By Brandon Simmons
The NFL released the season schedules for all 32 of its clubs, including the Houston Texans. Whether or not the Texans have a solid option at QB by the team the season arrives, they are going to have their hands full with an interesting schedule. Here’s a few observations of this season’s schedule:
- Texans defensive coordinator Lovie Smith is going to have a field day with the rookie QB’s he is facing this year. Houston opens the season with a home game against the Jacksonville Jaguars and number one overall pick, Quarterback Trevor Lawrence. All eyes will be on this to see Lawrence’s debut but this will also be Smith’s reintroduction into the league. Smith will potentially have more chances against rookie QB’s throughout the year, with games against the New York Jets, who drafted Zach Wilson at number 2 overall, and the San Francisco 49ers, who took Trey Lance with the number 3 overall pick.
- Week 7 will have the Texans traveling to Arizona to play the Cardinals, which will be the first time that the team sees their former superstars – wide receiver DeAndre Hopkins and JJ Watt – since their departures. Hopkins was traded to the Cardinals last offseason while Watt signed with them this year after being cut by the Texans. It’s certainly a game the fan base will have highlighted and one that the team itself will be fired up about based on the storyline.
- Depending on how Texans QB Tyrod Taylor fares at the QB position, he might be holding a revenge tour of his own. The Texans will be playing the Cleveland Browns, Buffalo Bills and Los Angeles Chargers this season; teams that Taylor has spent at least year with for the past 3 seasons. As of right now, Taylor is likely the presumed starter given the situation with Deshaun Watson and depending on how much the coaches prepare rookie QB David Mills. He is likely going to get a crack at the Browns and Bills (Week 2 and Week 4, respectively).
If you’re reading this, you probably love the Texans as much as the author, but the reality is not to expect a whole lot from this team in the winning column. The offseason moves the team made did not necessarily scream “win now”, and this is not a schedule set up for their return to division championship glory. The NFC West slate of opponents is a guaranteed 3 losses for this team. Not to mention, Buffalo is coming off an AFC title berth, Miami is on the rise, New England has improved their roster and Cleveland has figured out how to win games consistently. Every other game on this schedule is pretty much a wild card, particularly the division matchups, but even that is a generous guess when you think about the talent that Indy has offensively. The prediction for this team’s record will be 6-11, which is not a bad thing. They’re picking in the first round – barring any bizarre trades – and that record could land them in the top 10. Essentially, the Texans have a tough road ahead of them in 2021, and not much should be expected from this year, but it should set up for a brighter future moving forward.
Click here to view the full schedule, including preseason matchups.