# Bengals vs Texans predictions, graded

Week 2, 2026: Cincinnati Bengals at Houston Texans

Sep 20, 2026 · final: Bengals 20, Texans 6 · 25 calls on record · updated Oct 1, 9:20 AM ET

Who do pundits pick in Bengals vs Texans? Of 18 pundits with a call on record, 11 take the Texans and 7 take the Bengals. 8 named a score; the median has the Texans by 2.5. The Bengals won 20-6, so 7 of 18 had the winner. Their graded calls averaged 36 out of 100.

Picks by outlet. Each pundit counted once, at the outlet or show their latest call ran on. An outlet is listed when two or more of its pundits have picked.

- [CBS Sports](https://missedtakes.co/outlets/cbs-sports): Texans 3, Bengals 2
- [First Things First (podcast)](https://missedtakes.co/outlets/first-things-first-podcast): Texans 3, Bengals 1
- [Football 301 with Nate Tice (podcast)](https://missedtakes.co/outlets/football-301-with-nate-tice-podcast): all 2 Bengals
- [John and Lance — ESPN Houston (podcast)](https://missedtakes.co/outlets/john-and-lance-espn-houston-podcast): Texans 1, Bengals 1
- [The Richard Sherman Podcast (podcast)](https://missedtakes.co/outlets/the-richard-sherman-podcast-podcast): Texans 1, Bengals 1

The other 3 pundits write or talk elsewhere: all 3 Texans.

Page: https://missedtakes.co/nfl/games/2026-week-2-bengals-at-texans

Picks:

