2009 Houston Texans Schedule – My First Quick Take

2009 Houston Texans Schedule – My First Quick Take
Some things even out. Last season I had to burn 5 vacation days to see Texans home games. This year I only have to burn 3. Not bad at all. I do shift work. Some months my work days fall on Football Sundays.

At first glance it doesn’t look like the schedule makers did the Texans any favors.

Initially it looks fine that the Texans get 3 of 4 games at home to start the season. The only road game is at divisional foe Titans. They host three winnable games against the Jets, Jaguars and Raiders.

However, that home stretch comes with a cost. The next 4 out of 5 games are played on the road. Mixing the bye week, the Texans play one home game in six weeks. Two games loom large on the road. The first road game will be against defending NFC Champion Arizona Cardinals and closing out the road stretch with divisional arch nemesis Indianapolis Colts. The sole home game is against the 49ers.

If the Texans can defend the home field and win 2 of 4 on the long road stretch through the first nine games, they are looking at a 6-3 record. That puts them in prime contention not only for a wildcard but for the division title.

An upset or two greatly enhances playoff chances as long as they don’t drop a game they should win. If they can stun the Titans, Cardinal or Colts on the road it puts the Texans in the thick of the divisional race. Once again that assumes a strong start to the season. Worst case scenario while staying in contention is a split in the first four games and winning 3 of the next 5. That leaves them at 5-4. Any worse and they are on the outside looking in.

After the bye week, the Texans face their three divisional enemies in consecutive weeks. They host the Titans on Monday Night Football and the Colts the next week. They close out divisional play at Jacksonville. This is the next important stretch of games of the season. Regardless of a 6-3 record or 5-4 record, 2 of 3 wins is a must. One win leaves them with a 7-5 or 6-6 record. If they enter 6-3 and win 2 of 3, they are sitting in good spot at 8-4. In two scenarios, they could end up 7-5. While not the end of the world, the competition for a playoff spot becomes fierce.

Also two wins in the three game divisional stretch helps tremendously. Last year the Texans finished 8-8 with only two divisional wins; the MNF win over the Jags and the late season street fight with the Titans. It is vital to the playoff hopes that they win more than two divisional games.

The final four games are split with two at home and two on the road. They host Seattle, go on the road against the Rams and Dolphins and then return to host the Patriots. A split, in my two scenarios, leaves them at either 10-6 or 9-7. While both are winning records, it doesn’t guarantee a playoff spot. The Patriots sat home last season with an 11-5 record.

The two keys to the season, in my way to early analysis, is to continue winning at home and improving the divisional record. Winning at home has actually been the easy part. Last season they lost two home games. Only the Ravens blew them out. They were one Sage Rosenfail turnover from going 7-1 at home. The true test of a contender is how they do on the road. For the Texans, improving the divisional record goes hand in hand with winning the road games.