By: Michael Higgins

The Houston Texans are another team that pressed fast forward on their rebuild because they absolutely killed in the draft. Getting guys like CJ Stroud, Will Anderson, and Tank Dell fortified both sides of the ball for them. A 10-7 record, AFC South Division Title, and a playoff win was certainly not on many peoples’ bingo cards.

The improvement does not come without its fair share of loss. Notable players to leave the team this offseason include S Adrian Amos, LB Blake Cashman, OT George Fant, CB Steven Nelson, DE Jonathan Greenard, LB Denzel Perryman, DT Teair Tart, RB Devin Singletary, and DT Sheldon Rankins.

This offseason, they were looked at as an attractive playing destination due to all of the potential, young talent, and a good coach. The Texans traded for two players who were known to want out of their previous situations, WR Stefon Diggs and RB Joe Mixon. They also brought in plenty of difference makers via free agency such as EDGE Danielle Hunter, LB Azeez Al-Shaair, DL Denico Autry, and CB Jeff Okudah amongst others.

The Texans’ Super Bowl window is officially open. With a quarterback on a rookie contract, the team has capitalized by filling out the roster around him. They should be looked at as favorites in a division that has four franchise quarterbacks and four young teams on the rise.

Looking at the schedule, due to being division champions and already being in a tough division, they are not going to have it easy in 2024.

Houston starts the season against Indianapolis to get a look at the Colts and Anthony Richardson, then comes home to welcome the Chicago Bears, the team travels to Minnesota to play the Vikings, and then back home to host the Jaguars. Houston will start the year 3-1.

They host the Bills to open October before two straight road games against the Patriots and Packers. They host the Colts for a Week 9 matchup before traveling to play the Jets for a Halloween edition of Thursday Night Football. The Texans will go 3-2 in the month of October.

In 3 games in November, the Texans play the Lions at home, the Cowboys in Arlington on Monday Night Football, and the Titans at home. They will go 2-1 in this stretch.

They play the Jaguars in Florida before a Week 14 bye. Houston then hosts the Miami Dolphins, then travel to play the Chiefs in a Saturday afternoon game, host the Ravens on a… Wednesday (BOOOOOOO!!), and close the season out in Tennessee against the Titans. The Houston Texans will go 3-2 in this final stretch of games.

Going 11-6 seems like a minor improvement over last season, but with a significantly tougher schedule, this is much more impressive than last year’s 10-7.

2023 Record: 10-7

2024 Prediction: 11-6