- [Colin Cowherd](https://missedtakes.co/pundits/colin-cowherd) took the Texans; said Sep 19, 2026; on The Colin Cowherd Podcast (podcast); scored 0 out of 100 (the naive pick scored 0) — https://missedtakes.co/opinions/e43d4655-1b30-4892-a8ee-3cfe6bf29dba
- [Chris Broussard](https://missedtakes.co/pundits/chris-broussard) took the Texans; said Sep 18, 2026; on First Things First (podcast); scored 0 out of 100 (the naive pick scored 0) — https://missedtakes.co/opinions/a54915e0-49e6-427b-a7a5-4feb5d0f3cbb
- [Greg Jennings](https://missedtakes.co/pundits/greg-jennings) took the Texans; said Sep 18, 2026; on First Things First (podcast); scored 0 out of 100 (the naive pick scored 0) — https://missedtakes.co/opinions/420d3e29-6224-43a2-8d68-b15c864838cd
- [Danny Parkins](https://missedtakes.co/pundits/danny-parkins) took the Bengals; said Sep 18, 2026; on First Things First (podcast); scored 100 out of 100 (the naive pick scored 0) — https://missedtakes.co/opinions/36d4ede8-3066-4102-abbc-cb08e4544c92
- [Nick Wright](https://missedtakes.co/pundits/nick-wright) took the Texans; said Sep 18, 2026; on First Things First (podcast); scored 0 out of 100 (the naive pick scored 0) — https://missedtakes.co/opinions/d9357a30-3f1d-4be4-8ce6-529f21f9aeac
- [Chris Simms](https://missedtakes.co/pundits/chris-simms) took the Texans, Texans 23–Bengals 20; said Sep 18, 2026; on Chris Simms Unbuttoned (podcast); scored 23.81 out of 100 (the naive pick scored 18.75) — https://missedtakes.co/opinions/32db5f5e-13da-47e3-b280-2aa9a80d172b
- [John Granato](https://missedtakes.co/pundits/john-granato) took the Texans; said Sep 18, 2026; on John and Lance — ESPN Houston (podcast); scored 0 out of 100 (the naive pick scored 0) — https://missedtakes.co/opinions/9d9f9b6b-94a8-48dc-aa1b-e2549b84a2eb
- [Lance Zierlein](https://missedtakes.co/pundits/lance-zierlein) took the Bengals; said Sep 18, 2026; on John and Lance — ESPN Houston (podcast); scored 100 out of 100 (the naive pick scored 0) — https://missedtakes.co/opinions/fcf4502c-2097-4ddb-989f-796469c8138e
- [Lance Zierlein](https://missedtakes.co/pundits/lance-zierlein) took the Texans; said Sep 18, 2026; on John and Lance — ESPN Houston (podcast); scored 0 out of 100 (the naive pick scored 0) — https://missedtakes.co/opinions/7d5b2172-ce70-4885-9a4e-8661f1781241
- [John Granato](https://missedtakes.co/pundits/john-granato) took the Texans; said Sep 18, 2026; on John and Lance — ESPN Houston (podcast); scored 0 out of 100 (the naive pick scored 0) — https://missedtakes.co/opinions/393e48f2-e8b5-4d41-9a77-36454d9c3829
- [Jared Dubin](https://missedtakes.co/pundits/jared-dubin) took the Texans, Texans 26–Bengals 24; said Sep 18, 2026; on CBS Sports; scored 21.43 out of 100 (the naive pick scored 15.44) — https://missedtakes.co/opinions/2d7a391a-171e-4d38-abb6-3284a7670a86
- [Pete Prisco](https://missedtakes.co/pundits/pete-prisco) took the Texans, Texans 28–Bengals 23; said Sep 18, 2026; on CBS Sports; scored 28.57 out of 100 (the naive pick scored 15.44) — https://missedtakes.co/opinions/29185ff4-dec4-498f-aa45-4ca2d72dcbe3
- [Nate Tice](https://missedtakes.co/pundits/nate-tice) took the Bengals; said Sep 17, 2026; on Football 301 with Nate Tice (podcast); scored 100 out of 100 (the naive pick scored 0) — https://missedtakes.co/opinions/b6211c80-3d1c-46b8-8a0c-151fc0ba92de
- [Matt Harmon](https://missedtakes.co/pundits/matt-harmon) took the Bengals; said Sep 17, 2026; on Football 301 with Nate Tice (podcast); scored 100 out of 100 (the naive pick scored 0) — https://missedtakes.co/opinions/21a71025-ab65-4716-ac2c-e77ad5ce3348
- [Nate Tice](https://missedtakes.co/pundits/nate-tice) took the Bengals, Bengals 20–Texans 17; said Sep 17, 2026; on Football 301 with Nate Tice (podcast); scored 73.81 out of 100 (the naive pick scored 18.75) — https://missedtakes.co/opinions/b6211c80-3d1c-46b8-8a0c-151fc0ba92de
- [Jordan Dajani](https://missedtakes.co/pundits/jordan-dajani) took the Texans, Texans 27–Bengals 23; said Sep 17, 2026; on CBS Sports; scored 26.19 out of 100 (the naive pick scored 15.44) — https://missedtakes.co/opinions/6937b9aa-572a-4449-821a-32af833332f6
- [Jordan Dajani](https://missedtakes.co/pundits/jordan-dajani) took the Texans, Texans 27–Bengals 23; said Sep 17, 2026; on CBS Sports; scored 26.19 out of 100 (the naive pick scored 15.44) — https://missedtakes.co/opinions/655e3b13-48e3-4472-8e72-6742885b4641
- [Jared Dubin](https://missedtakes.co/pundits/jared-dubin) took the Texans, Texans 26–Bengals 24; said Sep 17, 2026; on CBS Sports; scored 21.43 out of 100 (the naive pick scored 15.44) — https://missedtakes.co/opinions/9fc610de-6a6c-43c4-af7c-4c00c056d117
- [John Hickman](https://missedtakes.co/pundits/john-hickman) took the Texans; said Sep 17, 2026; on Locked On Texans (podcast); scored 0 out of 100 (the naive pick scored 0) — https://missedtakes.co/opinions/1bcdbdb5-aff1-4a22-b09c-8bf34c500544
- [Tyler Sullivan](https://missedtakes.co/pundits/tyler-sullivan) took the Bengals; said Sep 17, 2026; on CBS Sports; scored 100 out of 100 (the naive pick scored 0) — https://missedtakes.co/opinions/0ee2daf0-868b-4ffd-a252-f478174d97f6
- [Richard Sherman](https://missedtakes.co/pundits/richard-sherman) took the Texans, Texans 24–Bengals 17; said Sep 17, 2026; on The Richard Sherman Podcast (podcast); scored 33.33 out of 100 (the naive pick scored 15.44) — https://missedtakes.co/opinions/8a2c5da4-3fba-43d7-82eb-dc25b81f245e
- [Mitchell Eisenstein](https://missedtakes.co/pundits/mitchell-eisenstein) took the Bengals, Bengals 31–Texans 27; said Sep 17, 2026; on The Richard Sherman Podcast (podcast); scored 76.19 out of 100 (the naive pick scored 15.44) — https://missedtakes.co/opinions/5e7a2965-bd9c-4c78-81b8-cb9ff18f6520
- [John Breech](https://missedtakes.co/pundits/john-breech) took the Bengals, Bengals 23–Texans 20; said Sep 15, 2026; on CBS Sports; scored 73.81 out of 100 (the naive pick scored 15.44) — https://missedtakes.co/opinions/eb6d274b-c294-4c3d-ba42-d3dee06c6e87
- [John Breech](https://missedtakes.co/pundits/john-breech) took the Texans; said Aug 19, 2026; on CBS Sports; scored 0 out of 100 (the naive pick scored 0) — https://missedtakes.co/opinions/50eb251e-cf6b-417d-a0d6-bccba95e06fc
- [John Granato](https://missedtakes.co/pundits/john-granato) took the Texans; said May 19, 2026; on John and Lance — ESPN Houston (podcast); scored 0 out of 100 (the naive pick scored 0) — https://missedtakes.co/opinions/90fd3c9e-7281-40ec-be9b-f741f1f476b0

