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MVP Allen given torrid time as Texans beat Bills

Houston Texans cornerback Kamari Lassiter and safety Calen Bullock celebrate after beating the Buffalo Bills — Calen Bullock forced three turnovers for Houston, giving them 19 overall this season - only Chicago (22) have more [Reuters]

NFL 2025 season: Week 12

BBC coverage: Live text commentary of Sunday's games on the BBC Sport website and app (from 17:30 GMT). Also live radio commentary on BBC Radio 5 Sports Extra and BBC Sounds of Philadelphia Eagles v Dallas Cowboys (from 21:00 GMT).

The Houston Texans' defence gave Josh Allen a torrid time as they claimed a 23-19 win over the Buffalo Bills.

The Texans sacked last season's Most Valuable Player eight times - the most the Bills quarterback has endured in a single game - and claimed two interceptions.

Both were by Houston safety Calen Bullock, who also forced a fumble, with his second interception at the death ensuring the hosts held on for victory after leading 20-16 at half-time.

Former Super Bowl favourites Buffalo have a record of seven wins and four defeats, after losing four of their past seven games, while Houston are now 6-5.

Although their starting quarterback CJ Stroud missed a fourth game following a concussion, back-up Davis Mills led the Texans to a third straight win, giving them a winning record for the first time this season.

Bills running back James Cook had a game-high 116 rushing yards, opening the scoring with a 45-yard touchdown.

The two sides exchanged field goals before Mills found Christian Kirk for a two-yard touchdown, and Bullock intercepted Allen with the Texans' Ka'imi Fairbairn kicking another field goal from the resulting possession.

Ray Davis returned the kick-off for a 97-yard touchdown to help the Bills into a 16-13 lead, but the Texans hit straight back with Mills making an eight-yard touchdown pass to Jayden Higgins five seconds before the end of the first half.

Bullock knocked the ball out of Khalil Shakir's grasp and the Texans recovered it, with Fairbairn kicking a third field goal at the end of the third quarter.

And although the Bills cut the deficit with a field goal and got in position to score a game-winning touchdown with 24 seconds left, Allen was picked off by Bullock for his ninth interception of the season and fifth in three games.

Houston finished with 12 quarterback hits and Allen will face an in-form Pittsburgh Steelers defence next week.

"I don't like that stat at all," said Buffalo's head coach Sean McDermott. "It's not a good way to keep our quarterback healthy for the rest of the season. We've got to play better."

Thursday Night Football: Texans sack Josh Allen, Bills 23-19

The Texans sacked Josh Allen eight times, hit him 12 times, intercepted him twice and forced and recovered a fumble by Khalil Shakir. Still, it came down to the end as the Texans held on for a 23-19 victory over the Bills.

It was Houston's third consecutive win, with all three coming without C.J. Stroud, as the Texans climbed back to 6-5. The Bills fell to 7-4.

The Bills managed to make it a game, even though the Texans felt in control the final three quarters.

Buffalo stayed alive on fourth-and-27 with 51 seconds left on a trick play, with Joshua Palmer catching a short pass and lateraling to Khalil Shakir for a 33-yard gain to the Houston 26. Gabe Davis nearly made a miraculous catch inside the 5-yard line on the next play, but he got only one foot down in bounds.

That was as close as the Bills would get against a relentless Texans defense that saw Will Anderson get 2.5 sacks of Allen and Danielle Hunter contribute two more.

Calen Bullock made his second interception of Allen on fourth-and-6 from the Houston 22 with 18 seconds left.

Allen finished 24-of-34 for 253 yards and two interceptions. Shakir caught eight passes for 110 yards, and James Cook ran 17 times for 116 yards and a touchdown.

Mills completed 16 of 30 passes for 153 yards and two touchdowns, an 8-yarder to Jayden Higgins and a 2-yarder to Christian Kirk. Nico Collins caught three passes for 55 yards, and Woody Marks ran for 74 yards on 16 carries.

Matthew Berry’s Fantasy Football Rankings for Week 12 of 2025 season

Below are my Week 12, 2025 positional ranks for PPR leagues.

As always, these ranks are continually updated throughout the week, so check back often. And don’t forget to check out Fantasy Football Happy Hour with Matthew Berry every weekday LIVE at 12 p.m. ET on YouTube and on Peacock at 5 p.m. ET.

And then on Sunday mornings, be sure to tune into Fantasy Football Pregame, 11 a.m. ET to 1 p.m. ET on Peacock and the NFL on NBC YouTube channel.

Let’s get to it.

