Season opener is more than a game for Texans

Emotions will be high when the Texans host the Jaguars on Sunday at NRG Stadium in the hurricane- torn city of Houston. Hurricane Harvey has devastated the area. And while the obvious lesson is to keep sports in perspective, this will not be just a football game for the Texans or their fans.

Led by three- time Defensive Player of the Year J. J. Watt, the Texans have participated in the recovery, and the season opener will play a big part in that, as the city seeks some semblance of normalcy.

In that regard, the availability of NRG Stadium in itself is a blessing. When Hurricane Katrina hit New Orleans in 2005, the Superdome was rendered unusable, and the Saints played their home games at the Alamodome in San Antonio. The Saints went 3- 13, and coach Jim Haslett was fired and replaced by Sean Payton.

But when the Saints returned to the Superdome against the Falcons in 2006, it was an event that symbolized the rebirth of a city and a football team. The Saints scored two first- quarter touchdowns en route to a 23- 3 victory.

That won’t be quite the situation at NRG Stadium. The city still is in the early stages of recovery, but the game still symbolizes the city’s resilience. And Watt’s personal hand in helping the city heal has been astounding. His Hurricane Harvey relief fund has reached epic proportions, topping the $ 27 million mark Wednesday.

The disaster has affected the Texans’ players and coaches, like all citizens of Houston. But the emotion of the moment can’t be overlooked as a factor in the game.

Pick: Texans 24, Jaguars 10.