## How they came in

The Bengals are 1-0; the Texans are 0-1. On win totals, 11 pundits put the Bengals at 10.9 wins on average, and 20 pundits put the Texans at 10.2 wins on average.

Venue: NRG Stadium, Houston, Texas

- Cincinnati Bengals: 1-0 (33 scored, 27 allowed)
  - Last games: W 33-27 vs Buccaneers
  - Unit ranks this season: offense 6th, defense 18th of 32
  - Last season: 6-11
  - Win-total calls: 11 pundits, average 10.9, 9 to 13 wins
  - The side most pundits took won 1 of 1 Bengals game
- Houston Texans: 0-1 (31 scored, 36 allowed)
  - Last games: L 31-36 vs Bills
  - Unit ranks this season: offense 7th, defense 10th of 32
  - Last season: 12-5
  - Win-total calls: 22 pundits, average 10.2, 1 to 17 wins
  - The side most pundits took won 0 of 1 Texans game

## Players to watch

Each club's starting quarterback, leading rusher, receiver and tight end, and its sack and tackle leaders, with their 2026 regular season so far, with the latest call on each from a pundit ranked on the leaderboard whose record beats the naive pick, made since the 2026 schedule came out ("No." is that rank). Leaderboard: https://missedtakes.co/nfl/leaderboard

