The Bengals defense is not the same defense as last season.
The Texans were 0-for-4 in the red zone, with their only points coming on two field goals, and the Bengals won 20-6.
Cincinnati ran its record to 2-0 in 2026. Houston lost its first two games for a second consecutive season. The Texans rallied from an 0-3 start last season to make the playoffs.
The Bengals sacked C.J. Stroud four times, with Cedric Johnson getting two and Jonathan Allen and Shemar Stewart each getting one. The Texans were 5-of-17 on third down and 0-for-4 on fourth down, and they gained only 60 yards on 18 carries as prize offseason acquisition David Montgomery ran for 10 yards on six carries.
Stroud led the Texans in rushing 29 yards on three carries.
Stroud threw a career-high 55 passes, completing 30 for 353 yards without his three top receivers. Nico Collins was inactive; Jayden Higgins is on season-ending injured reserve; and Tank Dell is still working his way back from his 2024 leg injury.
The Bengals had only 267 yards and punted eight times, and Joe Burrow was sacked five times. But Burrow, who was limited in two practices last week with a back injury, threw touchdown passes of 32 and 18 yards to JaâÂÂMarr Chase. Chase, who had only two catches for 12 yards, caught seven passes for 75 yards. Tee Higgins made five receptions for 95 yards.
Chase Brown ran 20 times for 80 yards.