NFL power rankings round-up 2026: How do Texans fare entering Week 2?

Well, that wasn't the start the Houston Texans hoped for to show that they were a legit threat to win the AFC for the first time in franchise history.

Then again, it's hard to entirely judge when the defense, yes the defense, was the problem in Sunday's 36-31 loss to the Buffalo Bills at home.

Josh Allen went full MVPagainst Will Anderson Jr. and Co., totaling four touchdowns while only being sacked twice. He nearly threw an interception on second down when targeting D.J. Moore, but Texans Pro Bowl cornerback Kamari Lassiterdropped the pass.

On the next play, he targeted Lassiter again, only this time the ball was caught by Josh Palmer for a 34-yard touchdown to take the lead with 90 seconds left.

“We had multiple opportunities to make plays, had chances

to make plays on the football and we didn’t make plays,” Texans coach DeMeco Ryans said after the game.

The Texans' offense had two fumbles that were recovered by Buffalo, but for the most part, it was a decent day. Quarterback C.J. Stroud threw for 274 yards and two touchdowns. Newcomer David Montgomery, who was traded from Detroit this offseason, had a three-TD day in his Houston debut and rushed for 60 yards.

Houston had its chances, but couldn't close the door. It'll have a chance to right the ship in Week 2 against the Cincinnati Bengals with Joe Burrow looking to build off of a Week 1 win over the Buccaneers.

A five-point loss at home to an MVP quarterback and a roster poised to go on a run to the playoffs should hurt the Texans' status as a contender entering Week 2, right? Let's take a quick look at where the Texans sit among NFL power rankings throughout the major publications entering Sunday's AFC matchup.

Nate Davis, USA TODAY: 11 (Last Week 10)

From Davis:"That's nine turnovers in QB C.J. Stroud's last three games. Worth wondering if he should have taken whatever extension was offered rather than tabling negotiations."

Pete Prisco, CBS Sports: 12 (Last Week 11)

From Prisco:"We know the defense will be dominant, so it's all about the offense. More specifically, it's about C.J. Stroud. He has to be better."

Frank Schwab, Yahoo! Sports: 13 (Last Week 10)

From Schwab: "The defense should be fine when it's not facing Josh Allen. If that's the case, the positive about the loss to the Bills is that the offense looked good. Houston ranked ninth in offensive success rate through Sunday's games behind an improved rushing attack with David Montgomery and quarterback C.J. Stroud playing better. Stroud had 274 yards and two touchdowns with no interceptions. If that carries over, Houston is going to be good this season."

Nick Shook, NFL.com: 12 (Last Week 10)

From Shook:"Few teams experienced a more crushing heartbreak in Week 1 than the Texans, who fought back and forth with the Bills for four quarters. Houston had a chance to win the game in the final minute but saw it vanish in an all-too-familiar fashion, with a C.J. Stroud fumble. Stroud largely played well otherwise, and David Montgomery produced an excellent Houston debut, but the vaunted defense failed to live up to expectations, a disappointing result that should serve as an early wake-up call."

The Score: 13 (Last Week 11)

From The Score: "The Texans' defense - their biggest strength last year - allowed 409 total yards and 36 points against the Bills without forcing a turnover. It's hard to imagine C.J. Stroud leading this team to the playoffs in a stacked AFC without a dominant defensive unit. He lost a fumble in the dying seconds of Houston's potential game-winning drive Sunday."

Josh Kendall, The Athletic: 9 (Last Week 7)

From Kendall:"That side of the ball is supposed to carry this team. Even though the Bills had the ball for under 24 minutes of game time, the Texans’ usually dominant defense still got gashed at home. C.J. Stroud was better Sunday than in the playoffs, which is the last time we saw him, but his strip-sack in the final seconds cemented Houston’s loss."

Maurice Moton, Bleacher Report: 11 (Last Week 4)

From Moton:"The Houston Texans' pass defense didn't have any answers for Josh Allen, who threw for 334 yards and two touchdowns. The Bills' dynamic signal-caller also ran for 23 yards and two scores. The Texans defense has to take accountability for this season-opening loss, giving up 7.9 yards per play without a turnover. For comparison to the previous season, Houston allowed 4.8 yards per play and recorded a takeaway in all but two games, including the playoffs. The Texans fall in our rankings, but they should be able to bounce back from an atypical leaky defensive performance."

Diante Lee, The Ringer: 4 (Last Week 4)

From Lee: "The stage is set for Houston to join Philadelphia and Seattle as championship teams led by their respective defenses. The Texans’ starting defense is without any obvious holes, and they might have the best lineup of second-string defensive players in football. If edge rusher Will Anderson can make another leap in sack production, he could plant his flag as the best overall defensive player in the league. And if it’s not Anderson, the cornerback duo of Derek Stingley Jr. and Kamari Lassiter might lead the way for this unit in coverage."

Ralph Vacchiano, FOX Sports: 14 (Last Week 11)

Super Bowl odds: +1800

From Vacchiano: "I know they were playing the Bills, but giving up 36 points and 409 yards? What happened to the best defense in the NFL?"

Conor Orr, Sports Illustrated: 8 (Last Week 3)

From Orr: "Here’s a column on the Texans to dive a little deeper. A new C.J. Stroud? An old one? Yes."

D.J. Bien-Aime, ESPN: 11 (Last Week 10)

From Bien-Aime: "Montgomery, who was acquired via trade from the Lions in March, finished with the most touchdowns in a debut in Texans franchise history. He had three touchdowns and 79 total yards (60 rushing and 19 receiving), as Houston scored its most points in a season opener under coach DeMeco Ryans. Overall, the Texans finished with 124 rushing yards on 32 carries, which helped create more passing lanes for quarterback C.J. Stroud en route to 287 passing yards. Montgomery said, "That's going to be our identity."

Cole Thompson, Texans Wire: 11 (Last Week 9)

From Thompson: "Josh Allen is an MVP candidate and perhaps the best quarterback in the sport when playing out of structure. Is giving up 36 points ideal? No, but most teams don't have a quarterback who can beat you every way under the playbook, with a lead or from behind. While C.J. Stroud did have two fumbles, that shouldn't discredit his consistency in passing downfield for explosive plays of 18-plus-yard connections. He found the end zone twice, did throw an interception and could rely on a functioning run game as a secondary punch against Buffalo's front seven. If Week 1's consistency carries over, Houston is going to be fine. Too bad the defense burned its mulligan in Week 1."

This article originally appeared on Texans Wire: NFL power rankings round-up 2026: How do Texans fare entering Week 2?