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Houston\u2019s defense was probably the story of the night as the Texans<\/a> won 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 \u2026<\/p>\n 1 \/ 4<\/p>\n Best images of the 2025 NFL season<\/p>\n Week 1: Detroit Lions wide receiver Isaac TeSlaa (18) makes a catch for a touchdown<\/a> 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.<\/p>\n 1 \/ 4<\/p>\n Best images of the 2025 NFL season<\/p>\n Week 1: Detroit Lions wide receiver Isaac TeSlaa (18) makes a catch for a touchdown<\/a> 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.<\/p>\n 2 \/ 4<\/p>\n Best images of the 2025 NFL season<\/p>\n Week 1: The New England Patriots’ Robert Spillane (14) and Christian Elliss (53) tackle Las Vegas Raiders tight end Michael Mayer (87) during the second half at Gillette Stadium. The Raiders won the game, 20-13.<\/p>\n 3 \/ 4<\/p>\n Best images of the 2025 NFL season<\/p>\n Week 1: New York Giants quarterback Russell Wilson (3) fumbles the ball on a tackle by Washington Commanders safety Will Harris (3) during the first quarter at Northwest Stadium. It was a rough Giants debut for Wilson (17 of 37 passing for 168 yards) as the Commanders won the game, 21-6.<\/p>\n 4 \/ 4<\/p>\n Best images of the 2025 NFL season<\/p>\n Week 1: Fireworks go off before the NFL Kickoff Game between the Philadelphia Eagles and Dallas Cowboys at Lincoln Financial Field. The defending Super Bowl champion Eagles opened the season with a 24-20 victory over their longtime NFC East rivals.<\/p>\n WINNERSTexans defense<\/p>\n It bottled up Bills<\/a> QB 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\u2019t have been close.<\/p>\n Bills Mafia<\/p>\n They travel well, y\u2019all, and successfully crossed the border into the Lone Star State. Buffalo\u2019s fans were frequently in full throat throughout the night, notably on Ray Davis\u2019 97-yard kickoff return for a touchdown before halftime.<\/p>\n Advertisement<\/p>\n Davis Mills<\/p>\n Houston\u2019s 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\u2019s next game \u2026 but if he doesn\u2019t, no on-field worries.<\/p>\n Hail Mary sack?<\/p>\n So maybe it wasn\u2019t an important enough sequence to require a nickname, but let\u2019s underscore that Texans DE Will Anderson ran more than 50 yards to bag Allen for one of Houston\u2019s sacks. Anderson has at least one sack in six consecutives games, currently the longest streak in the league.<\/p>\n Fourth-and-27<\/p>\n The Bills converted one on their last drive, and the dynamic execution of the play seemed to foretell a comeback \u2026 which was not to be. Still, exceptional play design to extend their chances.<\/p>\n New England Patriots<\/p>\n Tied for the league\u2019s best record at 9-2 and with one win over the Bills already in the bag, their advantage in the AFC East<\/a> grew to two games without even invoking the tiebreaker.<\/p>\n Advertisement<\/p>\n LOSERSJosh Allen<\/p>\n Just days after he passed for three touchdowns and ran for three more<\/a>, Allen, the reigning league MVP (for now) and a man responsible for an NFL-best 28 TDs in 2025, didn\u2019t account for even one in Thursday\u2019s 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 \u2013 and actually covered nearly 900 actual yards with his legs 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\u2019s first loss in a Thursday game after he\u2019d started 8-0 in midweek matchups.<\/p>\n Terrel Bernard<\/p>\n Buffalo\u2019s 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.<\/p>\n Advertisement<\/p>\n Texans’ Battle Red\/Bold Bull uniforms<\/p>\n The Texans are selling their red alternate uniforms<\/a> quite hard, even giving them dual branding<\/a>. But meh. The helmet is a mix of red chrome and candy paint red flakes \u2013 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\u2019re almost hard to make out \u2013 though it\u2019s almost a satanic vibe up close. Nah.