[HPF Bob]

This is what Pete Prisco predicts week-by-week how the Texans' season will go:

Chicago Bears at Houston Texans: Texans 16, Bears 13 (1-0)
Houston Texans at Kansas City Chiefs: Texans 27, Chiefs 26 (2-0)
(note: this game is at Houston, not KC)
Houston Texans at New England Patriots: Patriots 23, Texans 14 (2-1)
Tennessee Titans at Houston Texans: Texans 23, Titans 20 (3-1)
Houston Texans at Minnesota Vikings: Vikings 19, Texans 17 (3-2)
Indianapolis Colts at Houston Texans: Texans 25, Colts 20 (4-2)
Houston Texans at Denver Broncos: Broncos 20, Texans 7 (4-3)
Detroit Lions at Houston Texans: Texans 20, Lions 18 (5-3)
BYE
Houston Texans at Jacksonville Jaguars: Jaguars 19, Texans 14 (5-4)
Houston Texans at Oakland Raiders: Raiders 20, Texans 13 (5-5)
San Diego k at Houston Texans: Texans 17, Chargers 15 (6-5)
Houston Texans at Green Bay Packers: Packers 28, Texans 17 (6-6)
Houston Texans at Indianapolis Colts: Colts 28, Texans 17 (6-7)
Jacksonville Jaguars at Houston Texans: Texans 30, Jaguars 14 (7-7)
Cincinnati Bengals at Houston Texans: Texans 26, Bengals 20 (8-7)
Houston Texans at Tennessee Titans: Titans 20, Texans 17 (8-8)

The Texans finish 8-8 and miss out on the AFC South title to the 9-7 Jacksonville Jaguars (cue laugh track). I simply don't see this huge turnaround for J-ville that so many "experts" see. In fact, I think the Titans are closer to turning it around.

Nonetheless, here's my bold prediction on how the season will unfold:

vs CHI - W (1-0)
vs KC - L (1-1)*
at NE - L (1-2, tempted to pick an upset without Brady)
vs TEN - W (2-2)
at MIN - W (3-2)*
vs IND - L (3-3)*
at DEN - L (3-4)
vs DET - W (4-4)
bye
at JAX - W (5-4)*
at OAK - W (6-4)*
vs SD - W (7-4)
at GB - L (7-5)
at IND - L (7-6, unless Weeden starts)
vs JAX - W (8-6)
vs CIN - W (9-6)
at TEN - L (9-7)

* - disagree with Prisco.
Can't say if 9-7 wins the division or makes the playoffs. Can't imagine us beating the Chiefs the way they demolished us twice last year plus they get Jamaal Charles back. Can't imagine us losing to Minnesota with Bridgewater shelved. We get the Jags coming off our bye week where they had to play KC the week before. Shapes up as another glass-half-full season in H-town.