Houston Texans stumble to 0-2 again after loss to the Bengals and seek to avoid another 0-3 start

HOUSTON (AP) — For a second straight season, the Houston Texans are winless through the first two weeks after Sunday’s loss to the Cincinnati Bengals.

Now they’re focused on trying to avoid a second straight 0-3 start.

“You’ve got to go back to work,” linebacker Azeez Al-Shaair said. “Obviously, you don’t want to be in this position at all. We’re better than to be in this position. But that’s the NFL.”

Ja’Marr Chase caught two touchdown passes from Joe Burrow to lead the Bengals to the 20-6 win.

Coach DeMeco Ryans said what happened last season doesn’t matter and that they must focus on the future.

“This team right now, the 2026 Texans have to dig deep, look deep within ourselves and see how can we find a way to play better football,” he said. “You win when you play good football. Right now, we haven’t played good football as a team collectively through the first two weeks of the season.”

C.J. Stroud was 30 of 55 for 353 yards passing on a day the Texans had trouble running the ball, with their backs finishing with just 18 yards rushing. They failed to score a touchdown while playing without star receiver Nico Collins after scoring 31 points in a loss to the Bills in the opener.

“The one key to this victory was controlling the front and from an offensive perspective we did not control their front,” Ryans said. “We got outplayed up front. We couldn’t run the ball well and that forced us into a lot of passing situations.”

While Stroud piled up yards, the Texans struggled to finish drives, going 0 for 4 in the red zone.

They failed to convert on fourth-and-inches from the Cincinnati 18 when Dexter Lawrence stuffed David Montgomery with seven minutes left in the first half when the game was scoreless.

“If we want to win any game here, we’ve got to get in the end zone, we’ve got to score points,” Ryans said. “We’ve got to find a way to fix this.”

Houston’s offensive line had a tough time protecting Stroud late, giving up four sacks in the fourth quarter alone. The Texans didn’t score on their final four drives, punting twice and turning it over on downs two more times.

Houston’s defense did a better job than it did in Week 1 when the unit allowed 36 points. But Ryans was disappointed that they didn’t force a turnover for a second straight game after ranking third in the NFL last season with 29 takeaways.

The good news for the Texans is they have experience in turning things around after bad starts. Last season, they became the first team in NFL history to make the playoffs twice after starting a season 0-3 after also doing so in 2018.

“Sadly, we’ve been here before, but I think we just have to hold each other accountable,” Stroud said. “We have to get better. There are a lot of things that we need to be doing better if we’re going to win. I think we’ll have some conversations this week about that and get some things fixed.”

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Houston Texans defensive end Logan Hall (96), and defensive end Will Anderson Jr. (51), celebrate after sacking Cincinnati Bengals quarterback Joe Burrow (9), bottom right, during the first half of an NFL football game in Houston, Sunday, Sept. 20, 2026. (AP Photo/Ashley Landis)

Cincinnati Bengals cornerback DJ Turner II (0) moves in on the play as Houston Texans wide receiver Jaylin Noel (13) runs with the ball during the first half of an NFL football game in Houston, Sunday, Sept. 20, 2026. (AP Photo/Ashley Landis)

Houston Texans wide receiver Jaylin Noel (13) celebrates a first down during the first half of an NFL football game against the Cincinnati Bengalsin Houston, Sunday, Sept. 20, 2026. (AP Photo/Ashley Landis)

Houston Texans head coach DeMeco Ryans speaks during a news conference after an NFL football game against the Cincinnati Bengals 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)

LOS ANGELES (AP) — Kiké Hernández hit a go-ahead RBI double in the seventh inning, Emmet Sheehan did not give up a run in 5 1/3 innings, and the Los Angeles Dodgers beat the San Francisco Giants 3-1 on Sunday to complete a three-game sweep.

Hernández jumped on the first pitch he saw from Sam Hentges (1-7), driving in Max Muncy to put the Dodgers ahead 2-1. Muncy pushed an insurance run across with a single in the eighth.

Kris Bubic (4-2) pitched 2/3 of an inning for the win, and Tanner Scott handled the ninth inning for his 23rd save.

Sheehan made the most of a bullpen game to strengthen his credentials for making the Dodgers’ postseason roster as a long reliever. He had nine strikeouts against one hit and one walk after taking over from Jack Dreyer in the second inning.

Matt Wilkinson allowed three hits and no walks while striking out six in five scoreless innings, but the Giants’ bullpen buckled. The 23-year-old left-hander was acquired as part of the trade that sent catcher Patrick Bailey to Cleveland in May.

Tommy Edman homered to right in the sixth inning to tie the game at 1, tagging reliever Carson Seymour for the 400-foot shot.

Jonah Cox drew a leadoff walk to help spot the Giants their 1-0 lead. Cox reached second on a bad pickoff attempt by Dreyer before stealing third, and Victor Bericoto’s single drove him home.

Giants: RHP Blade Tidwell (1-2, 4.56 ERA) starts in the opener of a three-game series against the Minnesota Twins on Monday night, facing RHP Bailey Ober (7-6, 4.32).

Dodgers: Manager Dave Roberts said there would be another bullpen game Tuesday night to start a three-game series against the San Diego Padres, who have yet to set their rotation.

See AP’s full MLB coverage here

San Francisco Giants' Jonah Cox, right, scores on a single by Victor Bericoto as Los Angeles Dodgers catcher Hunter Feduccia kneels at the plate during the first inning of a baseball game against the Los Angeles Dodgers, Sunday, Sept. 20, 2026, in Los Angeles. (AP Photo/Mark J. Terrill)

San Francisco Giants pitcher Matt Wilkinson throws to the plate during the first inning of a baseball game against the Los Angeles Dodgers, Sunday, Sept. 20, 2026, in Los Angeles. (AP Photo/Mark J. Terrill)

Los Angeles Dodgers pitcher Jack Dreyer throws to the plate during the first inning of a baseball game against the San Francisco Giants, Sunday, Sept. 20, 2026, in Los Angeles. (AP Photo/Mark J. Terrill)

Los Angeles Dodgers' Tommy Edman gestures as he scores after hitting a solo home run during the sixth inning of a baseball game against the San Francisco Giants, Sunday, Sept. 20, 2026, in Los Angeles. (AP Photo/Mark J. Terrill)