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We knew how the Houston Texans' preseason schedule was laid out. We knew which teams the Texans would be playing during the 2016 regular season. We even knew that one of the Texans' road games would be against the Oakland Raiders in Mexico City. What we did not know, however, was that the Texans would be blessed with five primetime games throughout the 2016 regular season, the maximum possible allotment. Clearly the NFL schedulers have high expectations for this Houston squad because these levels of national exposure are usually reserved only for the league's perennial powerhouses.
Nobody would (or should) outright label the Texans as a Super Bowl contender at this point in the offseason, but it sure does feel nice to finally be treated like one. Here is the 2016 schedule for your Houston Texans in its full glory. Mark your calendars and book your plane tickets accordingly, folks.
Week 1
Who: Chicago Bears
When: Sunday, September 11th, 12:00 PM CT
Where: Houston, TX
Network: FOX
Week 2
Who: Kansas City Chiefs
When: Sunday, September 18th, 12:00 PM CT
Where: Houston, TX
Network: CBS
Week 3 (Thursday Night Football)
Who: @ New England Patriots
When: Thursday, September 22nd, 7:25 PM CT
Where: Foxborough, MA
Network: CBS/NFLN/Twitter
Week 4
Who: Tennessee Titans
When: Sunday, October 2nd, 12:00 PM CT
Where: Houston, TX
Network: CBS
Week 5
Who: @ Minnesota Vikings
When: Sunday, October 9th, 12:00 PM CT
Where: Minneapolis, MN
Network: CBS
Week 6 (Sunday Night Football)
Who: Indianapolis Colts
When: Sunday, October 16th, 7:30 PM CT
Where: Houston, TX
Network: NBC
Week 7 (Monday Night Football)
Who: @ Denver Broncos
When: Monday, October 24th, 7:30 PM CT
Where: Denver, CO
Network: ESPN
Week 8
Who: Detroit Lions
When: Sunday, October 30th, 12:00 PM CT
Where: Houston, TX
Network: FOX
Week 9
***BYE WEEK***
Week 10
Who: @ Jacksonville Jaguars
When: Sunday, November 13th, 12:00 PM CT
Where: Jacksonville, FL
Network: CBS
Week 11 (Monday Night Football)
Who: @ Oakland Raiders
When: Monday, November 21st, 7:30 PM CT
Where: Mexico City, MEX
Network: ESPN
Week 12
Who: San Diego Chargers
When: Sunday, November 27th, 12:00 PM CT
Where: Houston, TX
Network: CBS
Week 13
Who: @ Green Bay Packers
When: Sunday, December 4th, 12:00 PM CT
Where: Green Bay, WI
Network: CBS
Week 14
Who: @ Indianapolis Colts
When: Sunday, December 11th, 12:00 PM CT
Where: Indianapolis, IN
Network: CBS
Week 15
Who: Jacksonville Jaguars
When: Sunday, December 18th, 12:00 PM CT
Where: Houston, TX
Network: CBS
Week 16 (Primetime Christmas Eve Game)
Who: Cincinnati Bengals
When: Saturday, December 24th, 7:25 PM CT
Where: Houston, TX
Network: NFLN
Week 17
Who: @ Tennessee Titans
When: Sunday, January 1st, 12:00 PM CT
Where: Nashville, TN
Network: CBS