2009 Opponents
 

The Texans get the NFC West and AFC East next season as part of the the regular season schedule.

Home:
49ers, Seahawks, Patriots, Jets, Colts, Titans, Jaguars, +AFC West
...looks like either the Raiders or Chiefs.

Away:
Cardinals, Rams, Bills, Dolphins, Colts, Titans, Jaguars, +AFC North
...looks like the Browns here.

Seems like a FAR more favorable schedule next year, though the AFC East is quite formidable based on 2008 performance. It's probably countered by the weakness of the NFC West, but conference record could play a factor in tie-breakers, too.

At first blush, I'm hoping to avoid a December trip to Buffalo; but then again, the frigid temps haven't been a problem for the Texans in the past.

Wow. Who knows what the upcoming offseason and future injuries will do to the picture but this is the first time in the team's history that I do not see any unwinnable games. Of course I'm Mr. Sunshine.

Couple of good things I see with this schedule:

1. Our NFC West games aren't on the West coast, so the time change shouldn't be an issue at all.

2. We get the teams who have major "rise potential" (Seahawks, 49ers) at home while we get the teams with major "fall potential" (Cardinals, Dolphins) on the road.

The weather should also be fair. The only major concern in Buffalo, and if we get them in December there's a good chance we get the Toronto game.

The main thing that concerns me is that schedules usually tend to turn out the opposite of what you expect. So, seeing as this looks to be an easy one I expect it to turn out to be very tough.

I dunno 'bout you but based upon our history in places like GB & Chi-town, I like our chances up north in the winter time ?
The NFC West looks inviting right now, but it's not unusual for a division that's the league push-over one year to be very imposing the very next season.

We've done well, but I'd still rather not do it if we don't have to.

From a scheduling standpoint, my only real request would be that we get the Patriots early when Brady may still be a little rusty. There are apparently some rumors that his knee isn't doing as well as they would like so maybe he wouldn't even be ready to go at all. Certainly don't wish any player ill will (well, not most players) but considering the Texans have led the league in players on IR several years of our short existence, I have no problem benefitting from the other end of that for once.

I can see us going 10-6 next year, which is an opinion based off nothing of substance, really.

Isn't it in the contract that we have to play the Raiders and Browns every year, usually on the road? Sure seems that way.

There have been rumblings that Goodell wants to expand the season to 18 games and mix up the schedules. Personally, I love it the way it is because you can tell when the regular season is over who all your opponents will be and you are guaranteed to see every team at least once every four years. Unless you play a 31-game round robin every season, there is no way to make the schedules entirely fair but the way they do it now is, at least, transparent.

Just on first blush:

Wins: 49ers, Seahawks, Jets (if no Favre), Titans (H), AFC West, Rams, Bills, Browns, Jaguars (A), Dolphins (our bitch).

Losses: Patriots, Jets (with Favre), Titans (A), Colts (H), Colts (A), Jaguars (H), Cardinals.

That's 10-6 or 9-7 depending on whether Favre plays another year. Of course, the four-game win streak may make me overly optimistic but that's how I see it. I could see us going 10-6 and still finishing third in our own division.

I'm even more optimistic -

Games we should win: 49ers, Seahawks, Jets, Titans, AFC West, Rams, Bills, Browns, Jaguars (twice), Dolphins, Colts, Cardinals

Games I think we will lose: Patriots, Titans, Colts

Now, I realize we're not likely to go 13-3 and I suspect we'll drop a couple of the winnable games, but I could see 11-5 with this schedule.

Arizona has been terrible outside their crummy division (3-6). The AFC East got to play both the AFC West (DEN, SD, OAK, KC) and the NFC West (ARI, STL, SEA, SF). I think you will see the Jets and Dolphins come back to earth next year when they have to play a real schedule.

Like ya'll said, right now the opposition looks like it will give us a fair chance at a good season making the playoffs.

Just saw this:

Houston Texans

Home: Indianapolis, Jacksonville, Tennessee, New England, N.Y. Jets, Oakland, San Francisco, Seattle

Away: Indianapolis, Jacksonville, Tennessee, Buffalo, Miami, Cincinnati, Arizona, St. Louis

That schedule is noticeably easier than our last three years. Notably, Jets without Favre, Oakland (despite our last crappy outing), San Francisco (who will likely not be in good shape next year) and Seattle who is a total mess and lost thier head coach).

This is a marshmallow puff schedule. Playoffs here we come.

We catch a break that we don't have any West Coast road games. Arizona is Mountain time and St. Louis, of course, is Central. In addition, all our road games are before fan bases that can be lukewarm towards their teams. Still, the AFC East is not an easy division to get through. None of them are going to be easy although our personal bitch, the Dolphins, are one of them.

Initial look is favorable, but 1-15 teams become 11-5 the next season these days so we really won't know until at least mid-season of next year whether they have made a big quality jump or not.

Every year there are games we win that we do not expect to win (Packers) and games we do not expect to lose (Raiders). Looking ahead at what may be is a fruitless exercise. With free agency and new coaches in new places it is impossible to try to predict who will be good or bad, or what injuries may effect a team.

I am not concerned about anyone on the schedule, as long as the Texans take care of the business of playing sound football and eliminating the mind numbing mistakes, turnovers and can improve red zone scoring and the defense then we will win games. Period. If we play like a bunch of salami sandwiches, turn it over, fail to convert then we will be 8-8 again and wondering who our next coach might be.

Agreed. I think maybe more than ever for the Texans, next season will be about how well they take care of business against their division opponents. Save for the team's two third place opponents (and some home/away mixes), the rest of the AFC South is looking at the same appetizing schedule next season as well.

Splitting down the middle at 3-3 might not be enough. This division sent two teams to the playoffs in 2008, and the Colts and Titans ought to be worthy enough to challenge for the playoffs again in 2009. Since it seems unlikely the division will send two wild cards, the Texans are going to need to take care of business in the AFC South to best position their postseason hopes.

I really like the way the schedule looks for them next season, at least initially. I am just hoping that they don't get a brutal September as seems to always be the case. I would be happy with 2 home and 2 away, with two of the easier games worked in there. If they could come out of september 3-1 for a change that could set them up for a very nice season.

Wanted to make sure we miss Albert this year, and it looks like we do. So now schedule just got even easier.