There was a point in the 4th quarter where it felt like the Buffalo Bills were going to repeat history that fans are too familiar with. The game was coming down to the wire in the 4th quarter and the Texans were up on the Bills by one at the two-minute warning.
Even though the Bills were driving after a 35-yard pass from Josh Allen to Dalton Kincaid inside the final two minutes, it still felt like the Bills were going to be coming up short and leaving Houston with an 0-1 record. Bills fans have seen that kind of setup a lot where they get so close, just to be let down.
Then on a second down play in Houston territory, Allen launched the ball into the endzone that was almost picked off by Kamari Lassiter, but it was dropped. The Bills then were facing a third-down, and instead of playing it safe, Allen found Joshua Palmer for a 34-yard touchdown grab to give the Bills the go-ahead score with just over 1:30 minute left in regulation.
Joshua Palmer's clutch TD wasn't originally supposed to happen
That catch by Palmer was his only catch of the game, but it was the one that decided the game in favor of the Bills. After the game, Josh Allen spoke with Evan Washburn from CBS Sports and broke down the play to Palmer.
"You want the absolute truth, we call this a horseshoe. This is not where the ball is supposed to go. We have never once repped the ball going there. I just felt that those safeties were cheating to DJ [Moore] a little bit, Josh [Palmer] ran a great route, put it on the line for him, he goes and does the rest." said Allen.
"Stay ready so that you don't have to get ready. He stayed ready all game. He did his job, and obviously, he comes up with the play of the game." Allen added.
"This is not where the ball is supposed to go. We have never once repped the ball going there."
— NFL on CBS 🏈 (@NFLonCBS) September 13, 2026
Josh Allen breaks down the Josh Palmer TD, which gave the Bills the lead late in the game
🎙️: @EvanWashburn pic.twitter.com/SMxQxE7Ti4
Whether it was planned or not, the Bills ended up getting the must-win over the Texans to avoid coming back to Orchard Park at 0-1. The Texans are the type of team where it's not about how you win, it's just about winning in general.
Houston has the type of defense that can close out a game, but they couldn't do it this time against the Bills. Buffalo ended up getting the luck in their corner and now they head into this Thursday night Week 2 battle against the Detroit Lions with a great inner-conference win.
When it comes to Palmer, while he wasn't involved with the gamplan throughout the game, him getting the ultimate game-deciding catch should give him some confidence considering that he wasn't the original go-to receiver for Allen on that play.
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