Late TD lifts Texans over Bills
HOUSTON • Johnathan Joseph’s 28-yard interception return for a touchdown with 1:23 remaining lifted the Houston Texans to a 20-13 victory over the Buffalo Bills on Sunday.
The Texans trailed by three when Phillip Gaines was called for pass interference on Will Fuller in the end zone with two minutes remaining, moving the Texans 41 yards to the one-yard line.
But the Texans (3-3) lost seven yards on three plays, capped by an incomplete pass intended for Ryan Griffin that Matt Milano knocked down to force Houston to kick.
A 27-yard field goal by Ka’imi Fairbairn tied it with 1:34 remaining.
Two plays later, Joseph stepped in front of a pass from backup Nathan Peterman that was intended for Kelvin Benjamin and dashed untouched into the end zone to put the Texans on top and help them avoid their third straight overtime game.
The Bills had a chance to tie after that, but Kareem Jackson intercepted Peterman with 35 seconds left to secure the victory.
Joseph’s late-game heroics helped Houston to its third straight win on a day quarterback Deshaun Watson committed three turnovers.
The Bills harried and harassed Watson all day, sacking him seven times and hitting him 12 more times. Watson, who was questionable this week with a chest injury, was slow to get up several times and didn’t seem to be moving as well as he normally does.
Watson was 15 of 25 for 177 yards with a touchdown and two interceptions. He also lost a fumble.
Peterman threw for 61 yards with a touchdown and two interceptions for the Bills (2-4) after taking over for rookie Josh Allen, who left the game with an elbow injury late in the third quarter. Allen threw for 84 yards and ran for 20.
For his career, Peterman now has three touchdowns and nine interceptions in five games.