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Houston Texans: Team will have elongated success with 2018 schedule

By Brian K. Patterson

SEATTLE, WA - OCTOBER 29: Quarterback Deshaun Watson
SEATTLE, WA - OCTOBER 29: Quarterback Deshaun Watson /
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The Houston Texans 2018 off season is officially underway and one of the most exciting aspects is the release of the upcoming season schedule.  What’s there not to like? Let’s take a look as to why this team can succeed with it.

The Houston Texans have worked tremendously in the off season to position itself to ultimately compete vigorously for a Super Bowl.  Although there are still a few pieces missing, all of the major parts: a talented quarterback, a solid receiving corps and a bona-fide dominant defense possess all of the characteristics for this team to succeed.

The 2018 schedule is balanced just right for this team to do just that and I think it’s quite favorable.  The NFL fell in love with Deshaun Watson and his riveting level of play so the league has decided to feature the Houston Texans on prime time a bunch this season.

The first prime time game will be the highly-anticipated match up against in-state rival Dallas Cowboys, which will be a Week 5 Sunday night game set to kickoff at 7:20 p.m. CDT Oct. 7.  The game will be televised on NBC.  Although there will be an intense rivalry between fans alike, these teams haven’t faced each other in the regular season since October 2014 and the Houston Texans haven’t hosted the Cowboys since September 2010.

Here’s the schedule:

As you know because the amount of unrest that occurred in the parking lots surrounding NRG Stadium, the team had to make a significant change to their tailgating rules, allowing only those with a ticket or tailgate pass to enter the premises as well as limiting the amount of the time tailgating can occur before and after games.  Previously, the rules for tailgating were relatively loose.

That happening was a national story and the Houston Texans did a swift “about face” to combat the negative press it received about the whole ordeal.

I certainly can recall back in the day tailgating way into the wee hours, especially after night games in the Blue Lot.

The other prime time games include a Thursday night Week 8 tilt against the Miami Dolphins, set to air at 7:20 p.m. CDT on FOX/NFL Network Oct. 25.  I do have concerns about the Texans’ effort after facing a potentially tough Jacksonville Jaguars team just four days before.  It’ll be a short week for them but I think they still have the juice to be victorious.

The final prime time game is set Monday, Nov. 26 against the Tennessee Titans on ESPN set for a 7:15 p.m. CDT kickoff.

The interesting aspect is that all of these games are at home which isn’t typical for most Houston Texans seasons.  But with the team expected to be much improved on the season, there’s no doubt many want to peel their eyes on our emerging talent.  The team should be able to beat all of those opponents and I think the most difficult match up could be against the Titans that Monday night.

There’s a possible wild card when the Texans take on the New York Jets Saturday, Dec. 15th as a time has yet to be determined.  The NFL may feel that these teams should compete in prime time and that could be a 4th one for the team.  But that certainly depends on how good the Jets are this season and more than likely that will be a Saturday afternoon game.  But because of New York’s immense media market presence, the aforementioned could possibly happen.

What are the most intriguing match ups?

More from House of Houston

Sunday, Sept. 23 vs. Giants

Sunday, Oct. 7 vs. Cowboys

Sunday, Nov. 4 at Broncos

Sunday, Nov. 18 at Redskins

Sunday, Dec. 23 at Eagles

Why?  The Giants could possibly land the likes of Dez Bryant pairing up with Odell Beckham, Jr.  That will be a difficult combination to stop and Aaron Colvin, Johnathan Joseph and Tyrann Mathieu will be tasked to stop them.  With this notion, I talk about why the Texans likely won’t go after Bryant’s services and he’ll likely end up with the Giants.

I obviously like the Cowboys match up because of the newness of having not faced them in the regular season in four years plus the awesomeness of the game being in Houston.  It will be the HOTTEST ticket in town that night, MARK MY WORDS.

I like the Texans’ chances of beating the Broncos on the road and it will be nice watch to see how newly-signed quarterback Case Keenum getting acclimated to the team’s new system and how he plans to use his weapons against the Texans.

The Washington Redskins sent Kirk Cousins by the wayside to allow him to obtain one of the richest quarterback contracts in NFL history — all guaranteed money — from the Minnesota Vikings.  Now that he’s gone, Alex Smith will be taking over the reigns and Jay Gruden will finally have a hand-pick quarterback to run his offense.  Will the switch finally work for them?  We’re about to see.

Next: A complete 2018 Houston Texans mock draft

And the final game that has me enthused would be the tango with the Philadelphia Eagles, the defending champs.  It will be a great tune-up toward the downhill slope of the season to hopefully get this team on the straight and narrow for a playoff berth, if not clinched already.

I could see the Texans finishing at 12-4 with losses to the Titans, Jaguars, Eagles on the road and a likely narrow home loss to the Giants at home.  I think this team will enjoy the home field advantage this season so fasten those seat belts!

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