The Houston Texans could not close out a game they had firmly within their grasp. Houston entered the 2026 NFL season as the best defensive unit in the league yet allowed the Buffalo Bills 36 points. The Texans led 31-30 with under two minutes left, but the defense could not protect the lead.
Josh Allen drove Buffalo 96 yards game-winning drive, culminating in a 34-yard touchdown pass to Joshua Palmer with 1:36 remaining. The biggest mistake came just before that touchdown. Cornerback Kamari Lassiter had a chance to intercept Allen in the end zone, but the ball went through his hands. One snap later, Palmer beat the secondary for the decisive score.
Subsequently, CBS Sports gave the Texans a B-, a fair reflection of a team that showed enough offensively but failed in the biggest moments. The Texans did have positives. C.J. Stroud threw for 274 yards and two touchdowns, while David Montgomery scored three touchdowns in his Houston debut. But Stroud also lost a costly fumble late in the fourth quarter, ending Houston’s final chance to complete the comeback.
Buffalo deserved credit for staying aggressive after falling behind. Allen finished with 334 passing yards, two passing touchdowns and two rushing touchdowns. More importantly, he delivered when Houston needed one defensive stop to win. The Bills received a B+ after major contributions from its receiving corps.
Texans Face Another Tough Test Against Joe Burrow and the Bengals
Cincinnati also had a wild week 1, but it found a way to win. The Bengals’ 33-27 victory over Tampa Bay was far from flawless offensively, but Cincinnati capitalized ruthlessly on opponent mistakes. Tampa Bay committed four turnovers, and Cincinnati turned three first-half fumbles into touchdowns.
Burrow finished 25-of-35 for 254 yards, one touchdown and one interception. Both Burrow and Stroud enter Week 2 after uneven but winning-or-competitive performances. Burrow led Cincinnati to a victory, while Stroud threw two touchdowns but lost a critical fumble in Houston’s final possession.
Chase had a quiet opener, catching just two passes for 12 yards against Tampa Bay. The Texans cannot afford to judge Cincinnati’s passing attack only by Week 1 production. Chase remains the type of receiver who can change a game with a few opportunities.
The Texans need better coverage from the secondary, stronger tackling from the linebackers and consistent pressure up front. If they can make Burrow uncomfortable and force Cincinnati into third-and-long situations, Houston can give Stroud enough chances to win the game.
