🔗 Share this article

Little clicked for the Bills' quarterback in a disappointing game on Thursday evening against the Texans.

And still he nearly managed to willing the Bills to a win before an late pick in the last moments ended their hopes in a close defeat.

The quarterback took back-to-back tackles for loss on the team's last drive, resulting in a fourth-and-27, but Buffalo (with seven wins) picked up significant yardage on a short pass from Allen to a receiver, who flipped a backward pass to another teammate.

Following a pre-snap infraction created a fourth down situation for the Bills, Calen Bullock picked off Allen’s throw at the Houston 9 with 24 seconds left.

“We had a opportunity to come out on top there at the conclusion,” Allen said. “Our team performed a solid job of staying in it and our defense saved us a few instances. We must figure it out, and unfortunately we failed.”

Proved difficult for the signal-caller to get anything going on a evening he was sacked a career-high on eight occasions and pressured four additional instances. The QB threw for 253 passing yards with a pair of picks and zero scores after producing six TDs in a win over the Buccaneers last week.

“When they pressure our quarterback 12 times, that's unacceptable,” Bills coach McDermott said. “I don’t like that stat at all. It’s just not a healthy way to compete and it isn't a good way to keep our field general healthy for the rest of the season. We’ve got to play better.”

Allen was slow to rise after a sack in the first half. He indicated he was OK and that his left shoulder “lost some feeling” after he landed on it in an awkward manner. He was asked about being hit so many times on Thursday.

“It’s not fun,” he remarked. “I ran into a few myself. I need to be better at disposing of the football. Too many times, I was going backwards.”

The Bills' QB surrendered 70 total yards on the eight quarterback takedowns. Will Anderson Jr. had two and a half sacks to lead the Texans. His second one came when he almost sacked the QB near the line of scrimmage, but he wriggled away and Anderson got up and chased him downfield to drop him for an 18-yard loss to result in a punt early in the third.

Buffalo played for a second consecutive matchup absent wideout Coleman after he was again a healthy scratch after he was tardy to a team meeting before their previous contest. He was previously held out for the opening drive of a loss to the Patriots in Week 5 after additionally being late for a team session.

No change. We are taking it day by day,” McDermott said. “I thought he had a improved week, but we’re taking it one day at a time. It was not that it was ignored, but we opted for the players that provide the best chance.”

Shakir topped the Buffalo with eight receptions for 110 receiving yards and James Cook had 116 yards and a score.

Allen was frustrated that the team were unable to execute in crucial moments.

In the end, we must execute, and we failed to do a good job of that tonight,” he concluded. “Whatever scenario and whatever circumstance, we’ve got to find a way, and we came up short.”