For the first time since 2024, the Houston Texans had a run game.
More than anything, they had a stable lead running back to elevate the ground-and-pound approach while taking pressure off of C.J. Stroud.
While the Texans fell short in a 36-31 loss to the Buffalo Bills, David Montgomery impressed. The newcomer of the run game, he finished with a strong 60 yards and two rushing touchdowns, along with an 8-yard reception from C.J. Stroud to find the end zone in the third quarter.
With Montgomery's second rushing touchdown, an 18-yard scamper, it marked his 60th career rushing score. That came off two plays in which he averaged over 4.2 yards per snap.
The reception was crucial since the Texans were trailing in the third quarter. After picking up two
first downs, Montgomery became the one weapon open for Stroud to avoid a sack. After that it was a race to the end zone, which provided the Texans a 1-point lead going into the fourth quarter.
COUNT 'EM 🗣️ That's three TDs for David Montgomery!
— NFL (@NFL) September 13, 2026
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Overall, Stroud played well, but he had two fumbles, including a third-down strip on the final drive that kept Houston from winning. Ka'imi Fairbairn made a beautiful 58-yard field goal to give Houston the lead with seven minutes left. And Nico Collins finished with 75 yards off seven grabs, but he also missed two chances to find the end zone.
Montgomery, who finished with 79 total yards of offense and a hat trick of touchdowns, made the most of his first afternoon in a Texans' uniform.
For that, he's Texans Wire's Player of the Game for Week 1.
This article originally appeared on Texans Wire: Texans Wire's Week 1 Player of the Game: RB David Montgomery
