5 winners (and 2 losers) for Bengals in unflinching Week 2 win over Texans

The Cincinnati Bengals came out quite sluggish in Sunday’s Week 2 matchup against the Houston Texans.

However, in a classic case of great offense beating great defense, Joe Burrow, Tee Higgins, and Ja’Marr Chase found a spark that got the Bengals rolling toward a strong 20-6 victory. Houston’s pass rush was vicious, and the hosts made an already-hostile environment at NRG Stadium even tougher on Cincinnati by deploying more pressure packages than usual.

Despite some discouraging hits on Burrow early, he and the Bengals held their ground. There were no style points in this one aside from Chase’s phenomenal second-quarter touchdown catch. Maybe that's a good thing. Cincinnati can win ugly — and with exceptional defense.

Something about Joe Burrow and back tightness before this game, eh? Huh. Seems a bit overblown in retrospect. By myself included! OK diving in to what actually happened...

Loser-Quickly-Turned-Winner: The Joe Burrow-Ja’Marr Chase connection

Feels harsh to call Ja’Marr a loser in any context, but he would tell anyone that he should’ve made that catch for a chunk play on the opening possession. Did Joe Burrow put it right where he wanted to? Definitely not. But that should be a routine play for the Burrow-Chase tandem, and not hooking it up cost Cincinnati at least three points, maybe more.

Although the Bengals made a concerted effort to get Chase more touches as many expected, that wasn’t the most effective strategy at least in the early going. The other three receptions Chase had in the first quarter went for only 16 yards.

But Lloyd Christmas-style, Chase totally redeemed himself with what should prove to be one of the better catches of the season on Derek Stingley Jr.

And obviously Chase wasn't done there. As Burrow started feeling the pocket better int he second half, his confidence seemed to visibly grow. You see, he had to adapt to how poor his blocking was!

A little bit of play extension let Burrow and Chase lock onto their typical ESP for yet another TD to blow the game open. You absolutely love to see it after Ja'Marr had only two catches for 12 yards in Week 1.

Loser: Bengals offensive line

Amarius Mims missed out on three plays because he lost his shoe. That was the least of the comedy of errors from this Bengals offensive line.

Two back-breaking procedural penalties from the guards. Dylan Fairchild’s holding wiped out a 24-yard run by Chase Brown in the first quarter. Dalton Risner false started on a would’ve-been 58-yard field goal by Evan McPherson. Ted Karas also got a snap infraction on the first drive of the second quarter? Like, what is happening out there!? Feel like Vince Lombardi yelling from the sidelines yo.

Oh, and the whole concern I had about Orlando Brown Jr. coming in? Yeah. Will Anderson Jr. easily sped around the corner to sack Burrow in the first quarter, and Danielle Hunter absolutely smoked OBJ in the second to blast Burrow in the pocket. How Joe held onto the ball, I don’t even know. And guess what Brown did the next play? Drew a false start penalty. Brown got beat by Anderson again for a third sack before the halftime break.

Probably suboptimal for Bengals football in general when this is being said about you and you're in charge of guarding Joe Burrow's blind side:

I defended this offensive line all offseason and after their strong Week 1 showing. They were downright abysmal for almost an entire half of football on Sunday. It took some awesome plays from Burrow to Higgins just to bail them out, and then Chase’s contorting, phenomenal touchdown catch papered over all the early struggles.

From the start of this game, free rushers were invading Burrow’s space left and right. Credit the Texans for scheming up some pressure, which they typically aren’t so wont to do, but the game plan from Cincinnati was pretty lackadaisical if you ask me.

Winner: Duke Tobin

I give a lot of credit to Duke Tobin for acquiring Dexter Lawrence, Jonathan Allen, Boye Mafe, and Cashius Howell this offseason. They have fundamentally transformed the Bengals' defensive line and all made considerable impacts on Sunday's game.

