TEXANS OPEN ON THE ROAD
Dissecting the Houston Texans 2023 schedule
May 12, 2023, 10:38 am
The Houston Texans open the season in Baltimore. Composite Getty Image.
The 2023 NFL schedule has been released, and the new-look Houston Texans know exactly when they will face off against this year’s foes.
There are several eye-popping details in Houston’s 2023 schedule. The No. 1 being the Texans will not have a single prime time game, at least to begin the year. There is always the possibility a game gets flexed later on, which would mean Houston is having an impressive season, but as of now, the league doesn’t believe they will.
What's missing? No prime time games.
With the NFL abolishing the guarantee that each team will get at least one prime time game, Houston did not notch even a Thursday Night game.
Locked in for the 2023 season 🔒 pic.twitter.com/6DIkQGPM4Y
— Houston Texans (@HoustonTexans) May 12, 2023
Houston’s first four weeks of the season will be a difficult challenge in what could be Stroud’s first month as a starter in the NFL. Facing off against the Ravens right out of the gates would put the young quarterback in a tough and hostile environment if he is a starter from day one.
Trying to contain Lamar Jackson and that offense will also be a difficult task for head coach DeMeco Ryans and defensive coordinator Matt Burke as their first challenge together with Houston. At least they have almost four full months to build their game plan against the explosive, star-led offense.
The Colts will be in a similar position to the Texans in week two in that they will be trying to find an identity early, so that matchup could make for a fun and entertaining game.
Houston’s week three matchup against the Jacksonville Jaguars on the road will be a great barometer to see how the Texans stack up against what is expected to be the AFC South’s top team in 2023.
Houston wraps up week four against the Pittsburgh Steelers, who’s vaunted defense led by T.J. Watt will cause problems for Stroud or whoever is under center for the Texans.
The schedule eases up in weeks five through nine. Houston faces off against Atlanta and New Orleans and then will have a bye week before playing against the rest of NFC South in Carolina and the Tampa Bay Buccaneers.
These four games in five weeks could offer the best opportunity for the Texans to come away with multiple victories in a row, as the NFC South is expected to have a down year.
Houston could have its toughest challenge of the year in week 10 against one of the AFC’s expected Super Bowl contenders in the Cincinnati Bengals. The Texans follow up that formidable test with what is expected to be their easiest game of the season — a battle against the Arizona Cardinals in week 11. There is just one caveat, there are no guarantees in the NFL.
The Texans host the Jaguars in week 13. That will be a great opportunity to see how Houston, and in particular Stroud, has grown from the early weeks of the season.
Weeks 13 and 14 against the Denver Broncos and New York Jets are complete wild cards in that both teams are led by veteran, star quarterbacks whose best days could be behind them. By this point it will be clear whether Russell Wilson and Aaron Rodgers have been able to recapture their magic or if they are still struggling like they did in 2022.
The Texans will not see the Tennessee Titans until week 15, which is an interesting schedule quirk. By this point, both teams will have a solid idea of who they are. It could also be the first time Stroud and Will Levis face off against each other.
Week 16’s game for Houston will be on Christmas Eve. The weather inside NRG Stadium will be frightful when Deshaun Watson and the Cleveland Browns return.
If Stroud has put together an admirable rookie season and the Texans are anywhere close to or even above .500, the atmosphere for this game will be absurd. Regardless, there will be a lot of Houston fans hoping to hand the former franchise quarterback a lump of coal in the form of a loss for Christmas.
Week 17 will see Houston play against Tennessee again. With it being the Texans’ final home game of the regular season, it could make for a fun New Year’s Eve party at NRG Stadium. Considering both teams will be just two weeks removed from playing each other, it could be a grueling, physical contest.
Houston ends its season on the road against the Colts. The final game of the regular season will offer one last opportunity for both Stroud and Anthony Richardson to put a stamp on their rookie years. Who knows, perhaps even one of them will be eyeing the postseason.
With the schedule now out, Sept. 10 cannot get here soon enough.
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Jose Altuve asked manager Joe Espada to move him out of the leadoff spot and into the second hole for the Houston Astros.
The reason? He wanted more time to get ready to hit in the bottom of the first inning after coming into the dugout from left field.
Altuve is playing left for the first time in his career after spending his first 14 major league seasons at second base.
“I just need like 10 more seconds,” he said.
The 34-year-old Altuve made the transition to the outfield this season after the trade of Kyle Tucker and the departure of Alex Bregman shook up Houston’s lineup.
Jeremy Peña was in the top spot Monday night against Detroit. Altuve had two hits, including a two-run homer, and three RBIs to help the Astros to an 8-5 win. It was the first time since 2023 he batted anywhere besides leadoff.
“I enjoy playing baseball,” Altuve said. “I love playing, especially with these guys. I like being in the lineup. In the end it doesn’t really matter if I play second or left, if I lead off or not. I just want to be in the lineup and help this team to win.”
Altuve didn’t suggest that Peña take his leadoff spot.
“I just told Joe that maybe he can hit me second some games at some point and he did it today,” Altuve said. “I just need like that little extra time to come from left field, and he decided to put Jeremy (there).”
Peña is hitting .265 with three homers and 11 RBIs. He batted first in Sunday’s 7-3 win over Kansas City — with Altuve getting a day off — and had two hits and three RBIs. He added two more hits and scored twice Monday.
Along with giving him a little extra time to get ready to bat, Altuve thinks the athletic Peña batting leadoff could give a boost to a lineup that has struggled at times this season.
“Jeremy is one of those guys that has been playing really good for our team,” Altuve said. “He’s taking really good at-bats. He’s very explosive and dynamic on the bases, so when he gets on base a lot of things can happen. Maybe I can bunt him over so Yordan (Alvarez) can drive him in.”
Altuve is a nine-time All-Star. The 2017 AL MVP is hitting .282 with four homers and 12 RBIs this season.
Espada said he and Altuve often share different ideas about the team and they had been talking about this possibility for a while before the manager made the move.
“He’s always looking for ways to get everyone involved and he’s playing left field, comes in, maybe give him a little bit more time to get ready between at-bats, just a lot of things that went into this decision," Espada said. "He’s been around, he knows himself better than anyone else here, so hopefully this could create some opportunities for everyone here and we can score some runs.”