- [Joe Burrow](https://missedtakes.co/nfl/players/joe-burrow) (Starting QB, QB): 2,386 passing yards · 23 TD, 6 INT · 74.0% completions · 8 games; 2nd in the NFL in passing yards
  - No. 4 Bryan DeArdo, Nov 3, 2026: Joe Burrow to stay with Cincinnati Bengals (not settled yet)
  - No. 5 Tom Pelissero, Sep 18, 2026: Now they're going down to Houston. Joe Burrow's got a, you know, a little bit of a back issue, but I I fully anticipate him playing. (not settled yet)
- [Chase Brown](https://missedtakes.co/nfl/players/chase-brown) (RB1, RB): 397 rushing yards on 103 carries · 1 TD · 39 catches for 207 · 8 games; 23rd in the NFL in rushing yards
  - No. 8 Pat Fitzmaurice, Oct 21, 2026: Chase Brown to be 1st on the depth chart (not settled yet)
  - No. 12 Derek Brown, Sep 1, 2026: Chase Brown to outplay his draft cost (round two) (not settled yet)
- [Tee Higgins](https://missedtakes.co/nfl/players/tee-higgins) (WR1, WR): 48 catches for 758 yards · 6 TD · 8 games; 5th in the NFL in receiving yards
  - No. 12 Derek Brown, Oct 9, 2026: I don't think Tee Higgins plays in this game because even with the side work, he's been listed as DMP for both days. (Week 5) (not settled yet)
  - No. 17 Nate Tice, Jun 22, 2026: Tee Higgins to be 2nd on the depth chart (not settled yet)
- [Mike Gesicki](https://missedtakes.co/nfl/players/mike-gesicki) (TE1, TE): 19 catches for 252 yards · 6 TD · 7 games; 101st in the NFL in receiving yards
- [Boye Mafe](https://missedtakes.co/nfl/players/boye-mafe) (Sack leader, DE): 5.5 sacks · 13 solo tackles · 8 games; 12th in the NFL in sacks
  - No. 23 Jordan Dajani, Aug 26, 2026: Boye Mafe to be 1st on the depth chart (not settled yet)
- [Jordan Battle](https://missedtakes.co/nfl/players/jordan-battle) (Tackle leader, S): 36 solo tackles · 3 interceptions · 8 games; 14th in the NFL in solo tackles
- [C.J. Stroud](https://missedtakes.co/nfl/players/c-j-stroud) (Starting QB, QB): 2,251 passing yards · 16 TD, 2 INT · 64.2% completions · 100 rushing yards · 8 games; 7th in the NFL in passing yards
  - No. 1 Jared Koch, Nov 4, 2026: C.J. Stroud: “if he continues his strong play, the Texans will be forced to pay Stroud as one of the highest-paid quarterbacks in the NFL” (not settled yet)
  - No. 5 Tom Pelissero, Nov 13, 2026: C.J. Stroud: “if he just finishes like this, 65,000,000 a year and the highest paid quarterback” (not settled yet)
- [Woody Marks](https://missedtakes.co/nfl/players/woody-marks) (RB1, RB): 341 rushing yards on 95 carries · 2 TD · 15 catches for 98 · 8 games; 28th in the NFL in rushing yards
  - No. 1 Jared Koch, Nov 11, 2026: Woody Marks to be 1st on the depth chart (not settled yet)
  - No. 8 Pat Fitzmaurice, Oct 12, 2026: Woody Marks to be 1st on the depth chart (not settled yet)
- [Nico Collins](https://missedtakes.co/nfl/players/nico-collins) (WR1, WR): 28 catches for 384 yards · 4 TD · 6 games; 42nd in the NFL in receiving yards
  - No. 1 Jared Koch, Oct 19, 2026: Nico Collins to be 1st on the depth chart (not settled yet)
  - No. 4 Bryan DeArdo, Sep 22, 2026: he played well in Week 1 but wasn't as good on Sunday without Nico Collins, who is expected to miss this Sunday's game against the also-winless Colts (Week 3) (not settled yet)
- [Dalton Schultz](https://missedtakes.co/nfl/players/dalton-schultz) (TE1, TE): 35 catches for 364 yards · 0 TD · 8 games; 47th in the NFL in receiving yards
  - No. 8 Pat Fitzmaurice, Aug 23, 2026: Dalton Schultz to outplay his draft cost (late-round) (not settled yet)
  - No. 12 Derek Brown, Sep 2, 2026: Dalton Schultz to outplay his draft cost (ADP 25) (not settled yet)
- [Will Anderson Jr.](https://missedtakes.co/nfl/players/will-anderson-jr) (Sack leader, DE): 9.5 sacks · 18 solo tackles · 8 games; 1st in the NFL in sacks
  - No. 4 Bryan DeArdo, Nov 3, 2026: Will Anderson Jr. to stay with Houston Texans (not settled yet)
  - No. 16 Mike Kadlick, Nov 12, 2026: Will Anderson Jr. to win Defensive Player of the Year (not settled yet)
- [Kamari Lassiter](https://missedtakes.co/nfl/players/kamari-lassiter) (Tackle leader, CB): 1 sack · 32 solo tackles · 8 games; 34th in the NFL in solo tackles
  - No. 1 Jared Koch, Oct 10, 2026: Kamari Lassiter to record 1 interceptions (not settled yet)

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The room is counted in pundits, each one's latest call standing. Accuracy is out of 100; the naive pick is the home team.
The week: https://missedtakes.co/nfl/games/2026-week-2
Method: https://missedtakes.co/methodology