While quarterback Joe Burrow is expected to play on Sunday against the Houston Texans despite his “back tightness,” the Cincinnati Bengals may need to move the ball and put up points without relying so heavily on Burrow’s right arm.

That should be a tall task against a Houston defense that was so dominant last year. That dominance wasn’t exactly on display during the Texans’ Week 1 loss to the Buffalo Bills, and the Bengals may have a new window to walk through in their first road game of the season.

Houston’s defense entered 2026 as one of the NFL’s most feared units. Buffalo and Josh Allen made light work of it last Sunday in a 36-31 victory inside Reliant Stadium. Even accounting for the chaos the Bills offense creates, most expected the Texans to handle that matchup far better than they did.

If you’re Cincinnati’s offense, you’re licking your chops based on what worked last week, and what should work again this weekend.

Middle of the Houston’s defense is vulnerable for Bengals to attack

The Texans still have phenomenal pieces along the defensive line, particularly at edge rusher with Will Anderson and Danielle Hunter. Cornerback Derrick Stingley Jr. remains an All-Pro talent, and do-it-all safety Jalen Pitre is one of the league’s most underrated talents.

The problem is up the middle of the defense, particularly at linebacker and defensive tackle. Former Bengal Sheldon Rankins is the face of Houston’s DTs, and he’s been average against the run over the course of his career. The Texans are especially running on fumes at LB. Coach Demeco Ryans has already confirmed starter Henry To’to will miss this game with a shoulder injury. E.J. Speed, a projected Week 1 starter, remains on Injured Reserve. Jake Hummel, who replaced To’to, also suffered an injury and is likely unavailable as well.

That leaves Azeez Al-Shaair, a first-time Pro Bowler last year, as the lone reliable figure in the group. Al-Shaair will be a force, but with minimal depth beside him and real uncertainty about who plays next to him, this is an area Cincinnati can attack.

The under center run game is the way forward

For the Bengals, it starts with Chase Brown and this new-look rushing attack that prioritizes under-center runs while utilizing 12 personnel. Duo and inside zone worked well for Cincy in Week 1. Tight ends Erick All Jr. and Drew Sample paving holes and sealing off second-level defenders was a definitive positive takeaway from the game. 

There weren’t any true explosive runs outside of a couple, but the Bengals churned out short yardage to stay ahead of the chains. Most of their negative runs came out of the shotgun when Brown tried to attack the perimeter.

Attacking the A-gaps was clearly the right formula last week, and it’s the formula Cincinnati should bring to Houston this week.

The data supports the eye test. Per Ray Carpenter, the Bengals’ most successful runs against Tampa came straight up the middle behind center Ted Karras. Cincinnati ran 11 of its 24 carries behind the center and averaged 0.17 EPA per rush, well above the NFL average. Houston’s run defense against the Bills was also quite suspect against inside runs, surrendering an average of 0.12 EPA per rush on carries that went directly up the middle. 

If Karras, left guard Dylan Fairchild, and right guard Dalton Risner can generate displacement against Houston’s interior, Brown will be able to leverage himself against the Texans’ reeling LBs. 

Stick to what has worked so far

This is only one week of data, but the overlap is hard to ignore. The Texans’ run defense was at its weakest in the exact area where Cincinnati’s run game was at its strongest, and the Bengals generated that success against a Tampa Bay defensive line that was pretty solid up front. Tampa’s linebackers were not the strength of their defense, and the same can now be said of Houston’s.

Not having Burrow at full strength would be a problem, and hopefully the next couple of days are a lot better for the 29-year-old quarterback as he prepares for the year’s first road trip. This game still boils down to matchups, and the Bengals have a favorable one when it comes to their under-center run game and attacking the middle of the opposing defense.

It worked well for them last week, and it should work for them again against the Texans on Sunday.