The Houston Texans have released their schedule for the upcoming NFL season. In addition to playing their AFC South rivals, the Texans also take on the AFC East, NFC East, Denver Broncos and Cleveland Browns.
Texans schedule, opponents and times
1: at New England Patriots
2: at Tennessee Titans
3: vs New York Giants
4: at Indianapolis Colts
5: vs Dallas Cowboys (Sunday Night Football)
6: vs Buffalo Bills
7: at Jacksonville Jaguars
8: vs Miami Dolphins (Thursday Night Football)
9: at Denver Broncos
10: BYE
11: at Washington Redskins
12: vs Tennessee Titans (Monday Night Football)
13: vs Cleveland Browns
14: vs Indianapolis Colts
15: at New York Jets (Saturday, time TBD)
16: at Philadelphia Eagles
17: vs Jacksonville Jaguars
Analyzing the Texans schedule
In Week 1 the Texans travel to New England to take on the Patriots. Last season Houston nearly defeated New England but the Patriots came out victorious by a score of 36-33.
Houston has three Prime Time games in 2018 and one additional game on Saturday. The time for the Saturday game has not been announced as of yet. All three of the games schedule for Prime Time are at home. This could benefit Houston and allow the home crowd to energize the team. The games will see Houston host the Dallas Cowboys, Miami Dolphins and division rival Tennessee Titans. Houston and Tennessee split the season series in 2017, each winning at home.
The only other non-division opponent the Texans faced in 2017 that they face in 2018 is the Cleveland Browns. Houston defeated Cleveland at home by a score 33-17. Cleveland benched DeShone Kizer in favor of Kevin Hogan in what ended up being the only game Kizer did not start. A newly rejuvenated Browns team should put up more of a fight this time around.
Houston went 1-5 in the division last year. Their only win coming in Week 4’s 57-14 pounding of the Titans. If the Texans want to make a playoff run that record must improve but that will be difficult. Jacksonville is still a tough opponent while Tennessee and Indianapolis should continue to put up a fight in a rivalry game. Winning in the division is not impossible, but it may be harder than some realize.