The Houston Texans are staring at an 0-2 start for the third time in four years, and the first two weeks have already exposed the kind of problems that can sink a season fast if they don’t get cleaned up.
Both losses came at home, first to the Buffalo Bills and then to the Cincinnati Bengals, and the message so far is pretty clear: this group has work to do on both sides of the ball if it wants to climb back into the playoff race like it did after rocky openings in 2023 and 2025.
The biggest issue is the run game, which flashed briefly against Buffalo before sliding right back into familiar trouble against Cincinnati. After David Montgomery broke out for three touchdowns in the opener, Houston’s backs were bottled up in Week 2, finishing with fewer than 1.5 yards per carry.
The offensive line didn’t give them much help, either. For a rushing attack that was below-average in nearly every major category in 2025, that’s not nearly enough progress.
And if the Texans can’t establish the ground game, they’re putting C.J. Stroud in a bad spot.
Against the Bengals, that meant 55 pass attempts. That’s not how Houston wants to live, and it’s not a formula any quarterback wants to carry for long.
The problems in scoring territory were just as glaring. Houston went 0-for-4 in the red zone against Cincinnati and didn’t score a touchdown at all in a six-point outing that also included special teams issues - a bobbled snap on a field goal try in the first half and a missed 58-yarder in the third quarter. Whatever the path to six points looked like, the final result was the same: no touchdowns, and not nearly enough from an offense that was supposed to be better after an offseason built around fixing that side of the ball.
That also puts more pressure on second-year offensive coordinator Nick Caley to get the execution and the play-calling sharper near the goal line. Better red-zone results will likely have to come from more reliable run production, improved blocking up front, and probably the return of Nico Collins.
Defensively, Houston still has the kind of talent that made it look close to impenetrable on paper before the season started. But through two weeks, the Texans keep giving up explosive plays.
Josh Allen averaged 12.6 air yards per attempt against them in Week 1, his highest mark in a game since 2022. Then Joe Burrow completed all three of his deep throws of 20-plus air yards to Ja’Marr Chase in Week 2 for 73 yards and two touchdowns.
Even though Houston forced Cincinnati into eight punts, the big-play damage has been a problem in both games. That’s the kind of thing opponents can keep leaning on until the Texans show they can shut it down.
Another missing piece: turnovers. Houston still hasn’t recorded a fumble recovery or interception through two games, and last season the Texans never went back-to-back weeks without forcing a turnover.
With the secondary they have and edge rushers like Will Anderson and Danielle Hunter coming off the edge, those takeaways should come eventually. When they do, it should give this offense more chances to get the ball in scoring range.
For now, though, the Texans have a short list of issues that demand answers quickly: run the ball better, finish drives, limit explosives, and start creating turnovers.
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 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 🡒]
Texans Wasted A Dominant Defensive Effort In The Most Frustrating Ways
The Texans got exactly the kind of edge up front they were hoping for in Week 2, with their defensive line making life miserable for Cincinnati and creating a game that felt there for the taking. For stretches, Houston did enough on defense to tilt field position and keep the Bengals from settling in, but the offense never fully cashed in on those chances, especially when the drives tightened and the margin for error disappeared.
What made it so frustrating was the combination of missed opportunities and hidden damage elsewhere. Houston kept running into problems on third and fourth down, then watched special teams mistakes chip away at scoring chances and rhythm, turning a strong defensive showing into a game defined by what the Texans left on the field. By the end, the key plays that shaped the outcome made it hard to shake the feeling that a dominant effort had been wasted in the most avoidable ways. [Read more 🡒]