The Texans are staring at 0-2 again after a 20-6 loss to the Cincinnati Bengals, and this one carried a frustratingly familiar feel. Houston’s defense did plenty to make Joe Burrow uncomfortable, getting after him at times and keeping the pressure on, but Burrow and his former teammate JeMar Chase still delivered the handful of plays that swung the game.
The bigger problem was on the other side of the ball. Houston spent a lot of time in Bengals territory and came away with almost nothing to show for it.
A missed field goal, a muffed snap on another field goal try, and a failed fourth-and-1 run from inside the Bengals 20 all helped turn promising drives into empty possessions. It was the same old red-zone story from a season ago, when the offense could move the ball but couldn’t finish.
C.J. Stroud was not the issue.
Even without Nico Collins, he threw for over 300 yards again. But the run game never showed up, and that made the offense easy to key on far too early.
Once that happened, Houston became one-dimensional, which is not where this group wants to live.
If there was a bright spot, it came from Dalton Schultz. He hauled in 12 catches for 140 yards, which stands out in a game where the Texans only scored six points. Foster Moreau also chipped in with two catches for 34 yards, giving the tight end group a productive afternoon and, maybe, something to build on in Nick Caley’s offense.
So no, the pitchforks are not out yet. But the side-eye is definitely here.
Stroud and Caley entered the season under scrutiny, and Caley’s seat may be warming up a bit. Stroud has done enough to push back on some of the criticism, but quarterbacks are measured by wins, and Houston doesn’t have one yet.
The Texans have been here before, and they’ll need to find a way out of it again.
In Other News...
Texans' Ugly Start Has One Chance To Change Everything Fast
The Texans opening stretch has been rough in more ways than one, with an 0-2 start and a growing injury list making the first two weeks feel heavier than just two losses. Even so, the AFC South has hardly separated itself, with the division sitting at a combined 1-7, which leaves Houston still tied for second place and very much within reach of the race it wants to control.
Indianapolis comes to town in Week 3, and for Houston, that matchup suddenly carries an outsized amount of weight. A win would not fix everything after the ugly start, but it would give the Texans a much-needed foothold in the division and a chance to stop early-season damage from turning into something bigger. [Read more 🡒]
Texans Upgrades Already Look Tested By The Same Early Alarms
The Texans first two weeks have already put a spotlight on the kinds of problems they spent the offseason trying to fix. An 0-2 start, their third in four years, has come with the familiar frustrations of a rushed offense that cannot get traction, red zone trips that stall out and a defense that has too often given up explosive plays. Losses to the Bills and Bengals have made those issues impossible to ignore, especially for a team that expected to look more stable out of the gate.
For Houston, the concern is not just the record but how quickly the same early alarms are ringing again. The roster upgrades were supposed to help the Texans play cleaner and more complete football, yet the opening stretch has instead raised the same questions about whether the rushing attack can set a tone, whether scoring opportunities will turn into points and whether the defense can stop bleeding big gains. Until those areas start to look different, the season will keep feeling too much like the ones that came before it. [Read more 🡒]
Texans Face An Early AFC South Test That Could Define This Start
The Texans are heading into Week 3 with an early divisional test that already feels bigger than the calendar suggests. Both Houston and Indianapolis are still looking for their first win, and for DeMeco Ryans, the matchup starts with the same place so many AFC South games do: controlling the run game and forcing a team to operate on Houstons terms.
Jonathan Taylor is the obvious focal point for the Colts, and the Texans will lean on a defense that has been strong against the run through two games, sitting sixth in rushing yards allowed. If Houston can keep Taylor in check, it would go a long way toward steadying a start that has yet to find its first breakthrough and could shape how the division race looks before September even closes. [Read more 🡒]