David Montgomery: “Not satisfied” with three-TD Texans debut, vows to improve

David Montgomery scored three touchdowns in his first game with the Houston Texans, but despite the individual achievement he remained disappointed as the team lost 36-31 to the Buffalo Bills. The running back said the good feeling of the scores fades when the team doesn’t triumph and that he himself didn’t play up to his own expectations.

As NFL reports, Montgomery’s three scores were more than any other debut in club history: a 1-yard push, an 18-yard long run and a 7-yard TD catch — the latter his first receiving touchdown since the 2022 season when he played for the Chicago Bears. All three scores also changed the lead in the game in Houston’s favor.

The statistics, however, showed a weaker performance in terms of efficiency: 60 yards on 20 attempts, averaging 3.0 yards per carry. That’s unusual for the 29-year-old, who comes off four straight seasons with over 4.0 yards per attempt, and Montgomery himself admitted he could have done more.

Asked after the game, he said he felt good about the scores but not satisfied without the win, and that he felt he left some things on the field for the team and the offensive line. “I’ll get better,” he stressed, adding that the first game always has its own significance and that he’ll work to be more complete.

With the aim of earning the first win and being tested against the Cincinnati Bengals, his hometown team, Montgomery said he’ll prepare the same as always to face a defense that made improvements during the break. According to NFL, this second-week game is expected to be another test of the Texans’ level and their ambitions for the rest of the season.