Houston’s revitalized ground game delivered a dominant 60% success rate between the tackles, proving that veteran David Montgomery and a revamped offensive line are transforming Stroud’s offensive arsenal.
The Houston Texans spent the offseason trying to fix one of the biggest problems holding their offense back. After struggling to consistently run the football, the team brought in David Montgomery and made additions along the offensive line, hoping to give C.J. Stroud and the passing game more support.
That plan already showed signs of working in Week 1. Despite the heartbreaking 36-31 loss to the Buffalo Bills, the Texans' offense moved the ball effectively for much of the game. Montgomery, Evan Brown, and rookie Keylan Rutledge all looked good in their debuts, providing an encouraging start to Houston's efforts to improve its ground game.
ESPN's Ben Solak highlighted just how significant the improvement was, pointing out that the Texans' offensive success wasn't necessarily about Stroud taking a major step forward, "Despite all of the offseason discussion around Stroud, the Texans' spike in Week 1 efficiency was not about the quarterback at all -- it was about the running game. With new running back David Montgomery and offseason additions Keylan Rutledge and Evan Brown along the offensive line, the Texans had a 60% success rate on runs between the tackles against the Bills, their second-best number in Stroud's career."
That statistic stands out, especially considering the Texans were facing a Buffalo defense that struggled against the run a season ago. Houston needed to take advantage of that matchup, and the early results suggest the offseason changes are making a difference.
Montgomery gives the Texans a veteran running back who can handle a significant workload while bringing experience and physicality to the offense. His arrival was one of the biggest moves Houston made to improve its rushing attack, and his debut provided a promising first look at what he can bring.
The offensive line also deserves credit. Brown and Rutledge were brought in to help strengthen a unit that needed to become more consistent, particularly in the run game. Both players looked comfortable in their first regular-season action for Houston, helping create opportunities for Montgomery and the rest of the backfield.
For a Texans team with high expectations entering 2026, this is an important development. Houston's defense was expected to be among the league's best, but the offense still needed to do its part. A reliable running game can make life easier for Stroud, keep defenses honest, and help the Texans control the pace of games.
The Week 1 loss showed Houston still has plenty to clean up, especially defensively. But the running game was one of the clear positives, and the offseason approach to fixing it appears to be working.
If Montgomery, Brown, and Rutledge can build on that debut, the Texans may have finally found the foundation their run game needs.
