Will the Texans beat the Cincinnati Bengals this weekend?
We spent all off-season believing the Houston Texans defense would carry this team to great heights. We also believed the offense was still a long way from prime time.
Last weekend, against the Buffalo Bills, our defense surrendered the most points they’d given up in a game since the 2023 season.
Meanwhile the offense put up 31 and came within one play of 37 and a win.
Josh Allen got an elusive W at NRG, Andre Johnson criticized C.J. Stroud for
pouting and Henry To’oTo’o went on injured reserve. Thankfully Nick Caserio has assembled a solid Houston Texans depth chart to weather the injuries. But they need to slow down already.
Houston’s secondary, especially newly added safety Reed Blankenship, got smoked like a Rudy’s brisket time and again.
The only real bright spot to the game was David Montgomery, who racked up 3 scores in his H-Town debut.
Then, Wednesday delivered another hit:
Nico Collins suffers (yet another) hamstring injury at practice
The Texans are now down both of their starting wide receivers, with Jayden Higgins already on IR and Collins battling what’s becoming an annual hamstring concern.
It’s only week two and the Texans 53 man roster is already down 3 starters. The team did not look well prepared when they took the field last weekend. The most legendary receiver in team history publicly bashed the quarterback for “bad body language”. Seems like everything is going wrong – if you’re only looking for what’s falling apart that is.
Are the wheels already off the bus? Should every Texans fan panic? Is it time to start praying for the 2027 season?
Well, before we pack it in and find another pastime, let’s look at the W-L stats for the Texans in opening games.
2025 season – Loss (finished 12-5)
2024 season – Win (finished 10-7)
2023 season – Loss (finished 10-7)
2022 – Tie (finished 3-13-1)
Week one’s record over the last 5 seasons isn’t exactly a solid predictor of the how the team finishes. Unless they tie.
Which means there’s no reason to get down this soon, despite what many might believe.
In fact, the Texans have gone 0-3 to start the season and still made the playoffs. Twice. So, believe that.
David Montgomery running for the record books
Nothing like a debut as a “secret superstar” to start things off on the good foot, right?
NFL Communications
Houston running back David Montgomery recorded three scrimmage touchdowns (two rushing, one receiving) in his Texans’ debut in Week 1. He had 79 scrimmage yards (60 rush, 19 rec.) & 3
TDs (2 rush, 1 rec.) in his Houston debut, becoming 8th player in SB era with 3+ scrimmage TDs in 1st game with new team. Aims for his 3rd in row vs. Cincinatti with 70+ scrimmage yards. Had 71 scrimmage yards (65 rush, 6 rec.) & rush TD in his last game vs. Cin. (10/5/25 w/ Det.)With at least two scrimmage touchdowns on Sunday against Cincinnati (1 p.m., CBS), Montgomery can become the sixth player ever with at least five scrimmage touchdowns in their first two games with a new team, joining Dutch Sternaman(six scrimmage touchdowns with the Decatur Staleys), Jahvid Best (five with Detroit), Kareem Hunt (five with Kansas City), Bob Shaw (five with the Chicago Cardinals) and Billy Sims (five with Detroit).
And, as we’ve known all along, a solid run game helps the passing game.
Last week, the embattled Stroud put up great numbers, despite the final play, with a 106.7 passer rating.
The Bengals Joe Burrow did, not so well, with a rating of 89.5.
If Demeco Ryans and defensive coordinator Matt Burke can get the D to play to their potential, this weekend should bring a whole different story. Particularly since the Bengals are not on par with the Josh Allen led Bills.
#GoTexans
