Ja'Marr Chase scores 2 TDs on passes from Joe Burrow to lead the Bengals past the Texans 20-6

HOUSTON (AP) — Joe Burrow threw two touchdown passes to Ja’Marr Chase to lead the Cincinnati Bengals to a 20-6 win over the Houston Texans on Sunday.

The big day by Chase came a week after the five-time Pro Bowler had just two receptions for 12 yards in a win over Tampa Bay. That prompted Burrow, coach Zac Taylor and offensive coordinator Dan Pitcher to say that getting him the ball more had to be a priority against the Texans.

They showed they meant that early as Chase eclipsed last week’s performance with 14 yards receiving on Cincinnati’s first drive and didn’t slow down after that.

He put the Bengals (2-0) on top 7-0 when he managed to drag his toe inbounds on a spectacular 32-yard TD catch over Derek Stingley with about 3 1/2 minutes left in the first half.

The Bengals were up by 7 when Burrow found Chase again. This time, he grabbed an 18-yard pass in the end zone in front of a diving Reed Blankenship to make it 17-3 with about three minutes left in the third.

Chase had seven receptions for 75 yards and Burrow was 20 of 31 for 207 yards despite dealing with back tightness that caused him to miss practice time this week. Tee Higgins added five receptions for 95 yards.

It was another disappointing game for the Texans, who are 0-2 after losing to Buffalo 36-31 in the opener. They’ll need to get back on track next week to avoid starting 0-3 for a second year in a row.

C.J. Stroud was 30 of 55 for 353 yards passing on a day the Texans had trouble running the ball. Their backs finished with just 18 yards rushing. They failed to score a touchdown while playing without star receiver Nico Collins after scoring 31 points last week.

Kaʻimi Fairbairn’s 45-yard field goal got the Texans within 17-6 near the end of the third.

Evan McPherson’s 57-yard field goal pushed the lead to 20-6 early in the fourth.

The Texans were driving on the next possession when Stroud was flagged for intentional grounding to force a punt.

A 37-yard field goal by Fairbairn cut the lead to 7-3 with just over a minute until halftime.

McPherson’s 51-yard field goal made it 10-3 early in the third.

The Texans had some miscues in the first half that put them in bad spots. They fumbled the snap on a punt early in the second quarter and failed to convert on fourth-and-inches from the Cincinnati 18 when Dexter Lawrence stuffed David Montgomery on their next drive.

Bengals: Host the Steelers next Sunday.

Texans: Visit the Colts next Sunday.

See AP’s full NFL coverage here

Houston Texans defensive end Will Anderson Jr. (51) sacks Cincinnati Bengals quarterback Joe Burrow (9), right, during the first half of an NFL football game in Houston, Sunday, Sept. 20, 2026. (AP Photo/Ashley Landis)

Houston Texans quarterback C.J. Stroud throws a pass during the first half of an NFL football game against the Cincinnati Bengals in Houston, Sunday, Sept. 20, 2026. (AP Photo/David J. Phillip)

Cincinnati Bengals quarterback Joe Burrow (9), left, throws as he is tackled by Houston Texans defensive tackled Sheldon Rankins (98), right, during the first half of an NFL football game in Houston, Sunday, Sept. 20, 2026. (AP Photo/Ashley Landis)

Cincinnati Bengals wide receiver Ja'marr Chase, left, reacts after catching a pass for a touchdown as Houston Texans safety Reed Blankenship, (6) and safety Calen Bullock (2) tried to defend during the second second of an NFL football game in Houston, Sunday, Sept. 20, 2026. (AP Photo/Ashley Landis)

Cincinnati Bengals wide receiver Ja'marr Chase (1) celebrates after catching a pass for a touchdown during the first half of an NFL football game against the Houston Texans in Houston, Sunday, Sept. 20, 2026. (AP Photo/Ashley Landis)

Cincinnati Bengals wide receiver Ja'marr Chase (1) catches a pass for a touchdown as Houston Texans safety Reed Blankenship, behind, and safety Calen Bullock (2) try to defend during the second half of an NFL football game in Houston, Sunday, Sept. 20, 2026. (AP Photo/Ashley Landis)

SAINT-PIERRE, Saint-Pierre-et-Miquelon (AP) — Canadian Prime Minister Mark Carney and French President Emmanuel Macron moved Sunday to deepen a strategic partnership spanning space, defense, energy and business, another step in Canada’s accelerating turn toward Europe as relations with the United States deteriorate.

