Fairbairn's 59-yard field goal as time expires gives Texans 23-20 win over Bills

HOUSTON (AP) — All week, Stefon Diggs downplayed how big it would be when he faced the Buffalo Bills for the first time since a blockbuster trade brought him to Houston.

On Sunday, after the Texans used a last-second field goal to eke out a 23-20 victory, the star receiver finally admitted how important this game was to him.

“I’m not going to sit here and act like it was just regular,” he said. “It meant a lot to me and it was reassuring that the guys around me knew that it meant a lot to me, even if I didn’t say it. I just try to just keep it poised and treat every week like it’s the same … but I’d be lying if I said it didn’t mean a lot.”

C.J. Stroud threw for 331 yards and a touchdown and Ka′imi Fairbairn’s tiebreaking 59-yard field goal as time expired lifted Houston to the victory.

Diggs led the Texans with six receptions for 82 yards and said that Sunday was an emotional day for him after spending the past four seasons in Buffalo.

“I was just trying to take advantage and get a win for my team, but obviously, it’s emotional," he said. “I play with a lot of emotions.”

Then he turned to look directly in the camera and whispered in a sing-song voice.

“I’m emotional,” he said.

The Texans (4-1) led 20-3 after a field goal early in third quarter before the Bills scored 17 straight points to tie it with about 3½ minutes to go.

Stroud was called for intentional grounding to bring up fourth-and-15 and take the Texans out of field-goal range with less than a minute left.

A punt backed the Bills up to their 3 and they punted after three straight incomplete passes to give Houston one last chance.

“Overall, that’s on me,” Buffalo coach Sean McDermott said. “We've just got to do a better job. I have to do a better job in that situation.”

Dare Ogunbowale had a 5-yard run to set up Fairbairn’s game winner.

“It wasn’t all pretty,” coach DeMeco Ryans said. “But it’s the way you finish at the end and I’m proud of the way our guys finished.”

Already without running back Joe Mixon for a fourth straight game, Houston struggled offensively after losing NFL receiving leader Nico Collins to a hamstring injury after he scored a long touchdown early in the second quarter. Ryans said he would by listed as day to day with the injury.

Josh Allen was 9 of 30 for 131 yards and a touchdown as the Bills (3-2) lost for a second straight week after opening the season with three straight wins. Allen struggled before halftime again Sunday, managing just 56 yards passing a week after throwing for 42 yards in the first half of a rout by the Ravens.

“Overall we’ve been a little bit off our game from what we executed in the first three games,” McDermott said.

Dawuane Smoot’s strip-sack of Stroud gave the Bills the ball at the Houston 15 with 4½ minutes to play.

They had the first play of the ensuing drive with Mitchell Trubisky at QB while Allen was in the medical tent being checked out after banging his head hard on the turf a few plays earlier. He re-entered the game on second down but threw two incompletions.

The Bills tied it on a 33-yard field goal.

The Texans were driving with about eight minutes left when Terrel Bernard intercepted a pass intended for Diggs to give Buffalo the ball at its 20.

The Bills couldn’t move the ball and had to punt, but soon got it back on the strip-sack.

The Bills cut the lead to 10 when James Cook scored on a 5-yard run with about nine minutes left in the third quarter.

Rookie Keon Coleman’s 49-yard reception on fourth-and-5 got the Bills within 20-17 on their next drive. Coleman slipped a tackle and then darted down the sideline before flipping into the end zone for his second TD this season.

The touchdown pass was the 231st in Allen’s career, tying him with Patrick Mahomes for the most by a player in his first seven seasons.

The Texans took a 7-3 lead when Cam Akers ran 15 yards for a touchdown with about three minutes left in the first quarter. Ogunbowale had a 38-yard catch-and-run on third-and-5 to keep that drive going.

Collins got in front of the defense for a 67-yard touchdown reception on the first play of Houston’s next drive to extend the lead to 14-3.

Fairbairn added a 50-yard field goal as time expired in the second quarter and his 47-yarder early in the third made it 20-3.

Texans RB British Brooks left with a knee injury in the first quarter. … S Jimmie Ward left in the second with a groin injury.

Bills: Visit the New York Jets on Monday, Oct. 14.

Texans: Visit New England next Sunday.

