The NFL offseason has now reached another benchmark point in its progression, as we've officially reached schedule release week! While Houston Texans fans have known the names of every 2026 opponent for a while now, this week is when all the puzzle pieces finally come together to map out specific dates, times, locations and event stakes for the team.
The official league-wide schedule release date will be this Thursday, May 14th at 8:00 p.m. EST.
This will be your one-stop-shop of Texans scheduling rumors, leaks and final confirmations leading up to the schedule's official unveiling.
Table of Contents
- Houston Texans 2026 opponents
- Houston Texans 2026 schedule rumors
- Houston Texans 2026 schedule leaks
- Houston Texans 2026 official schedule
Houston Texans 2026 opponents
As confirmed by the Texans in January, here is the full slate of opponents in 2026 (categorized by home and away):
Home Opponents:
- Indianapolis Colts
- *Jacksonville Jaguars (made playoffs last season)
- Tennessee Titans
- Baltimore Ravens
- Cincinnati Bengals
- *Buffalo Bills (made playoffs last season)
- Dallas Cowboys
- New York Giants
Away Opponents
- Indianapolis Colts
- *Jacksonville Jaguars (made playoffs last season)
- Tennessee Titans
- Cleveland Browns
- *Pittsburgh Steelers (made playoffs last season)
- *Los Angeles Chargers (made playoffs last season)
- *Philadelphia Eagles (made playoffs last season)
- Washington Commanders
- *Green Bay Packers (made playoffs last season)
At first glance, the Texans will face (from 2025):
- Six playoff teams
- Eight teams that finished below .500 (Colts, Titans, Ravens, Bengals, Cowboys, Giants, Browns, Commanders)
- Five teams with losing road records (Colts, Titans, Bengals, Cowboys, Giants)
- Six teams with winning home records (Colts, Jaguars, Steelers, Chargers, Eagles, Packers)
According to the official NFL X account (@NFL), the Texans will actually open the 2026 season with the seventh-easiest (26th ranked) strength of schedule in the league (.474).
Houston Texans 2026 schedule rumors
Here are the latest schedule rumors for the either the Texans and/or their AFC South counterparts (unconfirmed reports from various sources):
- According to X user Dr. Barrett (@TheCoreyBarrett), there's a rumor circulating that the Texans will open their season against the Bengals in week one. This is a semi-frequent sentiment that's floated around social media for a couple of days now, with there being NFL labeled graphics that've also projected the same thing.
Houston Texans 2026 schedule leaks
Here are all confirmed schedule leaks relating to the Texans and/or the AFC South as a whole:
- According to NFL Nerd (@NerdingonNFL on X), the Texans and the Jaguars will face off at Wembley Stadium in London for a week six AFC South Matchup. Dated for Sunday, October 18th at 9:30 a.m. EST
- According to Ozzy (@OzzyNFL on X), the Texans and the Pittsburgh Steelers will meet in week 13 on Sunday Night Football in a rematch of their AFC Wildcard matchup.
- According to Ozzy (@OzzyNFL on X), the Texans will visit the Washington Commanders in week 14.
- According to Ozzy (@OzzyNFL on X), the Texans have a Christmas Eve matchup with the Philadelphia Eagles. It'll be a week 16 Thursday Night Football affair.
- According to Bobby Skinner (@bobbyskinner_ on X), The Texans will host the New York Giants in week seven from Reliant Stadium
- According to Ozzy (@OzzyNFL on X), the Texans will be visited by their divisional counterparts in the Indianapolis Colts on week 11 It'll be another Thursday Night Football matchup for Houston.
- According to Jacob (@TexansJacob on X), the Texans will re-open Reliant Stadium with a home-opener that features the Buffalo Bills in week one.
- According to former NFL wide receiver Chad Johnson (@ochocinco on X), the Texans will have a week two matchup with the Cincinnati Bengals.
- According to Ozzy (@OzzyNFL on X), the Texans will travel to Nissan Stadium and face the Tennessee Titans in week five.
- According to a combination of Jacob (@TexansJacob on X) and Patrick Creighton (@PCreighton1), the Texans will host the Indianapolis Colts in week three, travel to face the Cleveland Browns in week 10, host the Jacksonville Jaguars in week 15 and finish off the season by hosting the Tennessee Titans in week 18.
- According to multiple sources, the Texans now have a completed schedule with the additions of a BYE if week eight, visiting the Los Angeles Chargers in week nine, hosting the Baltimore Ravens in week 12 and visiting the Green Bay Packers in week 17.
Houston Texans 2026 official schedule
Here is the official 2026 schedule of opponents for the Texans:
- Week 1: home vs. Bills @ Reliant Stadium - September 13th, 1:00 p.m. EST
- Week 2: home vs. Bengals @ Reliant Stadium - September 20th
- Week 3: vs. Colts @ Lucas Oil Stadium
- Week 4: at home vs. Cowboys @ Reliant Stadium
- Week 5: vs. Titans @ Nissan Stadium - October 11th, 1:00 p.m. EST
- Week 6: vs. Jaguars @ Wembley Stadium (London) - October 18th, 9:30 a.m. EST
- Week 7: home vs Giants @ Reliant Stadium - October 25th
- Week 8: BYE Week
- Week 9: vs. Chargers @ SoFi Stadium
- Week 10: vs. Browns @ Huntington Bank Field
- Week 11: home vs. Colts @ Reliant Stadium - November 19th (Thursday Night Football)
- Week 12: home vs. the Ravens @ Reliant Stadium
- Week 13: vs. Steelers @ Acrisure Stadium (Sunday Night Football)
- Week 14: vs. Commanders @ Northwest Stadium - December 13th, 1:00 p.m. EST
- Week 15: at home vs. Jacksonville Jaguars @ Reliant Stadium
- Week 16: vs. Eagles @ Lincoln Financial Field (Thursday Night Football) - December 24th
- Week 17: vs. Packers @ Lambeau Field
- Week 18: at home vs. Titans @ Reliant Stadium
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