Houston
Texans
3-2
6
FINAL
27
Cincinnati
Bengals
4-0
AI Recap
AI RECAPThe Cincinnati Bengals topped the Houston Texans 27-6 in the Divisional Round of the 2026 season, securing their place in the next stage of the playoffs. The Bengals showcased their dominance, turning a critical matchup into a decisive victory, while the Texans struggled to find their rhythm on offense.
Cincinnati's offense was highlighted by Ja'Marr Chase, who racked up an impressive 130 receiving yards, proving to be a constant threat downfield. Chase's ability to stretch the field opened up opportunities for the Bengals, while Chase Brown contributed on the ground, despite only managing 11 rushing yards. The Texans' C.J. Stroud led his team with 181 passing yards but couldn't connect effectively enough to make a significant impact.
Defensively, the Bengals set the tone early, with Bryan Cook recording a crucial sack that disrupted the Texans' momentum. Tacario Davis added an interception, further sealing Houston's fate and showcasing a balanced defensive effort. The game shifted when Cincinnati's defense forced a turnover, allowing the Bengals to extend their lead and ultimately control the tempo for the remainder of the match.
Passing
| Player | Pos | ATT | CMP | CMP% | YDS | TD | INT | QBR |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| C.J. Stroud | QB | 21 | 8 | 38% | 181 | 0 | 2 | 30.1 |
| Joe Burrow | QB | 9 | 8 | 89% | 177 | 0 | 0 | 118.7 |
Rushing
| Player | Pos | ATT | YDS | YPC | YAC | TD | LNG | FUM |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Chase Brown | HB | 5 | 11 | 2.2 | 9 | 0 | 6 | 0 |
| Samaje Perine | HB | 2 | 7 | 3.5 | 4 | 0 | 9 | 0 |
| Joe Burrow | QB | 1 | 5 | 5.0 | — | 1 | 5 | 0 |
| Antonio Gibson | HB | 7 | 4 | 0.6 | 5 | 0 | 4 | 0 |
| Tee Higgins | WR | 0 | 0 | 0.0 | — | 0 | 0 | 0 |
Receiving
| Player | Pos | REC | YDS | YPR | YAC | TD | LNG | DROP |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Ja'Marr Chase | WR | 5 | 130 | 26.0 | 46 | 0 | 46 | 0 |
| Nico Collins | WR | 3 | 72 | 24.0 | 10 | 0 | 38 | 0 |
| Tank Dell | WR | 1 | 47 | 47.0 | 39 | 0 | 47 | 0 |
| Tee Higgins | WR | 2 | 47 | 23.5 | 8 | 0 | 37 | 0 |
| Jaylin Noel | WR | 1 | 32 | 32.0 | 26 | 0 | 32 | 0 |
| Dalton Schultz | TE | 2 | 17 | 8.5 | 2 | 0 | 12 | 0 |
| Antonio Gibson | HB | 1 | 13 | 13.0 | 5 | 0 | 13 | 0 |
| Mike Gesicki | TE | 1 | 0 | 0.0 | — | 0 | 0 | 0 |
Defense
| Player | Pos | TKL | SACK | INT | FF | PD |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Kamari Ramsey | SS | 5 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 |
| Bryan Cook | FS | 3 | 1 | 0 | 0 | 0 |
| Tacario Davis | CB | 0 | 0 | 1 | 0 | 0 |
| Barrett Carter | MIKE | 0 | 0 | 1 | 0 | 0 |
| Dexter Lawrence II | DT | 3 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 |
| Boye Mafe | REDG | 3 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 |
| Danielle Hunter | REDG | 1 | 1 | 0 | 0 | 0 |
| Kamari Lassiter | CB | 2 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 |
| Kenny Moore II | CB | 2 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 |
| Will Anderson Jr | LEDG | 1 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 |
| B.J. Hill | DT | 1 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 |
| Kayden McDonald | DT | 1 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 |
| Lewis Cine | SS | 1 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 |
| Jalen Pitre | FS | 1 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 |
| DJ Turner II | CB | 1 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 1 |
| Derek Stingley Jr | CB | 1 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 |
| Jordan Battle | SS | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 1 |
| Azeez Al-Shaair | MIKE | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 1 |
Kicking
| Player | Pos | FGM | FGA | XPM | LNG |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Evan McPherson | K | 2 | 2 | 3 | 54 |
| Ka'imi Fairbairn | K | 2 | 2 | 0 | 58 |

