Will Anderson Jr. Caused Havoc in Week 12 Against Buffalo

One of the most physical and defensively dominant performances occurred during Thursday night's matchup between the Buffalo Bills and Houston Texans.

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Quarterback Josh Allen and the Bills marched into NRG Stadium hoping to improve their record to 8-3 and continue building momentum for the playoffs. Meanwhile, the Texans were playing their fourth game without starting quarterback C.J. Stroud and, with a 5-5 record, desperately needing a win to be in the playoff hunt.

The Texans narrowly defeated the Bills 23-19, improving their record to 6-5. Notably, they showcased a strong defensive performance, especially from third-year pass rusher Will Anderson Jr., who caused pure torment for Allen all night.

Allen was sacked eight times in the game, the most he's ever been sacked in a contest.  Anderson Jr. had 2.5 of those sacks, making life difficult for Allen and his offensive line.

Anderson Jr. was all over the field, making plays to put his team in the best position. He finished plays with intensity and displayed all-around athleticism.

Anderson Jr. ended the night with 2.5 sacks, nine pressures, six tackles, and a pass deflection that ultimately influenced the game's outcome.

With 24 seconds remaining, Anderson Jr. batted down a pass from Allen, which was nearly intercepted, forcing a fourth down. On the final play of the game, Anderson Jr. rushed toward Allen, attempting to cause more havoc, which forced Allen to hurry his pass to keep the game alive. Instead, he threw an interception to Calen Bullock, sealing the deal for the Texans.

This season, Anderson Jr. has recorded 23 tackles, 10.5 sacks, and three forced fumbles. He is off to a hot start to the 2025 season, and according to the Texans' website, he ranks fourth among all edge defenders with a 90.8 overall grade from PFF. His pass rush grade of 91.5 also ranks fourth in the league.