d I guess this claim hinges on what you mean by "chances to prove themselves", but their primetime record in the DeMeco era is 5-4. Last year you had 2 disappointing primetime losses and 2 very solid primetime wins. The season before was probably a little more disappointing, but still a 2-2 record. The Kubiak teams certainly crapped the bed on primetime seemingly repeatedly. I don't necessarily feel that's been the same with DeMeco in charge. Fingers crossed we see some statement wins this time around.
I feel certain we were bumped to a 3PM slot one of the last two years. It wasn't planned, but we were moved there. I also recall some discussion about whether that constituted a prime time game or not which makes me think it was in 2023.
Anybody find it interesting that our first preseason game is against a regular season opponent? The LAC? Also, anybody think we'll have another joint practice with the Lions?
Against the Cowboys? We played them in 2018, 2022, and 2024. 18 and 24 were for sure primetime. I'd be a little surprised if 22 was in the 3pm slot given how bad we were, but maybe it was.
Well maybe I should say that the 315pm slot is either reserved for the best of the best (which Texans are not part of, never been a top 2 seed) or for teams that are both good and exciting. Texans don't count as either. Not good enough to force themselves into marquee matchups, and not exciting enough for the NFL to think that we'll drive ratings. When we do play on primetime, our wins are usually very scrappy where we'll barely hang on. If we want people to take notice, we would have to play amazing and fully dominate teams when we play in prime time. Just barely scraping by isn't going to move the needle on a national scale. We need casuals to start talking about us, either as an exciting team that's on the come up as a threat to the elites, or an elite team that is just good
My thought on the schedule release is, it's fun to use to speculate but every good team is a few injuries to key players away from being mid. Look at last year with the Ravens and Chiefs in regular season. Who had us beating them when schedules were announced last year?
Will Tank Dell be back? I think people forget Stroud was missing Mixon, Dell, Nico, Dalton against the Patriots If we can have Montgomery & Dell added to this year's squad, I guarantee Stroud has a huge bounce back season
The Texans have gone into the post season with key injuries each of the last three years and still managed a .500 record in post season. That is why I am both hopeful and skeptical each season. Injuries are always critical.
I harped on this perhaps too hard during last season, but it's been a while: Not having Mixon was the ailment that killed the Texans more than anything else. I don't think the majority of people grasped how important he was to the team. His presence and production made every element of the Texans offense appear better than it really was.