QB Rankings

Rank	Player	Position	Team	Opp	Bye
1	Drake Maye	QB	Patriots	Bengals	14
2	Jalen Hurts	QB	Eagles	Cowboys	9
3	Lamar Jackson	QB	Ravens	Jets	7
4	Patrick Mahomes	QB	Chiefs	Colts	10
5	Matthew Stafford	QB	Rams	Buccaneers	8
6	Jaxson Dart	QB	Giants	Lions	14
7	Brock Purdy	QB	49ers	Panthers	14
8	Jared Goff	QB	Lions	Giants	8
9	Dak Prescott	QB	Cowboys	Eagles	10
10	Jacoby Brissett	QB	Cardinals	Jaguars	8
11	Daniel Jones	QB	Colts	Chiefs	11
12	Caleb Williams	QB	Bears	Steelers	5
13	Baker Mayfield	QB	Buccaneers	Rams	9
14	Jordan Love	QB	Packers	Vikings	5
15	Trevor Lawrence	QB	Jaguars	Cardinals	8
16	Joe Flacco	QB	Bengals	Patriots	10
17	Sam Darnold	QB	Seahawks	Titans	8
18	Tyler Shough	QB	Saints	Falcons	11
19	Bryce Young	QB	Panthers	49ers	14
20	J.J. McCarthy	QB	Vikings	Packers	6
21	Mason Rudolph	QB	Steelers	Bears	5
22	Tyrod Taylor	QB	Jets	Ravens	9
23	Geno Smith	QB	Raiders	Browns	8
24	Shedeur Sanders	QB	Browns	Raiders
25	Cam Ward	QB	Titans	Seahawks

RB Rankings

Rank	Player	Position	Team	Opp	Bye
1	Christian McCaffrey	RB	49ers	Panthers	14
2	Jahmyr Gibbs	RB	Lions	Giants	8
3	Bijan Robinson	RB	Falcons	Saints	5
4	Jonathan Taylor	RB	Colts	Chiefs	11
5	Saquon Barkley	RB	Eagles	Cowboys	9
6	Rico Dowdle	RB	Panthers	49ers	14
7	Derrick Henry	RB	Ravens	Jets	7
8	Chase Brown	RB	Bengals	Patriots	10
9	Kyren Williams	RB	Rams	Buccaneers	8
10	Ashton Jeanty	RB	Raiders	Browns	8
11	D’Andre Swift	RB	Bears	Steelers	5
12	Travis Etienne	RB	Jaguars	Cardinals	8
13	Javonte Williams	RB	Cowboys	Eagles	10
14	Emanuel Wilson	RB	Packers	Vikings	5
15	TreVeyon Henderson	RB	Patriots	Bengals	14
16	Jaylen Warren	RB	Steelers	Bears	5
17	Breece Hall	RB	Jets	Ravens	9
18	Kenneth Walker	RB	Seahawks	Titans	8
19	Alvin Kamara	RB	Saints	Falcons	11
20	Aaron Jones	RB	Vikings	Packers	6
21	Quinshon Judkins	RB	Browns	Raiders	9
22	Rhamondre Stevenson	RB	Patriots	Bengals	14
23	David Montgomery	RB	Lions	Giants	8
24	Bucky Irving	RB	Buccaneers	Rams	9
25	Tyrone Tracy	RB	Giants	Lions	14
26	Trey Benson	RB	Cardinals	Jaguars
27	Kenneth Gainwell	RB	Steelers	Bears	5
28	Zach Charbonnet	RB	Seahawks	Titans	8
29	Kareem Hunt	RB	Chiefs	Colts	10
30	Tony Pollard	RB	Titans	Seahawks	10
31	Tyjae Spears	RB	Titans	Seahawks	10
32	Isiah Pacheco	RB	Chiefs	Colts	10
33	Bhayshul Tuten	RB	Jaguars	Cardinals	8
34	Devin Singletary	RB	Giants	Lions	14
35	Zonovan Knight	RB	Cardinals	Jaguars	8
36	Rachaad White	RB	Buccaneers	Rams	9
37	Kyle Monangai	RB	Bears	Steelers	5
38	Tyler Allgeier	RB	Falcons	Saints	5
39	Chris Brooks	RB	Packers	Vikings	5
40	Blake Corum	RB	Rams	Buccaneers	8
41	Brian Robinson	RB	49ers	Panthers	14
42	Jordan Mason	RB	Vikings	Packers	6
43	Sean Tucker	RB	Buccaneers	Rams	9
44	Chuba Hubbard	RB	Panthers	49ers	14
45	Keaton Mitchell	RB	Ravens	Jets	7
46	Devin Neal	RB	Saints	Falcons	11
47	Isaiah Davis	RB	Jets	Ravens
48	Brashard Smith	RB	Chiefs	Colts	10
49	Justice Hill	RB	Ravens	Jets
50	Tahj Brooks	RB	Bengals	Patriots

