HOUSTON — J.J. Watt highlighted a destructive defensive performance with an 80-yard interception return for a touchdown, giving the Houston Texans a lead they would not relinquish in their 23-17 victory over the Buffalo Bills on Sunday at NRG Stadium.

Moments after Bills linebacker Nigel Bradham picked off Texans quarterback Ryan Fitzpatrick on the first play of the second half, Watt stepped between an E.J. Manuel pass intended for running back Fred Jackson. Watt made a leaping catch and sprinted unencumbered for the sixth-longest interception return by a defensive lineman in NFL history.

Watt provided the Texans a 14-10 lead with his most noteworthy defensive play, but that wasn’t his lone contribution. He harassed Manuel throughout and was a constant presence in the Buffalo (2-2) backfield. Manuel finished 21 of 44 for 225 yards and two interceptions.

The Texans (3-1) benefitted from two Randy Bullock field goals in the fourth quarter, covering 55 and 50 yards. Bullock and Watt accounted for all of the second-half scoring for the Texans, who struggled running the football against the Bills’ formidable defensive front. Houston finished with 37 rushing yards on 24 attempts.

Buffalo grabbed a 10-0 lead by capitalizing on a fumble by Texans receiver Andre Johnson and a subsequent personal foul penalty on Texans left tackle Duane Brown during the scrum for the loose ball.

The Bills opened their second possession of the second quarter at the Texans 49 and, eight plays later, Manuel hit rookie receiver Sammy Watkins on a five-yard slant for a touchdown with 5:59 left in the half.

But the Texans held firm defensively following another turnover, this one a Leodis McKelvin interception of Fitzpatrick, before mounting an unexpected charge in the waning moments of the second quarter.

Fitzpatrick hit DeAndre Hopkins for a 35-yard touchdown pass with 57 seconds left in the half to pull the Texans to within 10-7 at the break.

The Bills managed one final surge into Texans territory on their final possession, but Manuel tossed an interception with 67 seconds left, a pass picked off by cornerback Darryl Morris after Watt applied pressure.

NOTES: After recording his first career interception on the first play of the second half, Bills LB Nigel Bradham was helped off the field and later carted to the locker room with a knee injury. Bradham did not return. … Bills NT Kyle Williams, whose tipped pass at the line of scrimmage resulted in the Bradham interception, was also lost to a knee injury in the second half. … Texans DE J.J. Watt became just the second player since the merger to record a touchdown reception and interception return for a score in the same season, joining Patriots LB (and current Texans LB coach) Mike Vrabel, who accomplished the feat in 2005.