The Texans spent the offseason trying to make their ground game more than a talking point. Week 1 showed they’re not there yet.
Houston leaned into the run in its 36-31 loss to the Buffalo Bills, but the production never really matched the intent. David Montgomery handled 20 carries, rookie Woody Marks added nine more, and still the Texans couldn’t generate much momentum. Montgomery finished at 3.0 yards per carry, a sign that the blocking and the run game as a whole still need work.
That puts Sunday’s game against the Cincinnati Bengals in the spotlight. For a Houston offense that wants the run game to be a real part of its identity, this is a meaningful early-season check.
ESPN’s Matt Bowen put the Week 1 issues into focus, saying, "We saw a dedicated effort to run the football in Week 1, as Montgomery had 20 carries, with Woody Marks chipping in with nine. Now, was it super efficient?
No. Montgomery averaged just 3.0 YPC, and the Texans registered a run block win rate of 74% (17th in the league).
But it's clear that Houston wants the run game to be a foundational element of its offense. This can boost the passing opportunities for quarterback C.J.
Stroud, who will see a Bengals defense featuring a rebuilt front anchored by defensive tackle Dexter Lawrence II and an underrated secondary that can mix both zone and man looks."
That’s the challenge for Houston: Cincinnati is different from Buffalo, but not any easier in the spots that matter. Dexter Lawrence gives the Bengals a disruptive force in the middle, and that’s exactly the kind of presence that can expose issues up front.
The Texans clearly made the offensive line a priority this offseason, and that showed in the decision to add first-round pick Keylan Rutledge. The hope was obvious - better protection for C.J.
Stroud and more juice in the run game. Now that investment has to start showing up on Sundays.
Montgomery gave Houston a glimpse of what the offense wants to be, but the Texans need more than volume. They need cleaner lanes, steadier gains, and enough consistency to stay ahead of the chains.
That’s the whole point of building around the run: make defenses respect it, create easier throws for Stroud, and give the offense a real balance. Houston doesn’t have to become dominant overnight, but Week 2 against Cincinnati is another chance to show the offseason changes were more than wishful thinking. If the Texans keep stalling on the ground, the pressure on the offense - and on Stroud’s support system - only gets louder.
In Other News...
Nico Collins Absence Leaves Texans Facing A Bigger Passing Game Problem
Nico Collins practice injury has quickly turned into a real issue for Houstons passing game. The Texans wide receiver suffered a Grade 1 hamstring strain and has already been ruled out for the upcoming game against the Cincinnati Bengals, with his recovery expected to stretch beyond that and into the next matchup with the Indianapolis Colts. After a strong Week 1 performance, Collins had become a key part of the offense, so his absence leaves a noticeable hole at a position where the Texans were counting on steady production.
The burden now shifts to the rest of the receiving group, along with tight end Dalton Schultz, to absorb a bigger share of the passing workload. For Houston, the concern is not just replacing one player for one week, but figuring out how the offense functions if Collins is sidelined for multiple games. The early test comes immediately against Cincinnati, and the bigger question is how well the Texans can keep the passing game on track until Collins is back. [Read more 🡒]
Texans Face A Rougher Week Than That Loss Alone Suggests
C.J. Stroud has taken plenty of heat for the turnovers that have crept into his recent games, but his showing against the Bills offered a reminder of why the Texans have stayed invested in him. The broader concern in Houston goes beyond one rough night, though, because the conversation around the quarterback has started to spill into his demeanor and the way the team carries itself in the aftermath of adversity.
Andre Johnson added to that scrutiny with a public critique of Strouds body language and leadership, even as the Texans continue to back their young passer. Houston is also navigating a separate distraction with linebacker Azeez Al-Shaair fined by the NFL over a political message on his eye tape, a penalty Kyrie Irving has offered to pay, and the injury list is growing at the wrong time with another game ahead. [Read more 🡒]
Texans Quietly Address Two Problem Areas Before Bengals Showdown
With the Bengals waiting in Week 2, the Texans made a couple of low-key roster moves to shore up depth before kickoff, elevating safety George Odum and wide receiver Lewis Bond from the practice squad to the active roster. Odum is up for a second straight week after finishing with two tackles in the opener, while Bond gets his first shot on the 53-man roster after being brought along mainly for special teams work.
Bonds elevation also comes with a possible offensive wrinkle, since Houston could need another body at receiver because of an injury elsewhere in the room. Odum gives the Texans a familiar special teams piece and some back-end insurance, but the bigger question is whether Bonds presence ends up being limited to coverage units or if the Texans have a little more in mind for him against Cincinnati. [Read more 🡒]