<\/p>\n 1 \/ 25<\/p>\n Can’t-miss alternate and throwback uniforms of the 2025 NFL season<\/p>\n Week 6: Washington Commanders wide receiver Chris Moore (19) celebrates with teammates after scoring a touchdown during the “Monday Night Football” game against the Chicago Bears at Northwest Stadium. The Commanders wore their all-black alternate uniforms for the game.<\/p>\n 1 \/ 25<\/p>\n Can’t-miss alternate and throwback uniforms of the 2025 NFL season<\/p>\n Week 6: Washington Commanders wide receiver Chris Moore (19) celebrates with teammates after scoring a touchdown during the “Monday Night Football” game against the Chicago Bears at Northwest Stadium. The Commanders wore their all-black alternate uniforms for the game.<\/p>\n 2 \/ 25<\/p>\n Can’t-miss alternate and throwback uniforms of the 2025 NFL season<\/p>\n Week 6: Atlanta Falcons running back Tyler Allgeier (25) carries the ball for a touchdown against the Buffalo Bills at Mercedes-Benz Stadium. The Falcons played the game while sporting throwback uniforms that harken back to the team’s inaugural season of 1966.<\/p>\n 3 \/ 25<\/p>\n Can’t-miss alternate and throwback uniforms of the 2025 NFL season<\/p>\n Week 6: Buffalo Bills quarterback Josh Allen operates at the line of scrimmage before a play against the Atlanta Falcons during a “Monday Night Football” game at Mercedes-Benz Stadium. The Bills wore throwback uniforms reminiscent of the team’s look from 1962-1973 during the game.<\/p>\n 4 \/ 25<\/p>\n Can’t-miss alternate and throwback uniforms of the 2025 NFL season<\/p>\n Week 6: Carolina Panthers quarterback Bryce Young looks for a receiver against the Dallas Cowboys at Bank of America Stadium. The Panthers wore this uniform combination for the first time in the 30-27 win.<\/p>\n 5 \/ 25<\/p>\n Can’t-miss alternate and throwback uniforms of the 2025 NFL season 6 \/ 25<\/p>\n Can’t-miss alternate and throwback uniforms of the 2025 NFL season<\/p>\n Week 5: Arizona Cardinals quarterback Kyler Murray makes a throw during the third quarter against the Tennessee Titans at State Farm Stadium. The Cardinals wore their all-black uniforms, but were defeated 22-21.<\/p>\n 7 \/ 25<\/p>\n Can’t-miss alternate and throwback uniforms of the 2025 NFL season<\/p>\n 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.<\/p>\n 8 \/ 25<\/p>\n Can’t-miss alternate and throwback uniforms of the 2025 NFL season<\/p>\n Week 5: Seattle Seahawks wide receiver Tory Horton (15) is congratulated by teammate AJ Barner (88) after catching a touchdown pass against the Tampa Bay Buccaneers during the second half at Lumen Field. The Seahawks wore throwback uniforms harkening back to the team’s original look from 1976-2001.<\/p>\n 9 \/ 25<\/p>\n Can’t-miss alternate and throwback uniforms of the 2025 NFL season<\/p>\n Week 5: Los Angeles Chargers running back Omarion Hampton (8) runs against the Washington Commanders during the first quarter at SoFi Stadium. The Chargers wore monochrome powder blue uniform pants and jerseys for the first time.<\/p>\n 10 \/ 25<\/p>\n Can’t-miss alternate and throwback uniforms of the 2025 NFL season<\/p>\n Week 5: New York Jets wide receiver Garrett Wilson (5) is tackled by the Dallas Cowboys’ Trevon Diggs (7) and Juanyeh Thomas (2) during the first half at MetLife Stadium. The Cowboys wore their “Arctic White” uniforms for the 37-22 win.<\/p>\n 11 \/ 25<\/p>\n Can’t-miss alternate and throwback uniforms of the 2025 NFL season<\/p>\n Week 5: New York Jets quarterback Justin Fields stands in the pocket against the Dallas Cowboys during the first half at MetLife Stadium. The Jets wore their all-black uniforms in the 37-22 loss.<\/p>\n 12 \/ 25<\/p>\n Can’t-miss alternate and throwback uniforms of the 2025 NFL season<\/p>\n Week 4: Denver Broncos quarterback Bo Nix (10) hands the ball off to running back J.K. Dobbins during the “Monday Night Football”<\/a> game against the Cincinnati Bengals at Empower Field at Mile High. The Broncos wore their “Midnight Navy” uniforms for the 28-3 win<\/a>.