Week 2: Burrow Visits Stroud as Texans Try to Recover From Bills Shootout
The Cincinnati Bengals visit the Houston Texans on Sunday, September 20, in the teams' first meeting since 2023. Cincinnati beat Tampa Bay 33-27 with the help of four takeaways, including a fumble-return touchdown by Demetrius Knight Jr., while Joe Burrow's offense averaged only 5.6 yards per play. Houston lost 36-31 to Buffalo despite 274 passing yards from C.J. Stroud, who lost two fumbles, the second a strip-sack in the closing seconds, as a defense that led the league in yards allowed last season gave up 36. The Texans then lost linebacker Henry To'oTo'o to injured reserve with a shoulder injury, thinning a linebacker group already missing E.J. Speed.
Houston's defense after a rough opener
Losing To'oTo'o and backup Jake Hummel on top of Speed leaves DeMeco Ryans thin at linebacker against a Cincinnati offense returning the same five linemen.
Cincinnati's offense hasn't clicked yet
The Bengals won on turnovers rather than efficiency; Ja'Marr Chase and Tee Higgins face Derek Stingley Jr. and a secondary that added Reed Blankenship.
LSU reunion
Burrow, Chase and Stingley were teammates on the 2019 national title team; Houston's Will Anderson Jr. and Danielle Hunter test a Bengals line that kept Burrow clean in Week 1.
AI Prediction
Bengals 
Texans Houston's loss was self-inflicted
Two lost fumbles by Stroud, one in the final seconds, decided a game Houston led late; the pass rush and Stroud's passing were fine.
Cincinnati's win was turnover-driven
Four takeaways and a defensive touchdown masked an offense that averaged 5.6 yards per play; that formula regresses.
Burrow at full health keeps it a coin flip
A healthy Burrow with Chase and Higgins is a top-five offense on paper, and Houston's linebacker depth is the weak spot he can attack.
A narrow home lean that matches the sportsbook line. The model expects both offenses to look better than they did in Week 1.
Texans Leaders
Bengals Leaders
Team Stats
| Bengals | Stat | Texans |
|---|---|---|
| 33.0 | Points Per Game | 31.0 |
| 360.0 | Total Yards | 398.0 |
| 254.0 | Yards Passing | 274.0 |
| 106.0 | Yards Rushing | 124.0 |
| 27.0 | Points Allowed Per Game | 36.0 |
| 305.0 | Yards Allowed | 420.0 |
| 216.0 | Pass Yards Allowed | 334.0 |
| 89.0 | Rush Yards Allowed | 86.0 |
Venue
Closing Line
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Texans Injuries