Kevin Patra’s takeaways:
- Bengals D continues its ascent. Week 1 wasn’t a mirage for Cincinnati’s revamped defense. After forcing a host of fumbles a week ago, Al Golden’s crew again produced difference-making plays, holding Houston out of the end zone. Led by a revamped front, the Bengals controlled the line of scrimmage, completely shutting down the Texans’ rushing attack. David Montgomery and Woody Marks generated 18 rushing yards on 14 rushes (1.3 YPC). With no ground game, the Bengals could tee off on C.J. Stroud, gobbling up four sacks. Cincy allowed the Texans to move the ball between the 20s, but bowed up on key plays, holding Houston to 5 of 17 on third downs and 0 of 4 on fourth downs (including a botched field goal snap). The interior duo of Dexter Lawrence and Jonathan Allen were dominant, combining for six tackles, four TFLs, a sack and two QB hits. The two imports have completely changed how Cincy can play D.
- Texans can’t get out of their own way. DeMeco Ryans’ defense got back on track, making life difficult for Joe Burrow, sacking the QB five times, holding the Bengals to 267 yards and 12 first downs. It took a miraculous catch from Ja’Marr Chase and an excellent escape from Burrow for Cincy to find pay dirt. Unfortunately, for Houston, this game felt a lot like 2025, with the offense unable to get the job done. Stroud played solidly, avoiding big mistakes and peppered the middle of the field. However, the lack of a rushing attack put the offense in bad spots. The retooled offensive line looked a lot like last year, opening few holes on the ground and not giving Stroud much time. The Texans offense missed Nico Collins badly, with none of the young wide receivers stepping up. Tight end Dalton Schultz (12 receptions for 140 yards) generated 103 yards more than any other Texans pass catcher on Sunday. Houston missed several opportunities to make it a game, with an early flubbed field-goal attempt, a stuffed fourth-down, and a missed 58-yard field goal all coming in the first three quarters. The Texans got into the red zone four times. However, they scored zero TDs and accounted for just three points on those drives. That won’t get it done.
- Burrow hooks up with Chase for two TDs in road win. There weren’t gaudy numbers, but Joe Burrow and Ja’Marr Chase showed why they are a premier duo. Burrow came out insistent on getting Chase involved early. The WR paid him off with a ridiculous twisting, toe-tap 32-yard TD in the second quarter. The duo hooked up again on a scramble drill to put up Cincy by two scores in the third quarter. The offensive line was an issue on Sunday. Burrow was sacked five times, and the Texans generated 10 QB hits. Orlando Brown (five QB pressures, two sacks), Dalton Risner (six QB pressures, sack) and Dylan Fairchild (five QB pressures, sack) all struggled. The good news is that when the Bengals put up fewer than 300 yards in years past, they usually took an L. In 2026, they’re 2-0 while the offense irons things out.
Next Gen Stats Insight for Bengals-Texans (via NFL Pro): The Bengals generated 27 pressures on 62 dropbacks (43.5%), the most pressures generated in a single game by the Bengals since Al Golden took over as the Bengals defensive coordinator last season. Five Bengals recorded four or more pressures in Week 2, including Jonathan Allen (seven), Boye Mafe (seven), Cedric Johnson (six), Cashius Howell (five), and Dexter Lawrence (four). Allen recorded his most pressures in a game in the last four seasons, while Mafe tied his most pressures generated in a game in his career.
NFL Research: The Bengals did not allow a single touchdown in Week 2 at the Texans, their first game allowing no touchdowns since Week 3, 2022, at the Jets. Cincinnati broke a franchise-long and NFL-long streak of 65 consecutive games allowing at least one touchdown. The Bills now own the longest active streak in the NFL, having allowed at least one touchdown in 47 consecutive games.