AP NFL: https://apnews.com/hub/nfl

Buffalo Bills quarterback Josh Allen (17) throws a pass in front of Houston Texans defensive tackle Mario Edwards Jr., left, during the first half of an NFL football game, Sunday, Oct. 6, 2024, in Houston. (AP Photo/Eric Christian Smith)

Buffalo Bills safety Damar Hamlin (3) celebrates after stopping Houston Texans running back Dare Ogunbowale (33) on a fourth down run during the first half of an NFL football game, Sunday, Oct. 6, 2024, in Houston. (AP Photo/Eric Christian Smith)

Houston Texans wide receiver Nico Collins (12) runs from Buffalo Bills safety Damar Hamlin (3) during a 67-yard touchdown reception in the first half of an NFL football game, Sunday, Oct. 6, 2024, in Houston. (AP Photo/Eric Christian Smith)

Houston Texans wide receiver Nico Collins catches a 67-yard touchdown pass during the first half of an NFL football game against the Buffalo Bills, Sunday, Oct. 6, 2024, in Houston. (AP Photo/Eric Christian Smith)

Buffalo Bills quarterback Josh Allen (17) runs from Houston Texans defensive end Will Anderson Jr. (51) during the second half of an NFL football game, Sunday, Oct. 6, 2024, in Houston. (AP Photo/Eric Christian Smith)

Houston Texans linebacker Azeez Al-Shaair (0) breaks up a pass intended for Buffalo Bills tight end Dalton Kincaid (86) during the first half of an NFL football game, Sunday, Oct. 6, 2024, in Houston. (AP Photo/Eric Christian Smith)

Houston Texans linebacker Azeez Al-Shaair breaks up a pass intended for Buffalo Bills tight end Dalton Kincaid, left, during the first half of an NFL football game, Sunday, Oct. 6, 2024, in Houston. (AP Photo/Eric Christian Smith)

Houston Texans quarterback C.J. Stroud (7) throws a pass during the first half of an NFL football game against the Buffalo Bills, Sunday, Oct. 6, 2024, in Houston. (AP Photo/Eric Gay)

Houston Texans wide receiver Stefon Diggs stands on the sideline during the second half of an NFL football game against the Buffalo Bills, Sunday, Oct. 6, 2024, in Houston. (AP Photo/Eric Christian Smith)

LANDOVER, Md. (AP) — Jayden Daniels shook off throwing an early interception at the goal line like it was his 50th NFL game, not his fifth.

“Stay the course,” he said. "Don’t get too high, get too low. Everything’s going to work out.”

It worked out well enough to give Daniels and the Washington Commanders a fourth consecutive victory, a 34-13 rout of the Cleveland Browns on Sunday. The rookie quarterback had nearly as many incompletions as the previous three games combined but overcame that with 82 yards rushing and the longest touchdown pass of his young career.

“I just missed some throws," said Daniels, who was 14 of 25 for 328 yards passing. "That’s it. Some throws I wish I had back, but we were able to capitalize on some plays.”

Washington is 4-1 for the first time since 2008. Cleveland has lost three in a row to drop to 1-4.

“Nobody likes where we are," Browns coach Kevin Stefanski said. “I don’t feel good about 1-4. It eats at you.”

Daniels, Brian Robinson Jr., Austin Ekeler and Jeremy McNichols ran all over the Browns, combining for 211 yards on 31 carries. Robinson ran for two TDs, and McNichols had one in a game so lopsided that fans were doing the wave with four minutes left in the third quarter.

The Commanders defense had a ton to do with that, forcing Deshaun Watson to fumble, sacking him seven times and allowing a total of 212 yards. After Washington entered with the worst third-down defense in the league, Cleveland went 1 of 13 in a sloppy, disjointed effort, with its only touchdown coming in garbage time.

“We held it on our shoulders as a defense like this is the game for us to step forward,” said linebacker Frankie Luvu, who led the team with 2 1/2 sacks. “There’s always room for improvement, and us as a defense, we’re just getting started.”

Watson was 15 of 28 for 125 yards and the late TD toss to tight end Jordan Akins. He has yet to throw for 200 yards in a game this season, but Stefanski said after lifting Watson for Jameis Winston in the final minutes the Browns are “not changing quarterbacks."

“We need to play better," Stefanski said. “This is not a one-person issue on offense.”

Daniels, the No. 2 pick who quickly became the favorite for offensive rookie of the year, did not come close to completing 82.5% of passes like in his first four professional games. But he did make highlight-reel throws of 66 yards to Terry McLaurin and 41 for a TD to Dyami Brown, the latter of which after he asked offensive coordinator Kliff Kingsbury for the chance to go deep.

“He called the play, and we did it,” said Daniels, who gave way to backup Marcus Mariota with 12:50 left and the outcome already determined.

McLaurin made four catches for a season-high 125 yards. Ekeler had a 57-yard run that was Washington's longest since Derrius Guice went for 60 in 2019.

