How bad could it get for the 2023 Houston Texans?

The Houston Texans seek to bust the cycle of consecutive double-digit losing seasons. Not since 2019 have the Texans posted a record that didn’t include double-digit losses.

With new coach DeMeco Ryans being a fan favorite former Pro Bowl linebacker, the fan base is willing to see how the ex-San Francisco 49ers defensive coordinator will turn around the team. Nevertheless the task remains to get Houston out of the morass.

According to Jeff Kerr from CBS Sports, the floor for the Texans in 2023 is a 3-14 finish, and he points to the offense led by rookie quarterback C.J. Stroud as the chief component in Houston being held back.

There’s still a lot of work that needs to be done with the roster, particularly at pass catcher. Nico Collins, Robert Woods and Noah Brown don’t exactly strike at wide receiver, which could make Stroud’s rookie season very difficult. Stroud will also needs to make good decisions with the football to keep the Texans in games, especially with a defense that is still a work in progress. Houston also gave up its first-round pick to Arizona, so a bad season won’t help matters.

While Kerr’s floor record prediction is similar to Houston’s 3-13-1 record from a year ago, the key factor for the Texans’ record will be complexion of losses. If the Texans are losing one-score games, it could create the narrative that Houston is a young team that needs more experience and should bounce back in 2024. If the Texans are getting blown out and hogtied by the fourth quarter, as was the case last year, it could demonstrate how far the chasm is between rebuilding and competing.