The Houston Texans opened the 2026 season with a statement, holding off the Buffalo Bills 24-14 at home in Week 1. It was the kind of measured, physical win that sets a tone for a franchise with playoff expectations, and Houston never let the visitors dictate terms. Buffalo arrived as one of the AFC's marquee road tests, and left without an answer for the Texans' balance. C.J. Stroud was efficient and in command, throwing for 245 yards while leaning on a run game that did the heavy lifting. David Montgomery was the engine, pounding out 115 yards on the ground and keeping Houston ahead of the chains all afternoon. Nico Collins led all receivers with 75 yards, consistently winning on the outside when the Texans needed a conversion. For Buffalo, Josh Allen accounted for the game's only passing touchdown, but the Bills couldn't match Houston's steady production. Buffalo's defense had its moments, with Deone Walker collecting a pair of sacks and Kaleb Elarms-Orr piling up a game-high 10 tackles. But volume tackles told the story: the Bills' front spent too much of the day absorbing Montgomery's carries rather than finishing drives behind the line. The turning point came as Houston's ground game wore Buffalo down in the second half, flipping field position and shrinking the clock. By the time the Bills found rhythm through the air, the Texans had already banked the cushion they needed.