"We didn’t score on every single drive like we have in the past, which is the reality of football," said Ekeler, who had 107 yards from scrimmage in his return from a concussion. “It was just a different kind of philosophy for us to win the game. We had big plays, which obviously helped us. It was great to be able to show, hey, we can win this way, as well.”

Jeremiah Owusu-Koramoah was Cleveland's most impactful player before cramping up in the third quarter, picking off Daniels at his team's 1-yard line, sacking him once and forcing McLaurin to fumble. He was still kicking himself for not finishing another sack of Daniels, too.

"That kind of sticks with me a little bit,” he said.

Browns cornerback Denzel Ward (hamstring) and long snapper Charley Hughlett (rib) were ruled out early in the second half. ... Safety Grant Delpit was evaluated for a head injury after going down in the third quarter. ... C Ethan Pocic went directly to the locker room after walking off the field in the fourth, and Stefanski said it was a knee injury. ... Tight end David Njoku had a 14-yard catch in his return from a three-game absence because of a high ankle sprain.

Browns: Visit the Philadelphia Eagles next Sunday.

Commanders: Visit the Baltimore Ravens next Sunday.

AP NFL: https://apnews.com/hub/nfl

Washington Commanders linebacker Dante Fowler Jr., right, celebrates his sack of Cleveland Browns quarterback Deshaun Watson (not shown) during the second half of an NFL football game in Landover, Md., Sunday, Oct. 6, 2024. (AP Photo/Nick Wass)

Washington Commanders running back Jeremy McNichols (26) runs past Cleveland Browns cornerback Cameron Mitchell (29) during the second half of an NFL football game in Landover, Md., Sunday, Oct. 6, 2024. (AP Photo/Nick Wass)

Washington Commanders quarterback Jayden Daniels (5) watches from the sidelines in the fourth quarter against the Cleveland Browns of an NFL football game in Landover, Md., Sunday, Oct. 6, 2024. (AP Photo/Nick Wass)

Cleveland Browns quarterback Jameis Winston, front is sacked by Washington Commanders quarterback Jayden Daniels, back, during the second half of an NFL football game in Landover, Md., Sunday, Oct. 6, 2024. (AP Photo/Stephanie Scarbrough)

Cleveland Browns cornerback Martin Emerson Jr. (23) recovers a fumble against the Washington Commanders during the second half of an NFL football game in Landover, Md., Sunday, Oct. 6, 2024. (AP Photo/Nick Wass)

Cleveland Browns place kicker Dustin Hopkins, left, kicks a filed goal against the Washington Commanders during the second half of an NFL football game in Landover, Md., Sunday, Oct. 6, 2024. (AP Photo/Stephanie Scarbrough)

Washington Commanders head coach Dan Quinn, center, celebrates with players after a touchdown against the Cleveland Browns during the second half of an NFL football game in Landover, Md., Sunday, Oct. 6, 2024. (AP Photo/Nick Wass)

Cleveland Browns quarterback Deshaun Watson (4) break away from Washington Commanders defensive end Dorance Armstrong (92) during the second half of an NFL football game in Landover, Md., Sunday, Oct. 6, 2024. (AP Photo/Nick Wass)

Cleveland Browns quarterback Deshaun Watson (4) is sacked by Washington Commanders linebacker Dante Fowler Jr. (6) during the second half of an NFL football game in Landover, Md., Sunday, Oct. 6, 2024. (AP Photo/Nick Wass)

Washington Commanders quarterback Jayden Daniels (5) looks to pass against the Cleveland Browns during the first half of an NFL football game in Landover, Md., Sunday, Oct. 6, 2024. (AP Photo/Nick Wass)

Washington Commanders quarterback Jayden Daniels, right, is knocked out of bounds by Cleveland Browns cornerback Mike Ford Jr., left, during the second half of an NFL football game in Landover, Md., Sunday, Oct. 6, 2024. (AP Photo/Nick Wass)

Washington Commanders quarterback Jayden Daniels (5) runs for a long gain against the Cleveland Browns during the second half of an NFL football game in Landover, Md., Sunday, Oct. 6, 2024. (AP Photo/Stephanie Scarbrough)

Washington Commanders quarterback Jayden Daniels (5) runs for a long gain against the Cleveland Browns during the second half of an NFL football game in Landover, Md., Sunday, Oct. 6, 2024. (AP Photo/Stephanie Scarbrough)

Washington Commanders quarterback Jayden Daniels (5) runs past Cleveland Browns defensive end Ogbo Okoronkwo (54) during the first half of an NFL football game in Landover, Md., Sunday, Oct. 6, 2024. (AP Photo/Nick Wass)