Josh Allen’s night nearly took a terrifying turn when he took a heavy hit early in Thursday’s clash against the Houston Texans. The Bills signal-caller landed awkwardly, his shoulder going numb—but he stayed in the game and powered through. The Buffalo Bills’ playoff hopes are in jeopardy due to the injury scare.
Buffalo’s star QB was tackled from behind late in the first quarter, hitting the turf hard and immediately favoring his left arm. According to Buffalo Rumblings, Allen said afterward his shoulder “went numb” momentarily before feeling returned.
Despite the scare, Allen remained in the game and handled 34 drop-backs, completing 24 passes for 253 yards—but threw two interceptions and was hammered for seven sacks, a career high.
The Texans’ defense showed why they’re gaining elite status: edge rushers Will Anderson Jr. and Danielle Hunter combined for 4.5 sacks, helping Houston sack Allen for a total of eight times. That relentless pressure forced Buffalo’s offense into uncomfortable territory.
On the Bills’ side, running back James Cook managed 116 yards and a touchdown, and receiver Khalil Shakir hauled in eight catches for 110 yards—but the offense couldn’t overcome Allen’s uneven night and the defense’s issues.
The injury scares didn’t stop with Allen: linebacker Terrel Bernard exited the game with an elbow injury, adding to Buffalo’s mounting health concerns as they try to stay afloat in the AFC playoff picture.
Fans and analysts alike took to social media in real time. One X comment summed it up:
“When Allen hits the turf like that, Bills Mafia’s hearts skip a beat.”
Others pointed to the offensive line’s breakdown:
“How many times can you sack Allen before it breaks him?
And there were vocal concerns about the shoulder injury:
“Glad the shoulder came back online—but this was too close.”
Buffalo now turns its attention to the Pittsburgh Steelers on short rest following Thanksgiving. Allen’s shoulder will be under close watch—the team will require clearance from trainers and maybe imaging before declaring him ready to go. The Bills must also clean up the protection breakdowns and sharpen execution on both sides of the ball to stay in the playoff race.
With the AFC wild-card picture tightening, a healthy Allen is pivotal. If he carries any lingering discomfort into the next game, Buffalo’s postseason aspirations could take a major hit.
