The Houston Texans allowed 409 total yards in their NFL Week 1 loss to the Buffalo Bills. The 36 points the Texans allowed were the most they've given up in a game since 2003 Week 16.
The Texans entered the 2026 season with what was widely considered among the best defenses in the NFL.
On "NFL Live," ESPN's Marcus Spears and Dan Orlovsky shared their observations about Houston's effort, ahead of an NFL Week 2 showdown with the Cincinnati Bengals on Sept. 20.
"(Buffalo) came into this game saying, 'We are going to attack Houston,'" Spears said. "We're not gonna play it safe. We're not gonna try to figure out how we can operate offensively against the Houston Texans because of this vaunted defense and all of the talent. They went right at them. And
maybe they gave people a blueprint."
"I think the really interesting thing coming off of the game for the defense is what's the answer or what's the counter that (Texans head coach) DeMeco (Ryans) does," Orlovsky said. "Because we know (the Texans) like to line up and kind of in their structure ... they play fast. And I think (Buffalo head coach) Joe Brady and that offense did a great job … moving the pocket. … I didn't hear (Danielle) Hunter and (Will) Anderson's names mentioned much at all."
"A lot of it is first downs. The Bills stayed on schedule," Spears added. "If you can stay on schedule and you stay out of those trouble downs against a defense like that, that's how you eliminate a Will Anderson and Danielle Hunter. … If you don't have a linebacker that can cover tight ends, you're probably going to get killed."
"It was as bad a second-level defense for Houston as I've seen in two or three years," Orlovsky said. "That linebacker level is usually so good. They were really bad yesterday."
"They'll figure it out," Spears added. "Week 1 is always crazy for a defense."
This article originally appeared on Cincinnati Enquirer: ESPN analysts blast Texans' defense ahead of Week 2 game vs Bengals
