Deshaun Watson Revenge Tour? 5 Texans Storylines to Watch Next Season
Set with one of the league's easiest schedules, the Houston Texans officially have their agenda for the 2023-24 season.
Every NFL team released their respective schedules Thursday evening, which set up plenty of primetime matchups each week. Though the Texans did not receive a Monday night or Thursday night time slot, there will still be key matchups throughout the season to watch for.
A slew of talent on both sides of the ball makes next season a big one in Houston, as fans and analysts are already expecting an improvement from the 3-13-1 finish it had last year.
That being said, ahead of DeMeco Ryans' Texans debut, here are five things to watch for next season:
Week 1 vs. Ravens: Early Statement?
Right off the bat, the Texans are set to face newly re-signed quarterback Lamar Jackson and the Baltimore Ravens in Week 1. Jackson's team added some key pieces offensively, headlined by All-Pro receiver Odell Beckham Jr. and first-round draft pick Zay Flowers.
Jackson and his new-look offense are looking to eclipse "6,000 passing yards", per the quarterback himself, meaning the Ravens are likely to come out with guns blazing.
Despite that, the Texans' Week 1 matchup will present an opportunity to gain early AFC momentum. Should quarterback C.J. Stroud and his much-improved receiving core of John Metchie III, Robert Woods, Tank Dell, and Dalton Schultz start strong, they could grab a victory and start the season with a road win — something Houston hasn't done since 2013 against the San Diego Chargers.
The Texans' defense also stands as a roadblock for Jackson and the Ravens, led by returning safety-cornerback duo Jalen Pitre and Derek Stingley Jr., who will both be looking to have breakout seasons next year. On the line, Houston's second overall pick Will Anderson Jr. will also bring the heat against the Ravens, while safety Jimmie Ward is set to make his Houston debut. All four defenders could contribute to both a Texan victory and a burst of momentum.
The Early-Bye-Week Impact: More Momentum
Houston will take its annual bye week rather early next season, resting after just six games of the year. While that does mean more wear and tear in the back half of the year, it could also be a huge advantage should the Texans start hot.
A win against the Ravens would be huge for Ryans' team, but it would also mark the toughest win of the season for the first nine weeks of the season. In order, the Texans will face the Colts, Jaguars, Steelers, Falcons, and Saints after the Ravens before their Week 7 bye.
Last season, the Ravens and Jaguars were the only two teams from that group to make the playoffs, and the Ravens held the highest record over the Jaguars. Add the fact that Baltimore will begin its season at home, and that game feasibly becomes the Texans' hardest to begin the season.
The Colts and Saints will both be auditioning new quarterbacks — Derek Carr in New Orleans and Anthony Richardson in Indianapolis — which could lead to some early season issues. The Texans fall in that same boat but have the chance to capitalize by establishing chemistry on offense.
The Jaguars will be coming back hungry after a comeback bid fell short against the Chiefs, ending their season in the divisional round. The added pressure that comes with an intra-division matchup would also make the game more difficult, but last season, Houston found its three victories in those games, so coming out with a win would not be out of the question.
All in all, the Texans have the chance to start hot against the Ravens, followed by a string of opponents that could contribute to a Houston win streak before the bye week, where Ryans and company could grab a breather before hitting the field for the remainder of the season.
Week 8 vs. Panthers: The Start of a New Rivalry?
The battle between two potential No. 1 quarterbacks is once again in the cards next season. After months of deliberating, the answer to the "C.J. Stroud or Bryce Young?" debate was finally answered in late April, when the Panthers grabbed Young with the No. 1 overall pick.
Carolina's decision allowed the Texans to make Stroud their quarterback of the future, but now the two are set to face off for the first time in Week 8 — the week after the Texans' bye.
The two quarterbacks have long been friends, and that narrative didn't change after the draft, making for an excitement-filled matchup between the Panthers and Texans.
"Me and C.J. are super close," Young said. "It’s super cool to have him alongside [me] in this process. … Being such a great human that C.J. is, put aside all the stuff you see on film of how amazing he is on the field, having such a great person to be working out with and train with ... has been a huge blessing for me.”
Stroud's strong receiving core will be put to the test against the Carolina defense, as will Young's, headlined by the recently added veteran receiver Adam Thielen, but regardless of the outcome, Week 8 will be one to watch for Texans fans.
Christmas Eve: Deshaun Watson's Second Homecoming
For most of the world, Christmas Eve stands as a time for presents, laughter, and get-togethers. For the Texans, Christmas Eve will be a get-together of sorts, just not of the positive variety.
Former Houston quarterback Deshaun Watson and the Cleveland Browns will make their way to Houston for the second straight year, and this time, the Texans will be looking for revenge.
In his last matchup against the Texans, Watson was coming off of an 11-game suspension for the lawsuit fiasco that surrounded his name for a majority of the year. Despite not having played in over two months, the former Texan completed 12 passes for 131 yards in the Browns' victory.
This season, the Browns will be on the road against Houston once again, but with the added defensive presence of Anderson Jr. and the returning secondary core, Cleveland could be in for a tougher time this season. Most Texans fans would love to see Anderson Jr. get to Watson multiple times, anyway.
AFC-Heavy Season Finale: Strong Finish in Store?
After the conclusion of the Texans' Week 11 matchup against the Arizona Cardinals, the Texans will be NFC-free for the remainder of their season.
To finish the season, Houston will face the Jaguars, Broncos, Jets, Titans, Browns, Titans, and Colts in a complete AFC showdown series ahead of a potential postseason berth. Last season, the Texans scraped together three division wins, which raises the question of whether or not they could do something similar this season, especially under new management.
The Titans have struggled to find success similar to the level of their 2020 matchup against the Chiefs, leaving the door open for Houston to capitalize on a franchise seemingly in disarray — especially playing them twice in three weeks.
Depending on how the remainder of the season goes, the final stretch of games could either spell trouble for a Texans team trying to avoid any more conference losses, or a chance to creep up in the conference standings should Ryans' squad be in the market for a postseason berth.
Either way, Houston should be looking to finish strong, with the chance to do that in the four divisional matchups it has in its final seven games.
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