Houston Texans stumble to 0-2 again after loss to the Bengals and seek to avoid another 0-3 start

The Houston Texans have started their 2026 NFL season with a 0-2 record after suffering a loss to the Cincinnati Bengals on Sunday. This marks the second consecutive season that the Texans have struggled to win in the first two weeks of the season.

The Bengals' Ja'Марр Chase accounted for two touchdowns via passing to lead his team to a 20-6 victory over the Texans. Coach DeMeco Ryans emphasized the importance of focusing on future performance, stating that the team must dig deep and improve collectively.

The Texans' offensive line struggled to protect quarterback Ja'Carr C. Stroud, resulting in four sacks in the fourth quarter alone. The team failed to score on their last four drives, resulting in two punts and two turnovers on downs.

Meanwhile, the Houston Texans' defense improved from their performance in Week 1, where they allowed 36 points. However, they were unable to capitalize on those defensive stops, failing to convert on fourth-down situations and failing to score points in the second half. The Texans will need to address these issues if they hope to avoid a 0-3 start, a feat they accomplished last season.