Kaiser Toro
Native Mod
The Texans dropped their first four games a year ago and were behind the proverbial eight ball for much of the season. This year should begin better for Houston as they take on a few teams in transition. Here is how the schedule looks for the Houston Texans in 2009.
Houston opens at home against the New York Jets (September 13th), who finished with nine wins a year ago, but will be starting a brand new quarterback, who is actually yet to be determined. Although the Jets are expected to have a fierce defense, its tough to win in a rowdy environment with what is likely to be an inexperienced signal caller.
The Texans take on division foes in their next two games as they travel to Nashville to take on the Titans (September 20th), followed by a home game against the last place Jaguars (September 27th). The Titans will be trying to adjust to life without the heart and soul of their defense, Albert Haynesworth, and the Jaguars are in full rebuild mode, as they spent much of their offseason jettisoning veterans.
Houston concludes the first quarter of their season with a game against the Oakland Raiders (October 4th), who will likely have similar issues scoring as they did a year ago when they finished with the leagues 29th ranked offense. Houston must win at least two out of their first four games, and its likely that they could capture three out of four.
The second quarter of the season features three road games, as Houston visits the NFC Champion Arizona Cardinals (October 11th), followed by a trip to Cincinnati (October 18th). The Texans must at the very least come out with a split in these two games. Houston then returns home for a matchup with perennial bottom-feeder San Francisco (October 25th), and then they take a tough trip north to Buffalo (November 1st), where the weather could be dicey on November 1st. Its very possible that the Texans could capture three out of four, but a split is more likely.
The Texans face all AFC South opponents in the next quarter of the season as they travel to Lucas Oil Stadium to play Indianapolis (November 8th), followed by a much needed bye week, then a pair of home games against Tennessee on Monday Night Football (November 23rd), followed by Indianapolis for the second time in four weeks (November 29th). Houston plays their 12th game in Jacksonville on December 6th, a place where theyve historically enjoyed some success. This will be a key segment of their schedule as they will have to do no worse than a split to keep their AFC South title hopes alive.
The last quarter of their schedule features a home game with Seattle (December 13th), followed by trips to St. Louis (December 20th) and Miami (December 27th). Houston then finishes with perhaps their toughest test of the year as they host the New England Patriots on January 3rd. At this point it is always unclear which teams will be good and which wont, but we believe that the Seattle and St. Louis games are very winnable.
In summation, the Texans schedule doesnt appear overwhelming at all, as they have no three-game road trips, and the NFC West opponents should be beatable. Still, the team will have to make their mark during the month of November, as they travel to Buffalo before taking on all division foes.
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