<\/p>\n 13 \/ 25<\/p>\n Can’t-miss alternate and throwback uniforms of the 2025 NFL season 14 \/ 25<\/p>\n Can’t-miss alternate and throwback uniforms of the 2025 NFL season 15 \/ 25<\/p>\n Can’t-miss alternate and throwback uniforms of the 2025 NFL season<\/p>\n Week 3: Baltimore Ravens tight end Charlie Kolar (88) makes a catch during his team’s “Monday Night Football” game against the Detroit Lions at M&T Bank Stadium. The Ravens wore their all-black uniforms for the game dubbed, “Darkness Falls.” Despite the fancy marketing moniker, the Ravens were defeated, 38-30.<\/p>\n 16 \/ 25<\/p>\n Can’t-miss alternate and throwback uniforms of the 2025 NFL season<\/p>\n 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.<\/p>\n 17 \/ 25<\/p>\n Can’t-miss alternate and throwback uniforms of the 2025 NFL season<\/p>\n 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.<\/p>\n 18 \/ 25<\/p>\n Can’t-miss alternate and throwback uniforms of the 2025 NFL season<\/p>\n Week 3: New England Patriots tight end Hunter Henry (85) celebrates after scoring a touchdown against the Pittsburgh Steelers at Gillette Stadium. New England brought out its iconic “Pat Patriot” throwback in the 21-14 defeat.<\/p>\n 19 \/ 25<\/p>\n Can’t-miss alternate and throwback uniforms of the 2025 NFL season<\/p>\n Week 3: Tampa Bay Buccaneers running back Rachaad White (1) runs with the ball as New York Jets cornerback Sauce Gardner attempts to make the tackle during the second quarter at Raymond James Stadium. The Buccaneers wore their famous “Creamsicle” throwback uniforms in the 29-27 win.<\/p>\n 20 \/ 25<\/p>\n Can’t-miss alternate and throwback uniforms of the 2025 NFL season<\/p>\n Week 3: Cleveland Browns running back Quinshon Judkins celebrates after scoring a touchdown against the Green Bay Packers during the fourth quarter at Huntington Bank Field. The Browns debuted their “Alpha Dawg” alternate uniform for the 13-10 win.<\/p>\n 21 \/ 25<\/p>\n Can’t-miss alternate and throwback uniforms of the 2025 NFL season<\/p>\n Week 3: Jacksonville Jaguars cornerback Jourdan Lewis (2) celebrates after making an interception in the fourth quarter against the Houston Texans at EverBank Stadium. The Jaguars wore their “Prowler Throwbacks” – an homage to the team’s late-1990s heyday – for the 17-10 win.<\/p>\n 22 \/ 25<\/p>\n Can’t-miss alternate and throwback uniforms of the 2025 NFL season<\/p>\n Week 3: Carolina Panthers tight end JaTavion Saunders runs with the ball against the Atlanta Falcons at Bank of America Stadium. The Panthers wore their special black helmets in the 30-0 win.<\/p>\n 23 \/ 25<\/p>\n Can’t-miss alternate and throwback uniforms of the 2025 NFL season<\/p>\n 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.<\/p>\n 24 \/ 25<\/p>\n Can’t-miss alternate and throwback uniforms of the 2025 NFL season<\/p>\n Week 2: The Green Bay Packers’ Micah Parsons (1) reacts during a “Thursday Night Football” game against the Washington Commanders at Lambeau Field. The Packers wore their “Winter Warning” uniforms for the 27-18 win.<\/p>\n 25 \/ 25<\/p>\n Can’t-miss alternate and throwback uniforms of the 2025 NFL season<\/p>\n Week 1: New Orleans Saints running back Alvin Kamara scores a touchdown against the Arizona Cardinals at Caesars Superdome. The Saints wore their reimagined “Gameday Gold” uniforms for their season opener, marking the first time the team wore gold jerseys since the 2002 season. The Cardinals defeated the Saints, 20-13.<\/p>\n Adrian Hill<\/p>\n The game\u2019s referee suffered an apparent non-contact leg injury<\/a> while 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\u2019d up while adjusting to being a man down.<\/p>\n Advertisement<\/p>\n Keon Coleman<\/p>\n Buffalo\u2019s second-year receiver, the 33rd overall pick of last year\u2019s draft, remains in coach Sean McDermott\u2019s 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.<\/p>\n Indianapolis Colts<\/p>\n Lose Sunday at Kansas City, then they\u2019ll 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.<\/p>\n All NFL news on and off the field.\u00a0Sign up<\/a>\u00a0for USA TODAY’s 4th and Monday newsletter.<\/p>\n Advertisement<\/p>\n![\"\"](\"https:\/\/www.rawchili.com\/nfl\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/09\/ece3b009de0e7aba961c9dfc2585f6aa.jpeg\"\/)
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