The Texans can start strong, finish on a high note with 2021 schedule

If the Houston Texans aren’t considered the worst team in the NFL, then they are certainly close. The Texans have better odds to finish with the No. 1 overall pick in the 2022 NFL draft than appear in the Super Bowl of the upcoming calendar year.

Even though the prognosis for the 2021 Texans may not be anywhere near as optimistic as it has been in the past decade, don’t count Houston out completely.

According to research from Texans TV’s Drew Dougherty, the Texans have two stretches to their schedule where they can avoid looking like the doormats of the NFL.

The first stretch is from Weeks 1-4 when the Texans host the Jacksonville Jaguars, go on the road to face the Cleveland Browns, return to NRG Stadium for a Thursday nighter against the Carolina Panthers, and then hit the road once more to take on the Buffalo Bills. The combined record from a year ago for the opponents is 30-34, and Houston gets the teams with losing records — Jacksonville at 1-15 and Carolina at 5-11 — at home.

The second quarter stretch is when the Texans may sustain a series of misfortune as the New England Patriots, Indianapolis Colts, Arizona Cardinals, and Los Angeles Rams have a combined 36-28 record. Houston goes on the road for the Colts and the Cardinals.

The third quarter is slightly better as Houston’s opponents are 34-30 with the Miami Dolphins, Tennessee Titans, New York Jets, and Indianapolis Colts on the docket.

Because the NFL added a 17th game, there isn’t a true final “quarter” as there was from 1978-2020. In any event, Dougherty grouped the final five games as its own stretch, and the Texans’ opponents are 37-43. Houston faces the Seattle Seahawks, Jaguars on the road, the Los Angeles Chargers, the San Francisco 49ers, and closes out at NRG Stadium with the Titans.

If the Texans go 2-2 in the first quarter and 3-2 in the final stretch, combined with an upset win in the second and third parts, Houston would finish with seven wins — or, a .412 winning percentage, up from 250 a year ago.

Such a finish would be a decent first time for rookie coach David Culley, and a fitting start for general manager Nick Caserio as they seek to rebuild the culture in Houston.