If you don't like NFL football on Thursday nights … then you missed an eventful affair.
TheHouston Texans corralled the Buffalo Bills23-19 to kick off Week 12 of the 2025 season in a game that featured valiant efforts on both sides – andeven by the officials– in a contest thatcould have far-reaching implications on the playoffand MVP races.
Houston's defense was probably the story of the night as theTexanswon for the fourth time in the past five games to improve their odds of making the playoffs and possibly winning a third straight AFC South crown. But it was hardly alone in terms of the winners and losers beyond the scoreboard …
Week 1: Detroit Lions wide receiver Isaac TeSlaa (18) makes a catch for a touchdown against the Green Bay Packers during the fourth quarter at Lambeau Field. The play was originally ruled an incomplete pass, but the call was overturned. Despite TeSlaa's effort, the Packers won the game 27-13." style="max-width:100%; height:auto; border-radius:6px; margin:10px 0;" loading="lazy" /> 
Best images of the 2025 NFL season
Week 1: Detroit Lions wide receiver Isaac TeSlaa (18)makes a catch for a touchdownagainst the Green Bay Packers during the fourth quarter at Lambeau Field. The play was originally ruled an incomplete pass, but the call was overturned. Despite TeSlaa's effort, the Packers won the game 27-13.
WINNERS
Texans defense
It bottled upBillsQB Josh Allen, the reigning league MVP, while forcing three turnovers and bowing up on third downs and in the red zone. Had Buffalo not scored on special teams, this game wouldn't have been close.
Bills Mafia
They travel well, y'all, and successfully crossed the border into the Lone Star State. Buffalo's fans were frequently in full throat throughout the night, notably on Ray Davis' 97-yard kickoff return for a touchdown before halftime.
Davis Mills
Houston's QB2 maybe seemed a touch incidental while passing for 153 yards. But two of his 16 completions went for touchdowns as Mills won his third consecutive game since starter C.J. Stroud went down with a concussion. Stroud seems poised to return with another 10 days to rest before Houston's next game … but if he doesn't, no worries here.
Hail Mary sack?
OK, so maybe it wasn't an important enough sequence to require a nickname, but let's underscore that Texans DE Will Anderson ran more than 50 yards to bag Allen for one of Houston's sacks.
Will Anderson Jr. traveled 51.7 yards to sack Josh Allen, the longest distance on a sack since Week 2, 2023.No other Texans defender over the last decade has covered more than 37 yards on a sack.#BUFvsHOU|#HTownMadepic.twitter.com/aZfNQ2A4EI
— Next Gen Stats (@NextGenStats)November 21, 2025
Fourth-and-27
The Bills converted one on their last drive, and the dynamic execution of the play seemed to foretell a comeback … which was not to be. Still, exceptional play design to extend their chances.
Just... WOWpic.twitter.com/MGS1ujlvrx
— NFL (@NFL)November 21, 2025
New England Patriots
Tied for the league's best record at 9-2 and with one win over the Bills already in the bag,their advantage in the AFC Eastgrew to two games without even invoking the tiebreaker.
LOSERS
Josh Allen
Just days after he passed for three touchdowns and ran for three more, Allen, the reigning league MVP (for now), didn't account for even one in Thursday's defeat. He was sacked a career-high eight times, hit a total of 12 and was frequently running for his life behind a battered O-line – and actually covered nearly 900 yards over the course of the game, per Next Gen Stats. His second pick of the night came on his 34th and final throw, cinching the game for Houston. It was Allen's first loss in a Thursday game after he'd started 8-0 in midweek matchups.
UPDATE: Josh Allen ran the 3rd-most yards by distance from snap to whistle (882.2 yards) among Bills offensive players behind only TE Dawson Knox (1184.9) and WR Khalil Shakir (960 yards) in the Bills' loss tonight against the Texans.
— Next Gen Stats (@NextGenStats)November 21, 2025
Terrel Bernard
Buffalo's defensive captain left the game with an elbow injury that left him in obvious pain and, later, a sling. Yet another blow this team can hardly afford.
Texans' Battle Red/Bold Bull uniforms
The Texans are selling their red alternate uniforms quite hard, evengiving them dual branding. But meh. The helmet is a mix of red chrome and candy paint red flakes – a nice effect actually, but it overwhelms a fairly drab, red uniform. The horns on the helmet are so dark and devoid of trim, they're almost hard to make out – though it's almost a satanic vibe up close. Nah.
