2023 Houston Texans schedule analysis

On Thursday night, the NFL released the complete Houston Texans schedule. Per NFL research, Texans opponents had a 123-163-2 record in 2022 (.431 win percentage), making their schedule the third-easiest in the NFL.

Circle these dates: Week 15 @ Titans (Dec. 17), Week 17 vs. Titans (Dec. 31)

Both of these games come against the Tennessee Titans,  which is notable for a few reasons. It was heavily reported the Titans were ready to go all-in and trade up to the No. 3 pick during the NFL Draft in order to select Ohio State QB C.J. Stroud if the Texans looked elsewhere. It was also reported that had the Texans drafted Will Anderson with the No. 2 pick, there was no guarantee they would be able to trade back up to No. 3 for Stroud while bidding against teams like the Titans.

While Tennessee didn’t land Stroud, it did trade up in Round 2 for Kentucky QB Will Levis. There is a chance that Levis could be starting by Week 15, which would make this the first of what could be many Stroud vs. Levis head-to-head matchups over the next decade.

Toughest stretch: Weeks 1-4

Houston starts the season with three straight road games, at the Baltimore Ravens, Indianapolis Colts and Jacksonville Jaguars, before returning home to host the Pittsburgh Steelers. Three of those four opponents were playoff teams last season and two of those games are within the division. 

Additionally, the Ravens, Colts and Steelers all had 40 or more sacks last season, which does not bode well for Stroud. There is a good chance the Texans start 0-4 before they draw a potentially-winnable Week 5 matchup against the Atlanta Falcons.

Easiest stretch: Weeks 15-18

During this three-week span, the Texans will face off with the Cleveland Browns, a contest sandwiched between two games against the Titans. Tennessee could very well be out of the playoff race at this point in the season and seeing what it has in Levis. The Titans receiver group is also among the worst in the NFL, making this a potentially winnable matchup for Houston.

The Browns went 7-10 last year and were 3-3 with Deshaun Watson under center. There is no guarantee a full season of Watson pushes them to the playoffs, especially in a loaded AFC North. If the Browns have nothing to play for in Week 16, the Texans could sneak up on them.

A big game in Week 8 vs. Carolina Panthers

What better way to determine the best quarterback in the 2023 NFL Draft than a straight-up head-to-head matchup? The Panthers were believed by some to be targeting Stroud when they traded with the Chicago Bears for the No. 1 pick, before finding a consensus behind Alabama QB Bryce Young. This game allows Young to prove the Panthers right -- and Stroud a chance to prove them wrong.

The Texans full 2023 season schedule is below: