Texans face tough kickoff to their 2020 season.
Season opens with games vs. Chiefs, Ravens
SEPT. 10 AT CHIEFS
Time: 7:20 p.m. TV: NBC 2019 W-L: 12-4 Key player: QB Patrick Mahomes
SEPT. 20 VS. RAVENS
Time: 3:25 p.m. TV: CBS 2019 W-L: 14-2 Key player: QB Lamar Jackson
SEPT. 27 AT STEELERS
Time: Noon TV: CBS 2019 W-L: 8-8 Key player: QB Ben Roethlisberger
OCT. 4 VS. VIKINGS
Time: Noon TV: Fox 2019 W-L: 10-6
Key player: QB Kirk Cousins
OCT. 11 VS. JAGUARS
Time: Noon TV: CBS 2019 W-L: 6-10 Key player: QB Gardner Minshew
OCT. 18 AT TITANS
Time: Noon TV: CBS 2019 W-L: 9-7
Key player: QB Ryan Tannehill
OCT. 25 VS. PACKERS
Time: Noon TV: CBS 2019 W-L: 13-3
Key player: QB Aaron Rodgers
NOV. 8 AT JAGUARS
Time: Noon TV: CBS 2019 W-L: 6-10 Key player: RB Leonard Fournette
NOV. 15 AT BROWNS
Time: Noon TV: CBS 2019 W-L: 6-10 Key player: QB Baker Mayfield
NOV. 22 VS. PATRIOTS
Time: Noon TV: CBS 2019 W-L: 12-4 Key player: QB Jarrett Stidham
NOV. 26 AT LIONS
Time: 11:30 TV: CBS 2019 W-L: 3-12-1 Key player: QB Matthew Stafford
DEC. 6 VS. COLTS
Time: Noon TV: CBS 2019 W-L: 7-9 Key player: WR T.Y. Hilton
DEC. 13 AT BEARS
Time: Noon TV: CBS 2019 W-L: 8-8 Key player: OLB Khalil Mack
DEC. 19 OR 20 AT COLTS
Time: TBD TV: CBS 2019 W-L: 7-9 Key player: QB Philip Rivers
DEC. 27 VS. BENGALS
Time: Noon TV: CBS 2019 W-L: 2-14 Key player: QB Joe Burrow JAN. 3 VS. TITANS
Time: Noon TV: CBS 2019 W-L: 9-7 Key player: RB Derrick Henry
The NFL did the Texans no favors by scheduling them against powerhouses in the first two games of the season.
After winning the AFC South again, the Texans play a first-place schedule, beginning with a Thursday night game Sept. 10 at the Kansas City Chiefs, the defending Super Bowl champions who eliminated them 51-31 in the divisional round of the playoffs.
This is the sixth consecutive season in which the Texans have played the Super Bowl champion, and this year it comes on the NFL’s opening night.
“Everybody wants to start the season on national television, and we’re able to do that,” coach Bill O’Brien told Texans TV. “We’re playing a great opponent, obviously, and it’s going to be a big challenge
for us. Our guys are working hard in the offseason to be ready for that. We’re all excited for that opportunity.”
The Texans play their first game at NRG Stadium on Sept. 20 against Baltimore, a team that pulverized them 41-7 last season on its way to an AFC-best 14-2 record.
“Two tough opponents to start the season,” O’Brien said. “To come home and play Baltimore, another great team, before our hometown fans is going to be a great experience for us.”
The NFL put on a happy face Thursday when the schedule was released, saying fans will be able to attend from the first game Sept. 10 to the Feb. 7 Super Bowl at Tampa, Fla.
What the NFL wants to downplay are contingencies created by the coronavirus pandemic. Preseason could be reduced. The season could be delayed until October, with the Super Bowl pushed back to the last Sunday in February. Or, in a worst-case scenario, games could be canceled, leaving teams to play 14 or 12 games.
The NFL hopes readily available testing will let the season begin on time with fans packing stadiums. That seems like a pipe dream under the circumstances, but for now, it’s business as usual.
O’Brien knows teams have to be flexible this season when it comes to practice and games.
“There’s no doubt about it,” he said. “All of us (are) within our own homes right now (and) we’re seeing what’s going on around the world, (but) football will be played. We’ll have to see how that goes, but right now, we’re on schedule to have a season.
“We’re looking forward to when the season begins. It’s really important to take it one day at a time and take the right steps necessary to ensure everybody’s safety and health.”
O’Brien’s defense and new coordinator Anthony Weaver will be challenged early in the season playing against quarterbacks Patrick Mahomes and Lamar Jackson in the first two games and Ben Roethlisberger and Aaron Rodgers within the first seven.
In 2019, Mahomes and Jackson combined for seven touchdown passes against the Texans. Mahomes threw five more in the playoff game at Arrowhead Stadium, where the Texans blew a 24-0 lead and a chance to host the AFC Championship Game.
Interestingly, despite having Deshaun Watson, winning the AFC South for the fourth time in five years. and beating Buffalo in the wild card round, the Texans aren’t scheduled for any prime-time games after the opener against the Chiefs.
The schedule-makers must believe the DeAndre Hopkins trade to Arizona will make the Texans too boring and unappealing to be worthy of more primetime appearances.
The Texans are 6-1 in their past seven primetime games, including 2-1 in 2019 when the games were decided by two, three and six points.
In the first game on a Monday night, they lost 30-28 at New Orleans when Wil Lutz kicked a 58-yard field goal with no time remaining.
In their other primetime games, the Texans defeated Indianapolis 20-17 on a Thursday and New England 28-22 on a Sunday.
In those three primetime games, Watson threw eight touchdown passes and ran for another. He also caught a touchdown pass from Hopkins.
After the Kansas City opener, the Texans have a second nationally televised game, but they have to wait until Thanksgiving when they visit Detroit.
The last time they played at Detroit was also on Thanksgiving. In 2012, the Texans won 34-31 in overtime as Matt Schaub threw for 315 yards and a touchdown. Andre Johnson had nine catches for 188 yards. Arian Foster had 20 carries for 102 yards and two touchdowns. J.J. Watt had three sacks.
The day and time of the Texans’ December game at Indianapolis will be determined. They’ll play either Dec. 19 or 20, and if it’s on Saturday, the game could be in prime time depending on how much interest the networks believe the game will create.
The Texans play their first AFC South game Oct. 11 against Jacksonville at NRG Stadium. On their way to a 4-2 division record last season, they swept the Jaguars, including a victory in London.
The Jaguars are rebuilding. Tennessee and Indianapolis are trying to dethrone the Texans as division champions.
The Texans visit the Titans on Oct. 18 and close the season against them Jan. 3 at NRG Stadium. The first game against the Colts is Dec. 6, which means they play Indianapolis twice in the last five weeks.
Besides their division opponents and the AFC East and West champions, the Texans play the AFC North and NFC North.
Barring injury, Texans fans will get to see Cincinnati quarterback Joe Burrow, the first pick in the draft, two days after Christmas at NRG Stadium.