Ja'Marr Chase scores 2 TDs on passes from Joe Burrow to lead the Bengals past the Texans 20-6

Cincinnati Bengals quarterback Joe Burrow led his team to a 20-6 victory over Houston Texans on Sunday. Burrow connected with wide receiver Ja’Marr Chase twice for touchdowns, marking Chase's first multi-reception game of the season after struggling in a previous win over Tampa Bay. Chase had a notable performance, including a 32-yard TD catch in the first half and an 18-yard TD reception in the fourth quarter.

The Bengals controlled the game, leading 7-0 after the first half. Chase's contributions were highlighted by his seven receptions for 75 yards. Despite dealing with back tightness, Burrow was efficient, completing 20 of 31 passes for 207 yards. The Bengals' offense was supported by Tee Higgins, who added 95 yards on five receptions.

The Texans, who are currently 0-2, struggled on the ground, with David Montgomery and the rest of their backs amassing only 18 rushing yards. They failed to score a touchdown during the game. Cincinnati's defense held strong, with C.J. Stroud managing 353 passing yards for the Texans. However, the Texans' offense faltered, failing to score a touchdown while without star receiver Nico Collins.

The Texans' field goal kicker, Kaʻimi Fairbairn, contributed significantly with three successful field goals, including a 45-yarder that narrowed the gap to 17-6 late in the third quarter. The game's outcome reflected the Bengals' priority on getting their star player the ball, as their coach, Zac Taylor, and offensive coordinator Dan Pitcher had emphasized during the week.