Tobin heard the call from me and many fans (and oh yeah, Joe Burrow!) to go all-in for a Super Bowl. Lawrence made a massive run stop on 4th and 1 deep in Bengals territory. Allen was a pocket-collapsing nightmare for Houston's interior o-line. Howell got multiple pressures off the edge. Mafe's relentless motor was on full display.

By the end of the third quarter, the Bengals didn't have any sacks in the books. That doesn't mean they didn't have a major impact. C.J. Stroud had a 76.5 passer rating on 34 attempts once the lead was cut to 17-6.

Loser: Barrett Carter

I mean, I wanted to believe. I really did. But once Barrett Carter got roasted in coverage by Dalton Schultz for a 35-yard gain, and by Foster Moreau for 25 yards, I found myself muttering, “Al Golden knows Swayze Bozeman is active, right?”

Maybe it was a Week 1 overreaction to think the linebacker problem was settled. Whatever. Schultz also had his way with nickelback Jalen Davis at times, so it’s a little unfair to put the tight ends gashing the Bengals all on Carter, who’s an admittedly easy target.

Carter also blew up a screen play for a loss during the Texans’ 2-minute drill at the end of the opening half to force them into an eventual field goal. That notable highlight aside, I don’t know, y’all. I still have such doubts.

Can Swayze Bozeman at least get a freaking look with the first-team defense? Carter seems beyond reproach. Weird status to achieve as a 2025 Day 3 draft pick.

And look, I get that many will just call me a hater for calling out the green-dot linebacker who oversaw such a commanding defensive performance. For me, I see what transpired and I say, "Why don't we dare to be better at that critical position?" It could look scary good, ja feel?

Winner: Tee Higgins

Absolute nails from Higgins in the second quarter. He had two steely third-down conversions to set up that acrobatic Chase TD. Higgins had four catches for 72 yards in the first half alone.

Because of all the chaos in the trenches, the Bengals couldn’t commit to the run as much early. Chase Brown had a healthy 42 yards on seven carries through two quarters, yet the Bengals were constantly behind the chains due to offensive line errors, be it flags or sacks yielded.

As tremendous as Chase's two TDs were, Higgins was the spark who ignited Cincinnati's offnse and finally got into a rhythm.

Winner: Evan McPherson

I can't say enough good things about Evan McPherson. He's quickly making the case that he's among the best kickers in the NFL. I can't say that was the case since his rookie campaign when the Bengals made the Super Bowl.

Will history repeat itself? If Money Mac keeps pounding it through the uprights at the rate he is, I don't see how there are many more complete teams than the Bengals across the league right now.

Look at this freaking bullet from 51 yards out:

That trajectory and high-up-the-net status is just flexing and stunting on fools. That last sentence made me cringe as I typed it. I swear I'm super hip. Appreciate you if you're reading every word to this point.

McPherson clearly wasn't fazed by Risner's aforementioned penalty that wiped out another 50-plus field goal. Nor was he content to stop at the one above in the third quarter. This dude is LOCKED. IN.

Winner: DJ Turner

Within the first quarter alone, DJ Turner and Dax Hill already got involved in coverage to break up throws from C.J. Stroud. Although Dax had some struggles later on, he’s still a solid CB2, but Stroud was trying not to target Turner whenever he could.

Not having to square off with an injured Nico Collins made Turner’s afternoon a lot easier. Nevertheless, he’s a straight-up lockdown cornerback and deserves a new payday ASAP.

By PFF's count early in the fourth quarter, Turner had allowed two catches on four targets for seven yards with a pass breakup, and only a single yard after the catch. That PBU came on Xavier Hutchinson on the opening possession.

Right as a I wrote this, Jaylin Noel reeled in a 32-yard reception on the sideline just in front of Turner. It was a sick play, sick throw from Stroud, and a sick job by Noel to pull that off. Tip your cap. My point still stands about JuanDrago Turner.

What is this team? We have a legit CB1 and a tremendous defensive line to complement him!? Joe Burrow has a defense to play with!? We're 2-0 and it doesn't feel gross like last year!?

WHO DEY!! Duke I called you a winner. Could you hit up the powers that be and demand they extend DJ immediately?

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