Stop me (but keep reading) if you've heard this before: the Houston Texans are 0-2 to start the season. It's the third time in four years Houston has been winless through two weeks under head coach DeMeco Ryans. In 2023 and 2025, the Texans overcame their slow start and fought their way into the playoffs. Unfortunetely, they might not have what it takes to survive it this season.
Since the AFL-NFL merger in 1970, only 11% of teams to start 0-2 have made the playoffs (per ESPN). In the modern era (since 2002), the probablity jumps to 12%, and since the NFL expanded playoffs in 2020, 16% of teams have been able to do it.
The Texans' strength is their defense, but it hasn't shown up as expected thus far. Combine that with an offense void of weapons, and Houston has an uphill battle to climb to save its 2026 season.
Playoff chances are slim for 0-2 Texans
Most teams know who they are after two games, or at least have some idea, but the Texans have zero identity at the moment. Without wide receiver Nico Collins, their offense has issues everywhere. Tight end Dalton Schultz was Houston's best pass catcher against the Bengals on Sunday. The Houston wide receivers combined for nine receptions, and Schultz recorded 12 on his own.
Offensive coordinator Nick Caley showed an inability to scheme players open, and the distribution of touches was head-scratching. After an explosive three touchdown performance in week one, and given the injury to Collins, it seemed likely for running back David Montgomery to be key in the gameplan against the Bengals. He only touched the ball eight times instead, and QB CJ Stroud finished as the team-leading rusher (29 yards).
To make matters worse, the Texans' field goal unit was awful against the Bengals. A botched snap and a missed kick cost them six points. With such a weak offense, the Texans need to play at a high level on defense and special teams to win games, and it hasn't happened yet. As previously mentioned, Ryans is familiar with starting a season slow, but he's not depending on history to get into the playoffs.
"There's nothing to look back on with what happened in the past," Ryans said after the game Sunday. "This team right now, the 2026 Texans, have to dig deep, look deep within ourselves and see how we can find a way to play better football. You win when you play good football, (and) right now we haven't played good football as a team the first two weeks of the season."
The Texans have five more games until their bye in week eight, including three divisional matchups, beginning with a road tilt against the Colts next. The Jaguars sit in first place in the AFC South after week two, but they're also the only team with a win (1-1). If the rest of the division struggles, it gives Houston a much better chance to get back into the playoff picture.
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