 264 yards, ran for 92 and caught a touchdown pass
on a trick play in the first quarter, but often looked rattled late
in his playoff debut.