WR Rankings

Rank	Player	Position	Team	Opp	Bye
1	Puka Nacua	WR	Rams	Buccaneers	8
2	Jaxon Smith-Njigba	WR	Seahawks	Titans	8
3	Amon-Ra St. Brown	WR	Lions	Giants	8
4	CeeDee Lamb	WR	Cowboys	Eagles	10
5	Rashee Rice	WR	Chiefs	Colts	10
6	Tee Higgins	WR	Bengals	Patriots	10
7	Chris Olave	WR	Saints	Falcons	11
8	Justin Jefferson	WR	Vikings	Packers	6
9	Stefon Diggs	WR	Patriots	Bengals	14
10	George Pickens	WR	Cowboys	Eagles	10
11	Emeka Egbuka	WR	Buccaneers	Rams	9
12	Davante Adams	WR	Rams	Buccaneers	8
13	Tetairoa McMillan	WR	Panthers	49ers	14
14	DeVonta Smith	WR	Eagles	Cowboys	9
15	A.J. Brown	WR	Eagles	Cowboys	9
16	Jameson Williams	WR	Lions	Giants	8
17	Michael Wilson	WR	Cardinals	Jaguars	8
18	Michael Pittman	WR	Colts	Chiefs	11
19	Zay Flowers	WR	Ravens	Jets	7
20	Jauan Jennings	WR	49ers	Panthers	14
21	Rome Odunze	WR	Bears	Steelers	5
22	Wan’Dale Robinson	WR	Giants	Lions	14
23	DK Metcalf	WR	Steelers	Bears	5
24	Alec Pierce	WR	Colts	Chiefs	11
25	Romeo Doubs	WR	Packers	Vikings	5
26	Brian Thomas	WR	Jaguars	Cardinals	8
27	Jordan Addison	WR	Vikings	Packers	6
28	Xavier Worthy	WR	Chiefs	Colts	10
29	Darnell Mooney	WR	Falcons	Saints	5
30	Christian Watson	WR	Packers	Vikings	5
31	Ricky Pearsall	WR	49ers	Panthers	14
32	Jakobi Meyers	WR	Jaguars	Cardinals	8
33	Josh Downs	WR	Colts	Chiefs	11
34	Kayshon Boutte	WR	Patriots	Bengals	14
35	Tre Tucker	WR	Raiders	Browns	8
36	Andrei Iosivas	WR	Bengals	Patriots	10
37	Parker Washington	WR	Jaguars	Cardinals	8
38	Darius Slayton	WR	Giants	Lions
39	DJ Moore	WR	Bears	Steelers	5
40	Jerry Jeudy	WR	Browns	Raiders	9
41	Greg Dortch	WR	Cardinals	Jaguars	8
42	Rashid Shaheed	WR	Seahawks	Titans	8
43	Luther Burden	WR	Bears	Steelers	5
44	Adonai Mitchell	WR	Jets	Ravens	9
45	Tez Johnson	WR	Buccaneers	Rams	9
46	Cooper Kupp	WR	Seahawks	Titans
47	Elic Ayomanor	WR	Titans	Seahawks	10
48	Chimere Dike	WR	Titans	Seahawks
49	Mitch Tinsley	WR	Bengals	Patriots
50	KhaDarel Hodge	WR	Falcons	Saints	5

TE Rankings

Rank	Player	Position	Team	Opp	Bye
1	Trey McBride	TE	Cardinals	Jaguars	8
2	Brock Bowers	TE	Raiders	Browns	8
3	George Kittle	TE	49ers	Panthers	14
4	Tyler Warren	TE	Colts	Chiefs	11
5	Travis Kelce	TE	Chiefs	Colts	10
6	Dallas Goedert	TE	Eagles	Cowboys	9
7	Kyle Pitts	TE	Falcons	Saints	5
8	Jake Ferguson	TE	Cowboys	Eagles	10
9	Mark Andrews	TE	Ravens	Jets	7
10	Hunter Henry	TE	Patriots	Bengals	14
11	Juwan Johnson	TE	Saints	Falcons	11
12	Cade Otton	TE	Buccaneers	Rams	9
13	Theo Johnson	TE	Giants	Lions	14
14	Harold Fannin	TE	Browns	Raiders	9
15	Mason Taylor	TE	Jets	Ravens	9
16	AJ Barner	TE	Seahawks	Titans	8
17	Brenton Strange	TE	Jaguars	Cardinals	8
18	Brock Wright	TE	Lions	Giants	8
19	Colston Loveland	TE	Bears	Steelers	5
20	Noah Fant	TE	Bengals	Patriots	10
21	T.J. Hockenson	TE	Vikings	Packers	6
22	Isaiah Likely	TE	Ravens	Jets
23	Michael Mayer	TE	Raiders	Browns
24	Chig Okonkwo	TE	Titans	Seahawks	10
25	Jonnu Smith	TE	Steelers	Bears

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