TEXANS PREDICTIONS
AT KANSAS CITY
Week 1: 7:20 p.m. Sept. 10 (NBC)
The Chiefs are the defending Super Bowl champions who overcame a 24-0 deficit against the Texans to win 51-31 at Arrowhead Stadium in the divisional round of the playoffs. The Texans won 31-24 at Kansas City during the regular season. The Chiefs will be heavily favored.
Prediction: Chiefs 34-27.
Record: 0-1.
VS. JACKSONVILLE
Week 5: Noon Oct. 11 (CBS)
The first AFC South game for the defending division champions. The Texans should feel good after ending their three-game losing streak to start the season. They swept the Jaguars last season. They should be able to accomplish that feat again.
Prediction: Texans 21-13. Record: 2-3.
AT CLEVELAND
Week 10: Noon Nov. 15 (FOX)
The Texans’ back-to-back victories put them at .500 for the first time this season. After their 0-3 start, they’ve won four of five. This game features Deshaun Watson versus Baker Mayfield and a Browns team that underachieved in 2019 and is on a new coach for the third consecutive year.
Prediction: Texans 28-20.
Record: 5-4.
AT CHICAGO
Week 14: Noon Dec. 13 (CBS)
The Texans take their six-game winning streak to Soldier Field, where they tangle with the Bears. Will J.J. Watt be sacking Mitchell Trubisky or Nick Foles? By this time, Trubisky could be benched, or Foles could be hurt, but the Bears pull an upset anyway.
Prediction: Bears 20-17. Record: 8-5.
Prediction: Record:
VS. BALTIMORE
Week 2: 3:25 p.m. Sept. 20 (CBS)
The Ravens were 14-2 last season, including a 41-7 home victory over the Texans. This is a revenge game in the home opener that’ll be played without fans at NRG Stadium. The Texans will be underdogs for a second consecutive game.
Prediction: Ravens 33-30.
Record: 0-2.
AT TENNESSEE
Week 6: Noon Oct. 18 (CBS)
This is a key game on the schedule. Not only is it a division game on the road against a team that could stand in the way of the Texans winning another AFC South title, but it’s the difference in 3-3 or 2-4. The Texans won in Nashville last season.
Titans 27-24.
2-4.
VS. NEW ENGLAND
Week 11: Noon Nov. 22 (CBS)
Deshaun Watson played a magnificent game in a victory over New England last season at NRG Stadium. He outplayed Tom Brady. If the Texans can beat the Patriots with Brady, they should be able to defeat them again without him. Watson outduels Cam Newton, and they win a fourth consecutive game.
Prediction: Texans 30-23.
Record: 6-4.
AT INDIANAPOLIS
Week 15: TBD Dec. 19/20 (TBD)
Whether it’s Lucas Oil Stadium or the RCA Dome, the Colts usually give the Texans fits at home. The good news is they don’t have to play against Jacoby Brissett. This time, Philip Rivers gets revenge and ends his personal two-game losing streak to the Texans.
Prediction: Colts 26-23. Record: 8-6.
AT PITTSBURGH
Week 3: Noon Sept. 27 (CBS)
This game features Watt versus Watt — J.J. versus younger brother T.J. for the first time. It’s for bragging rights in the Watt family, and both will be focused on harassing the quarterbacks, Deshaun Watson and Ben Roethlisberger. Let the best Watt brother win.
Prediction: Steelers 24-20.
Record: 0-3.
VS. GREEN BAY
Week 7: Noon Oct. 25 (FOX)
There’s no such thing as a must-win game at this point of the season, but this matchup is huge. The Packers were 13-3 last season and lost in the NFC Championship Game at San Francisco. This is a statement game for the Texans. They should enter their open date with a victory.
Prediction: Texans 31-24.
Record: 3-4.
AT DETROIT
Week 12: 11:30 a.m. Nov. 26 (CBS)
The last time the Texans played at Ford Field was on Thanksgiving 2012, when they won 34-31 in overtime. This game features two of Bill Belichick’s former coordinators, Bill O’Brien versus Matt Patricia. O’Brien has Deshaun Watson. Patricia doesn’t.
Prediction: Texans 35-30.
Record: 7-4.
VS. CINCINNATI
Week 16: Noon Dec. 27 (CBS)
With back-to-back defeats, the Texans are reeling. The AFC South is coming down to the Texans, Titans or Colts. The Texans get their first look at rookie quarterback Joe Burrow. J.J. Watt rudely introduces himself to the top pick in the draft.
Prediction: Texans 34-17.
Record: 9-6.
VS. MINNESOTA
Week 4: Noon Oct. 4 (FOX)
The Texans complete the toughest fourgame stretch in the NFL based on last year’s record. They’ll earn their first victory and get on a roll against the Vikings, who have former Texans coach Gary Kubiak as their new offensive coordinator.
Prediction: Texans 27-20.
Record: 1-3.
AT JACKSONVILLE
Week 9: Noon Nov. 8 (CBS)
In his two starts against the Texans last season, rookie quarterback Gardner Minshew II led the Jaguars to 15 points. No wonder the Texans swept the division series. This season, Minshew has more talent in the offensive line and at wide receiver, but the Texans even their record.
Prediction: Texans 21-16.
Record: 4-4.
VS. INDIANAPOLIS
Week 13: Noon Dec. 6 (CBS)
With a five-game winning streak, the Texans are as hot as any team in the league. They play the Colts, their AFC South rivals, with Philip Rivers as their new starting quarterback. The Texans beat Rivers in Los Angeles last season. They’ll beat him again at NRG Stadium.
Prediction: Texans 23-20.
Record: 8-4.
VS. TENNESSEE
Week 17: Noon Jan. 3 (CBS)
This game is for the AFC South title. The loser could earn a wild-card berth. The Titans are trying to win the AFC South for the first time since 2008. The key is for J.J. Watt and the defense to limit Derrick Henry to fewer than 100 yards. They’ll manage to do it.
Prediction: Texans 28-24. Record: 10-6.