The Bengals are walking into Houston with one clear job in front of them: keep Joe Burrow clean long enough to take advantage of a Texans defense that suddenly has some holes in it.
That task falls first and foremost on Amarius Mims and Orlando Brown Jr., and it doesn’t get much bigger than this for Cincinnati’s tackle pair. The Bengals just held up well against a stout Buccaneers pass rush, allowing only seven total pressures on 37 dropbacks, and they’ll need something close to that again on Sunday.
Houston’s edge rush is the problem. Will Anderson Jr. and Danielle Hunter combined for six pressures and half a sack in last week’s 36-31 loss to the Bills, and Anderson made it clear afterward that the Texans expect a sharper response. He called the game a “wake up call” and said the loss should force the defense to reset.
“That’s probably the best thing that could’ve happened to us. We got hit in the mouth, and now we know how to respond," Anderson said. "It’s a wake up call for everybody, get off our high horse, look ourselves in the mirror, be a man & let’s go play the next game.”
That’s the part Cincinnati has to respect. Anderson is already being mentioned as an early Defensive Player of the Year candidate, and when you pair him with Hunter, the Texans can put serious heat on a quarterback even without leaning on much else.
Still, Houston’s defense took another hit this week. Starting linebacker Henry To'oTo'o was placed on Injured Reserve, and his backup, Jake Hummel, is week-to-week with a groin injury. Those absences open the door for Burrow to work the middle of the field if the tackles can buy him time.
That’s where the Bengals’ edge protection becomes so important. Mims should carry confidence from his elite showing last week, but Brown is the one who will draw the most attention here.
Cincinnati doesn’t need perfection from both tackles. It needs enough.
Enough to let Burrow operate. Enough to let the Bengals attack a weakened linebacker group in coverage.
Enough to keep Houston’s pass rush from dictating the whole afternoon.
In Other News...
Bengals May Have Found A Rookie Defensive Spark Already
For a defense that spent much of the offseason under scrutiny, the Bengals got an immediate jolt from a pair of rookies in their Week 1 win over Tampa Bay. Barrett Carter and Demetrius Knight Jr. both played with the kind of urgency Cincinnati was hoping to see early, and their presence showed up in the kind of moments that can change a game, with the defense helping create four turnovers while holding the Buccaneers to 282 yards.
Zac Taylor was quick to note how confidently the two linebackers handled themselves and how much command they showed in the middle of the defense. For a team trying to stabilize that side of the ball, rookie contributions are one thing, but rookie contributions that translate into takeaways are another, and Cincinnati will be watching closely to see whether this opening-week spark can become something more lasting. [Read more 🡒]
Bengals Just Caught A Break Before A Tough Trip To Houston
Houston will be missing some of the familiar names that usually make it a difficult place to play, which gives Cincinnati a little extra breathing room heading into a road game that already carried plenty of weight. The Texans have ruled out wide receiver Nico Collins, defensive end Jadeveon Clowney and starting guard Ed Ingram because of injuries, thinning out both sides of the ball as the Bengals prepare for another test away from home.
For Cincinnati, the timing matters because Joe Burrow was limited in practice with back tightness but is expected to play, keeping the offense on track for a trip that now looks a bit less daunting. Houston will have to sort out its lineup with Kayshon Boutte and Dalton Schultz expected to take on bigger roles, and the Bengals will be watching to see whether the absences up front and on the edge create an opening they can press early. [Read more 🡒]
Bengals Rookie Cashius Howell Is Drawing The Kind Of Praise Fans Notice
Cashius Howell has already started to make a quiet impression in Cincinnati, and for a rookie trying to carve out a role on the defensive line, that matters. The Bengals edge rusher recently talked about how the jump from Bowling Green to Texas A&M was a major adjustment, which makes the move to the NFL feel like one more demanding step in a career built on climbing levels the hard way.
What stands out now is the early feedback from inside the locker room. Amarius Mims and Shemar Stewart have both offered favorable takes on Howells ability and work habits, the kind of praise that tends to travel quickly around a team and stick with fans who are watching for signs of which young players can help soon. For a Bengals defense looking to add more dependable pieces up front, Howells early reception is worth keeping an eye on. [Read more 🡒]