There are a handful of interesting, key matchups heading into the Cincinnati Bengals' Week 2 game in Houston. A back-to-back All-Pro wide receiver in Ja'Marr Chase coming off his least productive game in years where he only saw a shockingly low four (4!!) targets vs. a back-to-back All-Pro cornerback in Derek Stingley Jr. whose defense just surrendered 36 points in their home opener.
In other compelling duels, we have two criminally underrated players at their respective positions DJ Turner II vs. Nico Collins. How about Chase Brown and the tight ends against the depleted Houston linebacker unit?
However, just like games are won and lost in the trenches, the marquee matchup of this game will be there too. Tackle vs. Defensive End. The towering 6'8", 350-pound Amarius Mims vs. early Defensive Player of the Year candidate Will Anderson Jr. This one should be fun.
Can Mims hold Anderson in check after Week 1 dominance vs. Rueben Bain Jr.?
While the Bengals' faithful have been singing the praises of the 18th pick of the 2024 NFL Draft since his rookie year, it seems the rest of the league is starting to wake up and realize just how good the former Bulldog is. Largely stemming from Mims' Week 1 performance, a game in which he completely stonewalled Tampa Bay's highly touted rookie Rueben Bain Jr. That game wasn't the start of his dominance, though-- it's the continuation of it.
Seriously, just look at the stat Joe Goodberry put in this post (which also highlights how intriguing of a matchup this is):
Amarius Mims gets Will Anderson, Danielle Hunter and Jadeveon Clowney this week when the Bengals play the Texans.
— Goodberry (@JoeGoodberry) September 16, 2026
That trio combined for 8 pressures and 2 sacks in Houston's opening game vs Buffalo. pic.twitter.com/fbOMLpvMH8
With some attention finally heading his way, Mims could earn his first Pro Bowl honors this season, potentially even an All-Pro, after an accolade-less first two years in the league. The attention came at the right time, too, because this week he will be facing a lot of Texans' standout EDGE, Will Anderson Jr.
To say Anderson had a breakout year last season would be an understatement. 12.0 sacks, 20 tackles for loss, and a league-leading 26.2% pass-rush win rate (according to PFF) last season were enough to earn him All-Pro honors and finish 2nd in DPOY voting. It's an early-season test for Mims in a year where he's trying to really make a name for himself. The good news is, if anyone is battle-tested, it's Amarius Mims.
Mims spent his first two years in the NFL in the same division as 2025 DPOY Myles Garrett and T.J. Watt, so he's no stranger to being up against elite talent. Better yet, Amarius has fared well and, in a couple of games, even dominated against the creme de la creme of pass rushers. Does that automatically mean he's going to dominate this matchup vs. WAJ? No, of course not, but at the very least it means going up against a talent like Anderson isn't something unfamiliar to Mims.
This will no doubt be a heavyweight bout-- and I'm not just saying that because they're both beasts with 13 feet and nearly 600lbs between them. Not only is it a crucial one for Mims, as the rest of the league has started to notice him, but it will likely be the determining matchup in this game and whether or not the Bengals start off the year 2-0 in consecutive seasons.
Will Mims and the Bengals get the win on the road in Houston? Or will the Texans bounce back from a brutal loss in their home opener?
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