In Week 1, the Houston Texans fell to the Buffalo Bills 31-36, but it wasn't all bad for the Texans. Week 1 provided a completely new perspective on what Houston Texans football could look like. Last season, the Texans defense allowed the fewest yards per game and was 2nd-best in points allowed per game (espn.com).  To contrast, the Texans were 18/32 in the NFL in total offense (foxsports.com). The Texans' defense won games last season, but the offense always lagged behind. However, the game against the Bills told a different story. The Texans' defense appeared sluggish: the defensive line was largely unable to pressure Josh Allen, the secondary gave up many explosive plays, and many uncharacteristic mistakes were made by great players.  However, on a day when the defense was downright awful, the offense came just over 15 yards from bailing them out. The offense scored 31 points, but not only did they score, but they also RESPONDED! This game featured EIGHT lead changes. The Texans' offense was able to keep up with the Bills' for nearly the entire game. Cj Stroud looked like an above average quarterback, completing 26/38 of his passes for 274 yards and 2 touchdowns (espn.com). The offensive line also looked much better than last season, and debut running back David Montgomery had an amazing 3-touchdown day. However, two strip sacks on Cj Stroud proved too much for the offense to overcome. The first one allowed Buffalo to begin the drive in field goal range and settle for three points, and the second allowed the Buffalo Bills to kneel the ball and win the game. There is a real reason to be optimistic about the offensive group in Houston this year, but now the question becomes whether or not the Texans defense can return to form. Last year the Texans started off the season slow, losing their first 3 games, but still found themselves playoff-bound by week 17. This defense should bounce back, as there is no lack of talent and good coaching. If the offense can continue to grow while this defense returns to its 2025 season level, then the Texans could become the most dangerous team in the AFC. Be watching for the defense to have a get-back game in Week 2 against the Bengals after being utterly humiliated by the Bills at home.

The Houston Texans' Week 1 player of the week award, without a doubt, goes to David Montgomery. David Montgomery had 60 yards and 2 touchdowns on the ground and also added 19 yards and another touchdown through the air (ESPN.com). David Montgomery was acquired by the Texans in the 2025 offseason through a trade with the Detroit Lions. This trade is looking like a good one for Houston. Based on his Week 1 performance, David Montgomery looks like the key to unlocking the ceiling of this Houston Texans offense.