Week 5: Buffalo Bills wide receiver Curtis Samuel makes a catch against the New England Patriots at Highmark Stadium. The Bills wore their new "Rivalries" uniform for the "Sunday Night Football" game, which the Patriots won, 23-20." style="max-width:100%; height:auto; border-radius:6px; margin:10px 0;" loading="lazy" /> 
Week 5: Tampa Bay Buccaneers quarterback Baker Mayfield awaits the snap against the Seattle Seahawks at Lumen Field. Both teams wore throwback uniforms in the Buccaneers' 38-35 win. The Buccaneers and Seahawks entered the NFL together as expansion teams in 1976." style="max-width:100%; height:auto; border-radius:6px; margin:10px 0;" loading="lazy" /> 
Week 4: Denver Broncos quarterback Bo Nix (10) hands the ball off to running back J.K. Dobbins during the "Monday Night Football" game against the Cincinnati Bengals at Empower Field at Mile High. The Broncos wore their "Midnight Navy" uniforms for the 28-3 win." style="max-width:100%; height:auto; border-radius:6px; margin:10px 0;" loading="lazy" /> 
Week 4: Miami Dolphins running back De'von Achane rushes the ball against the New York Jets during a 27-21 win on "Monday Night Football" at Hard Rock Stadium. The Dolphins wore their new their Nike "Rivalries" uniforms – the team version dubbed "Dark Waters."" style="max-width:100%; height:auto; border-radius:6px; margin:10px 0;" loading="lazy" /> 
Week 4: The Arizona Cardinals defense tackles Seattle Seahawks wide receiver Tory Horton (15) during the first quarter of a "Thursday Night Football" game at State Farm Stadium. The Cardinals became the first NFL team to wear the new Nike "Rivalries" uniform in a game. The Seahawks won the game, 23-20." style="max-width:100%; height:auto; border-radius:6px; margin:10px 0;" loading="lazy" /> 
Week 3: New Orleans Saints running back Kendre Miller (5) stiff arms Seattle Seahawks linebacker Tyrice Knight (48) during the second quarter at Lumen Field. The Saints wore their all-white uniform and helmet combo for the first time in the 44-13 loss." style="max-width:100%; height:auto; border-radius:6px; margin:10px 0;" loading="lazy" /> 
Week 3: San Francisco 49ers running back Christian McCaffrey carries the ball against the Arizona Cardinals during the first half at Levi's Stadium. The 49ers wore throwback jerseys - an homage to the team's 1950s look, as well as its 1994 Super Bowl-winning season - in the 16-15 win against the Cardinals." style="max-width:100%; height:auto; border-radius:6px; margin:10px 0;" loading="lazy" /> 
Week 2: Minnesota Vikings quarterback J.J. McCarthy (9) runs the ball against the Atlanta Falcons at U.S. Bank Stadium. Sporting "The Vikings Classic" throwback uniform inspired by the team's look during the 1960s and '70s, Minnesota was defeated, 22-6." style="max-width:100%; height:auto; border-radius:6px; margin:10px 0;" loading="lazy" /> 
Can't-miss alternate and throwback uniforms of the 2025 NFL season
Adrian Hill
The game's refereesuffered an apparent non-contact leg injurywhile running in one of the end zones midway through the third quarter. Hill was carted off the field and had to be replaced by umpire Roy Ellison as the crew scrambled to get him mic'd up while adjusting to being a man down.
Keon Coleman
Buffalo's second-year receiver, the 33rd overall pick of last year's draft, remains in coach Sean McDermott's doghouse and was a healthy scratch for the second time in five days. The decision was especially notable given the Bills were without injured TE Dalton Kincaid and WRs Curtis Samuel and Mecole Hardman.
Indianapolis Colts
Lose Sunday at Kansas City, then they'll only be two games up on the surging Texans in the AFC South race. And with the division rivals yet to meet in 2025, that would open a path for Houston to reclaim the first-place perch its enjoyed in recent years.
All NFL news on and off the field.Sign upfor USA TODAY's 4th and Monday newsletter.
This article originally appeared on USA TODAY:Josh Allen highlights Bills vs Texans winners and losers
