HOUSTON –Houston Texans kicker Ka’imi Fairbairn kicks a game-winning 28-yard field goal as Buffalo Bills cornerback Kevin Johnson tries to block a kick during overtime of an NFL wild-card playoff football game Saturday to secure 22-19 victory.
Houston quarterback Deshaun Watson led three second-half scoring drives to erase a double-digit deficit. Watson directed a 73-yard game-winning drive capped off by Fairbairn field goal to help the Texans to advance to the divisional round.
“I told the guys, I put a card in their lockers, ‘Let’s be great today,’ ” said Watson, who finished with 247 yards on 20-of-25 passing. “Somebody had to be great. Why not me?”
The Texans scored 19 straight points to take the lead before Steven Hauschka’s 47-yard field goal tied it with 5 seconds left in regulation.
“We never quit, regardless,” Watson said. “Whatever it takes to get the win. I mean, we’re going to keep fighting.”
Josh Allen and the Bills (10-7) used a dominant first half to build a 13-point lead and were up 16-0 heading into the third quarter.
Allen threw for 264 yards, ran for 92 and caught a touchdown pass on a trick play in the first quarter, but often looked rattled late after the Texans blitzed heavily in the second half.
“This is why you come back. I don’t know if I meant to come back for these many plays or this much extra time, but these feelings, these emotions, these fans, these players, Deshaun Watson and all the guys on this team, this is why you come back.” Texans JJ Watt said.
The Texans (10-7) advance to the divisional round of the playoffs next weekend where they’ll face either the Chiefs or the Ravens depending on the outcome of Saturday night’s Titans-Patriots wild-card game.
