Texans vs. Bears 2024: Stroud and the Texans want to improve their 2-0 season record in the first primetime duel of the season

HOUSTON, Texas — The Houston Texans led the NFL in rushing yards with 213 in their Week 1 win over Indianapolis and ranked second in total yards with 417.

Not bad, the Texans say, but they're sure they can do a lot more as they prepare for this week's Sunday Night Football game against the Chicago Bears.

“I think we have a lot of room for improvement on offense,” said running back Joe Mixon. “What we did on Sunday was just the tip of the iceberg.”

Quarterback CJ Stroud added: “I definitely think we barely showed what we can do.”

What they have this year is a strong running game led by former Bengals star Mixon, which has bolstered the Stroud-led offense and added star receiver Stefon Diggs in the offseason.

Mixon set a career-high with 30 carries for 159 yards and a touchdown in his Houston debut and was named AFC Offensive Player of the Week. Early signs suggest he will give the Texans a solid foundation at running back after years of struggles at the position.

Coach DeMeco Ryans praised Mixon and his running game for carrying the team on Sunday.

“Obviously the biggest factor in our success on Sunday was running the ball,” Ryans said. “Being able to control the game was the most important thing for us. We haven't had that in a long time. So when we can do that, you can see the game going a lot better for us when we can line up and run the ball.”

The best way to describe their offensive performance in the opening game against Tennessee would be forgettable. Caleb Williams, drafted number 1, completed just 14 of 29 passes for 93 yards and Chicago failed to score a single touchdown on offense. But the Bears overcame a 17-point deficit and won thanks to a defensive touchdown and a special teams point.

There are many things Williams would like to do better, but he is encouraged that the team was able to pull off a win despite its struggles. He is the first No. 1 pick to win his first start since David Carr helped Houston beat Dallas in the first game in franchise history in 2002.

“You wake up and realize you won your first game in the NFL, regardless of how you felt about your performance,” Williams said. “We won our first game and we were super excited. I was super excited, not necessarily about my actual performance, but that I was able to, like I said, go out with that win and help lead these guys to that win. It feels good, really exciting. It's a confidence booster when you can go out and do that.”

Contagious

Williams could lose two important wide receivers. Rookie Rome Odunze (knee) and six-time Pro Bowler Keenan Allen (heel) will not be used until shortly before the start of the game.

Odunze practiced on a limited basis on Friday after sitting out the last two days, while Allen did not practice this week.

The Bears were able to breathe a sigh of relief this week after an MRI of Odunze's knee showed no major structural damage. The ninth overall pick in the draft, he strained a medial collateral ligament while blocking late in the Tennessee game and hopped off the field on the next play.

Allen, who was acquired in a trade with the Los Angeles Chargers, has been struggling with heel problems for several weeks.

Allen and Odunze were two of the biggest additions behind Williams in an offseason overhaul of the offense. With DJ Moore in his second season in Chicago, the Bears could have one of the strongest wide receiver groups.

The injuries could mean that Tyler Scott – who was inactive last week due to health reasons – will be in the starting lineup.

“You're looking for an opportunity, a crack in the door,” coach Matt Eberflus said. “We believe we have a strong receiver group this year and we still have to prove that. But I would say when that door opens, you take the opportunity and take advantage of it.”

Stroud and Diggs

Stroud wasted no time getting rolling with Diggs in their first game together last week following his blockbuster trade from Buffalo. Stroud threw two touchdown passes against the Colts, and both went to Diggs.

The quarterback believes the time they spent together during the offseason helped them bond quickly.

“It's just a lot of work away from the spotlight,” said Stroud. “He comes to LA, I go to Paris to see him and show him there. There are just always times when nobody sees anything. That's when this work pays off.”

Diggs joined Tampa Bay's Mike Evans and the New York Jets' Allen Lazard as the only players to receive two touchdowns last week.

Stevenson's Start

Bears cornerback Tyrique Stevenson is off to a good start after finishing last season with a strong finish.

The second-year pro was named NFC Defensive Player of the Week for the second time in three games since last season after returning an interception 43 yards against Tennessee for the game-winning touchdown and his first career point.

Stevenson also earned that award for his performance in Week 17 last year, when he had two interceptions in a win over Atlanta. And with Pro Bowler Jaylon Johnson at the other cornerback position, it will be difficult for quarterbacks to find gaps.

“This defense expects me to be the guy I am in practice,” Stevenson said. “I make the plays that I get, catch the balls that I get and make sure I can feed everything back into this defense because I'm not a weak link just because there's an All-Pro corner over there.”