After a stagnant rushing performance in Buffalo, C.J. Stroud needs his revamped offensive line to pave the way against Cincinnati’s formidable front to unlock the Texans' full potential.
The Houston Texans spent the entire offseason trying to fix their running game. After years of struggling to consistently move the ball on the ground, the organization made it clear that helping C.J. Stroud and taking pressure off its quarterback was a priority. Week 1 against the Buffalo Bills showed that there is still work to do.
Houston committed to running the football in its 36-31 loss to Buffalo, but the results were underwhelming. David Montgomery carried the ball 20 times, while rookie Woody Marks added nine carries. Despite that volume, Montgomery averaged just 3.0 yards per carry, and the Texans struggled to create consistent running lanes.
The effort was there, but the efficiency was not. That makes Sunday's matchup against the Cincinnati Bengals a legitimate test for an offense that wants to make the running game a foundational part of its identity.
ESPN's Matt Bowen highlighted the importance of Houston's approach while pointing out the struggles from Week 1, "We saw a dedicated effort to run the football in Week 1, as Montgomery had 20 carries, with Woody Marks chipping in with nine. Now, was it super efficient? No. Montgomery averaged just 3.0 YPC, and the Texans registered a run block win rate of 74% (17th in the league). But it's clear that Houston wants the run game to be a foundational element of its offense. This can boost the passing opportunities for quarterback C.J. Stroud, who will see a Bengals defense featuring a rebuilt front anchored by defensive tackle Dexter Lawrence II and an underrated secondary that can mix both zone and man looks."
The Bengals present a different challenge than the Bills, but they still have the personnel to make life difficult for Houston's offensive line. Dexter Lawrence anchors a rebuilt defensive front, giving Cincinnati a disruptive presence in the middle of the defense.
That will put pressure on the Texans' revamped offensive line, which was one of the biggest focuses of the offseason. Houston added first-round pick Keylan Rutledge in an effort to improve both its pass protection and run blocking. The investment has to translate into production eventually.
Montgomery showed what he can bring to the offense in Week 1, but the Texans need more from him and Marks on the ground. The goal isn't simply to hand the ball off a certain number of times. It's to consistently gain positive yardage, stay ahead of the chains, and force defenses to respect the run.
That would open up more opportunities for Stroud, who needs a balanced offense around him to take the next step. Houston's running game doesn't need to become dominant overnight. However, Week 2 against Cincinnati offers another opportunity to prove the offseason changes were worth it. If the Texans continue to struggle on the ground, questions about the offense's ability to support Stroud will only grow.
