Bengals vs. Texans: Cincinnati Gets a Slight Edge Against the Spread
Houston's receiving injuries favor Cincinnati's case, but the Texans' pass rush and productive opener keep confidence low.
Matchup and injury outlook
The Cincinnati Bengals visit the Houston Texans on September 20 in Week 2 of the 2026 NFL season. Cincinnati enters 1-0, while Houston is 0-1. Houston is favored by 2.5 points.
Joe Burrow practiced fully Friday after two limited sessions with back tightness. NFL.com reports that coach Zac Taylor expects him to start, although Burrow remains officially questionable. He completed 25 of 35 passes for 254 yards, one touchdown and one interception in Cincinnati's 33-27 opening win over Tampa Bay.
Houston will be without Nico Collins, who caught seven passes for 75 yards and a touchdown against Buffalo before suffering a hamstring injury during Wednesday's practice. CBS Sports also reports that Jayden Higgins suffered a preseason ACL tear and Tank Dell remains on injured reserve. Starting right guard Ed Ingram is ruled out, adding another absence to Houston's offense.
Why Cincinnati gets a cautious lean
Cincinnati allowed one sack and a league-low 21.6% pressure rate in its opener, according to the Bengals' matchup report. That is encouraging protection for Burrow, but one game offers limited assurance against Will Anderson Jr. and Danielle Hunter, who combined for 27 sacks in 2025.
Houston allowed Buffalo 409 net yards, yet its own offense scored 31 points and gained 381 yards. Cincinnati forced four Tampa Bay turnovers while allowing 5.4 yards per play. Those figures argue against treating either Houston's offensive decline or another turnover-heavy Bengals performance as a given.