Carney said the countries will task their space agencies and defense ministries to develop and share infrastructure, including launch systems and ground-based reception facilities. They also agreed to expand cooperation in energy, telecommunications, climate resilience and economic development.

The meeting comes days after Carney embraced the prospect of Canada becoming the European Union’s first associate member and argued that deeper ties with Europe would make Canada less vulnerable to economic coercion by any single country.

“Canada and Europe will build an alliance for the future that will strengthen our collective resilience so we can live our lives as we choose based on the values that we share,” Carney said Sunday.

Macron called Carney’s visit a “historic moment,” saying that amid global turmoil, the two countries were affirming “our sovereignty, our freedom to decide” and their determination to build closer ties.

Macron also backed Canada’s future involvement in the European Union.

U.S. President Donald Trump’s tariffs, demands for economic concessions and repeated talk of making Canada the 51st U.S. state have pushed the Canadian government to reduce its dependence on its neighbor and pursue deeper economic, security and political relationships with Europe.

Macron welcomed Carney on Sunday at the airport of the French territory off Newfoundland’s coast.

“This is an important moment,” Macron said Saturday upon arrival in Saint-Pierre-et- Miquelon, home to about 5,800 people.

Talks “will allow us … to strengthen our bilateral economic ties and defense relationship,” Macron said.

Macron also said that Sunday’s talks are part of broader efforts to help France secure oil and gas supplies as the Iran war disrupts global energy markets and raises fears of higher prices for fuel and other essentials.

“Canada is a country with significant resources of critical minerals and rare earths. It is also a major oil and natural gas producer,” Macron said. “What we want to do is conclude agreements to secure more liquefied natural gas that can be shipped to Europe’s Atlantic coast.”

The leaders discussed aerospace, energy, critical minerals and advanced technologies such as quantum computing, satellites and supercomputing, Carney’s office said in a statement.

Sunday’s meeting also follows Trump’s announcement of a deal on Greenland that would expand the U.S. military presence there while keeping the island under Danish control. The agreement followed months of threats by Trump to seize the semiautonomous territory of a NATO ally.

Macron welcomed the agreement Saturday.

“Danish sovereignty is being respected, international law is being respected,” he said. “Anything that helps ease tensions is a good thing.”

French President Emmanuel Macron, right, looks to Canadian Prime Minister Mark Carney as he delivers remarks in Saint-Pierre, Saint-Pierre-et-Miquelon, Sunday, Sept.20, 2026. (Adrian Wyld/The Canadian Press via AP)

French President Emmanuel Macron, right, and Canadian Prime Minister Mark Carney embrace after delivering remarks in Saint-Pierre, Saint-Pierre-et-Miquelon, Sunday, Sept.20, 2026. (Adrian Wyld/The Canadian Press via AP)

French President Emmanuel Macron, left, leads Canadian Prime Minister Mark Carney to his plane after the leaders delivered remarks in Saint-Pierre, Saint-Pierre-et-Miquelon, Sunday, Sept.20, 2026. (Adrian Wyld/The Canadian Press via AP)

Canadian Prime Minister Mark Carney, left, reacts to French President Emmanuel Macron as he delivers remarks in Saint-Pierre, Saint-Pierre-et-Miquelon, Sunday, Sept.20, 2026. (Adrian Wyld/The Canadian Press via AP)

French President Emmanuel Macron, left, takes a selfie with Canadian Prime Minister Mark Carney after delivering remarks in Saint-Pierre, Saint-Pierre-et-Miquelon, Sunday, Sept.20, 2026. (Adrian Wyld/The Canadian Press via AP)