Looking Ahead

[The Pencil Neck]

Every year, people are looking at the schedule and saying whether it's an easy or a hard schedule. Welp. We're playing a first place schedule now so they're going to be harder. But...

This season, unless I'm mistaken, we're playing the NFC West, the AFC West, and the AFC 1st place teams.

That means Patriots and Ravens again during the regular season. AND we play the:

Niners, Seahawks, Cardinals, and Rams
Broncos, Raiders, Chargers, and Chiefs

What do you guys think about next year's opponents at this point?

[Tailgate]

Originally Posted by The Pencil Neck

Every year, people are looking at the schedule and saying whether it's an easy or a hard schedule. Welp. We're playing a first place schedule now so they're going to be harder. But...

This season, unless I'm mistaken, we're playing the NFC West, the AFC West, and the AFC 1st place teams.

That means Patriots and Ravens again during the regular season. AND we play the:

Niners, Seahawks, Cardinals, and Rams
Broncos, Raiders, Chargers, and Chiefs

What do you guys think about next year's opponents at this point?

I think its a pretty much break even from the 2012 schedule. Same division winners and the two new divisons we play this year are pretty much on par with the last two. I like our home game set up better though. But what we saw this year is about what we can expect next year all things considering.

[Playoffs]

Definitely tougher, imo.

[El Tejano]

I think we can still have a 10 win season.

[thunderkyss]

Originally Posted by The Pencil Neck

Every year, people are looking at the schedule and saying whether it's an easy or a hard schedule. Welp. We're playing a first place schedule now so they're going to be harder. But...

This season, unless I'm mistaken, we're playing the NFC West, the AFC West, and the AFC 1st place teams.

That means Patriots and Ravens again during the regular season. AND we play the:

Niners, Seahawks, Cardinals, and Rams
Broncos, Raiders, Chargers, and Chiefs

What do you guys think about next year's opponents at this point?

If we get New England early in the season, we might have a chance to get that win. So let's see

Patriots
Ravens
Niners
Seahawks
Cardinals
Rams
Broncos
Raiders
Chargers
Chiefs

Titans
Colts
Jags
Titans
Colts
Jags

I think we sweep the whole division in 2013.

13-3

[thunderkyss]

Originally Posted by ckhouston

Not unless Bruce Arians goes to another team, if he stays we wont sweep Indy.

Ok.... whatever.

[buddyboy]

Originally Posted by ckhouston

Yeah ... whatever.

If Arians stays I think we will have a hell of a time even winning the division, knowing that Gary is going all in with Matt. Look at what he did with Luck as rookie QB. You really think they wont make drastic steps forward in the second year of the same system with that kid at QB? Like I said ... yeah, whatever.

At least now you're backing it up with opinion. Before it was, "you're wrong, I'm right".

But...whatever.

[Surreal McCoy]

Originally Posted by buddyboy

At least now you're backing it up with opinion. Before it was, "you're wrong, I'm right".

But...whatever.

Not true. He puts his opinions out there. See below

[Vinny]

We just have to get the NFC West while their good...nice

[JCTexan]

Originally Posted by ckhouston

Yeah ... whatever.

If Arians stays I think we will have a hell of a time even winning the division, knowing that Gary is going all in with Matt. Look at what he did with Luck as rookie QB. You really think they wont make drastic steps forward in the second year of the same system with that kid at QB? Like I said ... yeah, whatever.

The Colts will have a tougher schedule and won't be taking anyone by surprise. They had eleven wins this year and I think they will end up with nine or ten wins next year. Their team might take a drastic step forward but I don't think it's going to be in the amount of wins they have.

[76Texan]

Depending on how FA and the draft pan out, but I'm seeing 9-7, 10-6 at the moment.

[JCTexan]

Patriots
Ravens
Niners
Seahawks
Cardinals
Rams
Broncos
Raiders
Chargers
Chiefs

Titans
Colts
Jags
Titans
Colts
Jags

12-4

[76Texan]

Originally Posted by JCTexan

Patriots
Ravens
Niners
Seahawks
Cardinals
Rams
Broncos
Raiders
Chargers
Chiefs

Titans
Colts
Jags
Titans
Colts
Jags

12-4

Looks like a Pro-Bowl year for Schaub

You should be voted for President of the Sunshine Club, or at least a high ranking official.

[JCTexan]

Originally Posted by 76Texan

Looks like a Pro-Bowl year for Schaub

You should be voted for President of the Sunshine Club, or at least a high ranking official.

Really? The Texans didn't lose to a team this year that didn't make the post-season, while going 3-4 against playoff teams. I don't see the Texans taking a drastic step back next year.

Looking realistically to next years schedule: The AFC West looks (outside of Denver) relatively easy. Houston should probably go 3-1 against that division. The NFC West looks tougher than normal but if Houston goes 1-1 against SF/SEA then that's another division Houston should go 3-1 in. Sweeping divisional opponents is never easy but Houston should take four or five games in the division. Baltimore & New England are two of the toughest games but splitting those games is not out of the realm of possibility since they did it this year.

An 11-5 or 12-4 outcome is what I predict for next year.

[76Texan]

Originally Posted by JCTexan

Really? The Texans didn't lose to a team this year that didn't make the post-season, while going 3-4 against playoff teams. I don't see the Texans taking a drastic step back next year.

Looking realistically to next years schedule: The AFC West looks (outside of Denver) relatively easy. Houston should probably go 3-1 against that division. The NFC West looks tougher than normal but if Houston goes 1-1 against SF/SEA then that's another division Houston should go 3-1 in. Sweeping divisional opponents is never easy but Houston should take four or five games in the division. Baltimore & New England are two of the toughest games but splitting those games is not out of the realm of possibility since they did it this year.

An 11-5 or 12-4 outcome is what I predict for next year.

Hey anything is possible if we stay healthy mostly and especially at all the important positions. But we really don't know what we're going to get with Cushing.

Can he play at the same level as before?

[Big Lou]

Originally Posted by thunderkyss

If we get New England early in the season, we might have a chance to get that win. So let's see

Patriots
Ravens
Niners
Seahawks
Cardinals
Rams
Broncos
Raiders
Chargers
Chiefs

Titans
Colts
Jags
Titans
Colts
Jags

I think we sweep the whole division in 2013.

13-3

I don't see us being able to beat Indy at thier house. The NFL doesn't allow us to win in Indy......

[thunderkyss]

Originally Posted by Big Lou

I don't see us being able to beat Indy at thier house. The NFL doesn't allow us to win in Indy......

Hopefully this is the year we start taking what we want.

[kingtexan]

We are in a division with teams that made significant moves to try and improve. Hopefully we will be healthy when the season starts, and some of our rookies will be able to come in and contribute right away. Even if that is the case, I believe it will be a tougher division than it was last year. It should be the Texans or Colts for the division, with our overall record between 10-6 and 12-4 depending IMHO on the QB situation and health of the team.

[TejasTom]

Originally Posted by kingtexan

We are in a division with teams that made significant moves to try and improve...

Yep, Titans got Kevin Walter. We're doomed.

[tru80texan]

Originally Posted by Big Lou

I don't see us being able to beat Indy at thier house. The NFL doesn't allow us to win in Indy......

Originally Posted by thunderkyss

Hopefully this is the year we start taking what we want.

Sounds good, but I thought we would take it when they had Orlovsky & then a rookie starting at QB the last 2 seasons. Didn't quite work out & I'm not sure the situation has exactly shaped up to be any easier of a task for this upcoming season.