The Cincinnati Bengals’ bet to go all in on the defensive side of the ball paid off instantly in Week 1 with a decisive victory fueled by the defensive line. 

Cincinnati’s rebuilt defensive front wreaked havoc against the Tampa Bay offensive line, led in large part by the offseason additions brought in to do so. 

And the defensive line’s presence may be of the utmost importance now that reports of a Joe Burrow back injury have emerged. Fortunately, they have another opportunity to tee off on another offensive line that ranks as one of the worst units in the NFL. 

Bengals DL ready to hunt vs Texans’ OL

When the Bengals’ defensive front lines up against the Texans on Sunday, they will be facing quite possibly the worst offensive line they will see this season. 

Justin Edwards of “4 for 4” ranks the Texans’ big men 32nd in his Week 2 offensive line rankings. That is where he ranked them heading into the season opener. 

Pro Football Focus ranks the Texans’ OL 31st, so a slight improvement over where Edwards ranks them. However, we should take that with a snowball-sized grain of salt, considering PFF still ranks the Buccaneers third. 

Edwards ranks the Tampa Buccaneers seventh for the second consecutive week. 

The Bills got to CJ Stroud and the Texans for three sacks, eight tackles for loss, and nine QB hits.

The good news is that if the Bengals can do what they did last week against the seventh-ranked, or even better, third-ranked offensive line, imagine what we should expect when they face the last-place unit. 

For their part, Cincinnati’s revamped defensive line got to Baker Mayfield and the Bucs for four sacks, five tackles for loss, six QB hits, including two forced fumbles, while the Bucs QB was in the pocket. 

Bengals defense stalking next step

One of, if not the biggest, additions, literally and figuratively, for the Bengals is Dexter Lawrence, who recently commented that this is just the beginning for Cincinnati’s new-look defense. And as Lawrence simply put it, the Texans are “in the way.”

“We get to show the world the work we’ve been putting in.”

Dexter Lawrence said week one was (the start of) validation for this defense after a big offseason for the #Bengals. pic.twitter.com/R7qtzj4ltT

— Jeremy Rauch (@FOX19Jeremy) September 17, 2026

Texans QB CJ Stroud also acknowledged the possible avalanche heading his way when he addressed the media, perhaps with a subliminal message to his less-than-stellar offensive line embedded in his comments. 

CJ Stroud on the Cincinnati Bengals defense:

“Their dline is relay good. Dexter Lawrence is one of the best DTs in the NFL with BJ Hill, Johnathan Allen’s playing some really good ball, their ends are good as well. Backers are young, fly around, make a lot of plays. Their… pic.twitter.com/MCPdU1bG2h

— Houston Stressans (@TexansCommenter) September 17, 2026

Still, Stroud calling Cincinnati’s defensive line “really good” somehow seems to sell the Bengals short. 

Houston’s head coach DeMeco Ryans correctly stated that “it’s going to be hard to move those guys, but everything starts with the front.” 

The same can be said for the Bengals, who must find ways to limit the Texans’ offense if Joe Burrow is limited. 

Still, facing one of the NFL’s worst offensive lines, according to several sites that measure such things, should prove to be another launch pad for the defense to take flight into an elite category. 

And once they are done with the Texans, the Bengals defensive line could celebrate by having another feast at one of Houston’s many fine restaurants. May we suggest Joey Uptown.

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