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After a grueling wait through the last month without much actual NFL news to speak of, the 2015 Houston Texans schedule has finally been released. As a refresher, here is the Texans preseason schedule that was revealed earlier this month. With that out of the way, this is the slate that Bill O’Brien and company are looking at this coming fall.
Week 1 (9/13)
Who: Kansas City Chiefs
When: 12:00 PM CT
Network: CBS
Week 2 (9/20)
Who: @ Carolina Panthers
When: 12:00 PM CT
Network: CBS
Week 3 (9/27)
Who: Tampa Bay Buccaneers
When: 12:00 PM CT
Network: FOX
Week 4 (10/4)
Who: @ Atlanta Falcons
When: 12:00 PM CT
Network: CBS
Week 5 (10/8): THURSDAY NIGHT FOOTBALL
Who: Indianapolis Colts
When: 7:25 PM CT
Network: CBS/NFL Network
Week 6 (10/18)
Who: @ Jacksonville Jaguars
When: 12:00 PM CT
Network: CBS
Week 7 (10/25)
Who: @ Miami Dolphins
When: 12:00 PM CT
Network: CBS
Week 8 (11/1)
Who: Tennessee Titans
When: 12:00 PM CT
Network: CBS
Week 9 (11/8)
BYE WEEK
Week 10 (11/16): MONDAY NIGHT FOOTBALL
Who: @ Cincinnati Bengals
When: 7:30 PM CT
Network: ESPN
Week 11 (11/22)
Who: New York Jets
When: 12:00 PM CT
Network: CBS
Week 12 (11/29)
Who: New Orleans Saints
When: 12:00 PM CT
Network: FOX
Week 13 (12/6)
Who: @ Buffalo Bills
When: 12:00 PM CT
Network: CBS
Week 14 (12/13)
Who: New England Patriots
When: 12:00 PM CT
Network: CBS
Week 15 (12/20)
Who: @ Indianapolis Colts
When: 12:00 PM CT
Network: CBS
Week 16 (12/27)
Who: @ Tennessee Titans
When: 12:00 PM CT
Network: CBS
Week 17 (1/3)
Who: Jacksonville Jaguars
When: 12:00 PM CT
Network: CBS
On the surface, this docket seems somewhat forgiving. The dreaded Thursday Night game is a home affair against the Colts for the second year in a row – hopefully the good guys can get some revenge for last season’s prime time heartbreaker. Not only that, but Houston caught a break with a mid-season bye in Week Nine to help recuperate before (ideally) a playoff push through the winter. The most glaring obstacle – and one that no doubt will cause equal parts trepidation and rage as the playoff races heat up – is a brutal three week stretch late in the season that features a road game against the dangerous Bills defense, a home stand versus the defending Super Bowl champion Patriots, and the Texans’ yearly trip up to Indianapolis that has never, ever resulted in a win in the history of the franchise. Yikes.
Some Texans fans may be upset that they will only get to watch J.J. Watt in prime time just twice this season (Week 5 against the Colts and Week 10 at Cincinnati), but considering this team’s recent history in nationally televised games, that may just be for the best. Hell, perhaps the greatest blessing of them all is that Houston’s own prime time woes will be canceled out by Andy Dalton’s generally horrendous track record during nationally televised games. That has to count for something, right?
What is your initial reaction to the schedule, BRB? Sound off below.