Sunday afternoon in Houston Texas had a real family reunion kind of feel to it.
Bill O'Brien and Doug Marrone are good friends who used to coach together a while back. It was also a reunion of sorts for RYAN FITZPATRICK
as he faced his old team and EJ Manuel.
We knew Arian Foster was going to play. Could be be effective despite being hamstrung?
Would the Texans be able to handle the running game of CJ Spiller and the deep route abilities of Sammy Watkins.
Houston would have no success running the ball in the first half as Arian Foster was a non-factor early.
Buffalo would jump out to an early 10-0 lead when EJ Manuel found Sammy Watkins on a five yard pass for a score.
NRG Stadium was quiet. Eerily quiet until the final minute of play in the first half when Ryan Fitzpatrick began providing a nice mix of runs and passes culminating in an 8 play 80 yard drive that placed Houston in a 10-7 whole at the half. Fitz connecting on a 35 yard pass to DeANDRE HOPKINS to end the shutout.
As fans began to settle into their seats to begin the third period it was the 100 million dollar man who brought the NRG to a high level pitch. JJ Watt nabbed a third and three pass from EJ Manuel and rumbled back 80 yards for a touchdown and a 14-10 Texans lead.
The roar got louder when Watt channeled his inner Deion Sanders while sidestepping his way into the end zone. The replay made Watt blush just a little. Some of termed his touchdown dance ''the Nae Nae".
"I was like: 'You're a white defensive lineman, just run the ball in," Watt said.
"He made a play, and a key of ours was to make sure he wasn't going to make that big disruptive play prior to the game, and he did, and he made a lot of plays," Bills coach Doug Marrone said when asked about Watt.
Buffalo would not go away quietly even after the Texans extended their lead to 20-10 after two field goals of 41 and 55 yards by Randy Bullock. Houston got caught napping as EJ Manuel found an all-alone Mike Williams deep for an 80 yard touchdown and a 20-17 deficit.
Enter Fitzpatrick and the Houston offense. Playing ball control and salting away the clock Houston was able to add a 50 yard field goal for a 23-17 lead.
Inside the Texans locker room all the talk was about the prowess of JJ Watt as evidenced by Brian Cushing here.
Despite two interceptions for Ryan Fitzpatrick he was able to throw for 289 yards while EJ Manuel threw for only 225 as he got picked off twice. Darryl Morris iced the win with less than two minutes remaining.
Houston now improves to 3-1. Their next opponent will be the Dallas Cowboys. Should they win at home later this night with the Saints you will have a battle of 3-1 teams playing for bragging rights.
Andre Johnson your leading receiver with 6 catches for 71 yards. Brian Cushing brought the hurt with 8 tackles by himself. Expect a defensive battle in Arlington on October 5th.
Over and out in Big D.
Mr. Will