The Houston Texans spent the offseason trying to answer one obvious question: can they finally run the ball well enough to unlock everything else?
They’ll get a first real answer on Sunday.
Houston opens the 2026 season against the Buffalo Bills, and that matchup lands as a clean early test for a team with legitimate Super Bowl aspirations. The Bills were shaky against the run last season, which makes Week 1 a revealing stage for a Texans offense that has been built to look different this year.
The front office made the ground game a priority. The Texans brought in veteran running back David Montgomery and used a first-round pick on offensive lineman Keylan Rutledge, moves aimed squarely at giving C.J. Stroud more support and making the offense less one-dimensional.
That’s the backdrop for a game that could say a lot fast. Houston does not need to turn into a wrecking crew on the ground overnight, but it does need to prove defenses can’t just key on Stroud and sit back against the pass.
Jacob Robinson of The Athletic framed the stakes this way: "Sunday will be telling, as Houston hosts a Bills team that had one of the league’s worst ground defenses. Did investments in running back David Montgomery and first-round interior lineman Keylan Rutledge pay off?
If so, Houston is a legitimate Super Bowl contender. If not, C.J.
Stroud could be in for a long year."
That’s the heart of it. The Texans already have one of the NFL’s most feared defenses, and the offseason additions on offense were made to complement that side by helping Houston control games more often.
Stroud is expected to keep moving forward in 2026, but a stronger rushing attack could be the piece that lets him play at his best. If Montgomery and the line can consistently produce positive runs, the Texans won’t need their quarterback to carry the load every week.
So while it’s only Week 1, Sunday carries real weight. If Houston can establish the run against a Buffalo defense that struggled to stop it a year ago, the conversation around this team could move quickly from playoff hopeful to genuine Super Bowl threat.
In Other News...
Texans Frustration With Josh Allen Could Get Even Worse
Josh Allen and the Bills wasted little time setting the tone in their 2026 opener against the Texans, and Houstons defense spent much of the first half chasing the game. Allen had three touchdowns before halftime, while one of the more frustrating moments for the Texans came on a roughing-the-passer call against defensive tackle Mario Edwards after illegal contact with the quarterback.
The penalty not only moved the Bills 15 yards but also gave them an automatic first down, another reminder of how little margin there is for defenders in todays NFL. Under the leagues 2026 rulebook, roughing-the-passer flags can also lead to review and possible discipline, which leaves Houston waiting to see whether that sequence carries any further consequences beyond the damage already done on the field. [Read more 🡒]
Texans Defense Just Got Another Reason For Concern
Houstons defense already had enough to sort through after the loss to Buffalo, and Henry TooToos exit only added to the unease. The linebacker was seen leaving the stadium with his arm in a sling, a troubling sight for a unit that has been trying to hold itself together through a difficult night.
For a Texans defense that struggled to get stops, any uncertainty around TooToo matters because depth is rarely something a team can afford to lose quietly. There is no confirmed diagnosis or return timeline yet, which leaves Houston waiting on the next update while another potential absence hangs over a group that can least afford more questions. [Read more 🡒]
Texans Loss Still Left Fans With One Heated Week 1 Debate
The Texans opened their 2026 season with a frustrating loss to the Bills, but there were still a few clear bright spots worth sorting through as the team moves on. David Montgomery powered the ground game with three touchdowns, Nico Collins again looked like the most reliable target in the passing attack with seven catches and a score, and Kamari Lassiter turned in a strong defensive effort even while leaving one big play on the table.
Kayshon Boutte also offered a glimpse of what he might bring to Houston, though his first game with the Texans did not feature much production. Even after an 0-1 start, the more interesting conversation around this team is already less about the final score and more about which pieces deserve a bigger role after a Week 1 that left fans debating what stood out most. [Read more 🡒]