Houston Texans head coach DeMeco Ryans runs to celebrate with his team after a pick six against the Jacksonville Jaguars at NRG Stadium in Houston on Sunday, Nov. 9, 2025. Houston Texans won the game 36-29.
Elizabeth Conley/Houston Chronicle
Housotn Texans lnieback Azeez Al-Shaair (0) gets his teammates going as they huddle rip before an NFL divisional playoff football game against the New England Patriots in Foxborough, Mass., Sunday, Jan. 18, 2026.
Brett Coomer/Houston Chronicle
Houston Texans wide receiver Christian Kirk, right, celebrates with wide receiver Nico Collins after a 6-yard touchdown during the first half of an NFL wild-card playoff football game in Pittsburgh, Monday, Jan. 12, 2026.
Brett Coomer/Houston Chronicle
Pittsburgh Steelers running back Jaylen Warren (30) is tackled by the Houston Texans defensive during the first half of an NFL wild-card playoff football game in Pittsburgh, Monday, Jan. 12, 2026.
Brett Coomer/Houston Chronicle
Houston Texans running back Woody Marks (27) reacts after running for a 13-yard touchdown during the second half of an NFL wild-card playoff football game in Pittsburgh, Monday, Jan. 12, 2026.
Brett Coomer/Houston Chronicle
Houston Texans defensive tackle Tommy Togiai (72) reacts after making a tackle during the second half of an NFL wild-card playoff football game in Pittsburgh, Monday, Jan. 12, 2026.
Jason Fochtman/Houston Chronicle
The Houston Texans will be wracking up their frequent flyer miles in 2026.
Mostly because of an international game against the Jaguars in London in October, Houston will travel more than 28,400 miles for its games, which ranks No. 3 in the NFL, according Bill Sperios, a market analyst for Bookies.com.
In addition, the Texans will be playing in four prime-time games, the same number they had in 2025, and likely in large part because of their consistency as one of the top teams in the AFC.
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All of their prime-time games come in the second-half of the season, including two Thursday Night Football games on Amazon Prime. The first will be against the Indianapolis Colts on Nov. 19, and the other is against the Philadelphia Eagles on Christmas Eve.
They’ll also face the Pittsburgh Steelers on Sunday Night Football on Dec. 6 in a rematch from their wild-card playoff game earlier this year. And their final prime-time game will be an ESPN Monday Night Football game against the Green Bay Packers on Jan. 4.
PRESEASON
Week
Day
Date
Opponent
TV Network
Kickoff Time
1
Thursday
Aug. 13
LOS ANGELES CHARGERS
ABC-13 KTRK
7 p.m.
2
Thursday
Aug. 20
LAS VEGAS RAIDERS
ESPN
7 p.m.
3
Friday
Aug. 28
at Carolina Panthers
ABC-13/KTRK
6 p.m.
REGULAR SEASON
Week
Day
Date
Opponent
TV Network
Kickoff Time
1
Sunday
Sept. 13
BUFFALO BILLS
CBS
Noon
2
Sunday
Sept. 20
CINCINNATI BENGALS
CBS
Noon
3
Sunday
Sept. 27
at Indianapolis Colts
CBS
Noon
4
Sunday
Oct. 4
DALLAS COWBOYS
FOX
Noon
5
Sunday
Oct. 11
at Tennessee Titans
CBS
Noon
6
Sunday
Oct. 18
vs Jacksonville Jaguars (Wembley)
NFLN
8:30 a.m.
7
Sunday
Oct. 25
NEW YORK GIANTS
FOX
Noon
8
BYE
9
Sunday
Nov. 8
at Los Angeles Chargers
CBS
3:05 p.m.
10
Sunday
Nov. 15
at Cleveland Browns
FOX
Noon
11
Thursday
Nov. 19
INDIANAPOLIS COLTS
PRIME
7:15 p.m.
12
Sunday
Nov. 29
BALTIMORE RAVENS
CBS
Noon
13
Sunday
Dec. 6
at Pittsburgh Steelers
NBC
7:20 p.m.
14
Sunday
Dec. 13
at Washington Commanders
CBS
Noon
15
Sunday
Dec. 20
JACKSONVILLE JAGUARS
CBS
Noon
16
Thursday
Dec. 24
at Philadelphia Eagles
PRIME
7:15 p.m.
17
Monday
Jan. 4
at Green Bay Packers
ESPN
7:15 p.m.
18
TBD
TBD
TENNESSEE TITANS
TBD
TBD
Keys to a 1-0 start
The Texans lost their season-opener in 2025 to the Rams, which eventually ballooned to a 0-3 start. Getting out to a quicker start will be a priority.
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The Texans open their 25th season at home against the Buffalo Bills on Sept. 13, in what will be an early test for the Texans’ defense, which is bringing back most of its starters from 2025 when it was ranked No. 1 overall.
The Texans have had quarterback Josh Allen’s number in recent years. They sacked him eight times in their 23-19 win last season and held him to 131 yards passing in a 23-20 win in 2024.
But these games always seem to be close, often coming down to the last drive with the defense needing to make a stop. The Texans must do what they’ve done in those last two wins.
Stop the run and use that to get pressure on Allen on third down.
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Must-watch game
The Christmas Eve game against the Philadelphia Eagles on Thursday Night Football is arguably the toughest on the schedule, and a win on the road in a hostile environment could go a long way in gaining momentum down the stretch.
All eyes will be on this game in front of a prime-time audience. The Eagles have been one of the more consistent and balanced teams in recent years. They’ve been to the Super Bowl in two of the past four seasons, winning in 2024.
The key will be stopping running back Saquon Barkley, who won the NFL’s offensive player of the year in 2024.
Easiest stretch
It’s hard to call any set of games in the NFL easy. And Houston’s schedule is littered with tough games. But if there is one easy stretch, it has to be when the Texans play the Titans, Jaguars, and Giants in consecutive weeks.
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The Giants and Titans were among the worst teams in the league last year, and while they’ll both improve this season, the talent on those teams doesn’t compare to the talent elsewhere.
Toughest stretch
Three of the Texans final four opponents were playoff teams in 2025.
It’ll start with the Jaguars in on Dec. 20 in their second matchup of the season series. Each of the last five games between these two teams has been decided by seven points or less.
After the Jaguars game, bring your coats. The Texans go on the road on short rest to face the Philadelphia Eagles on Dec. 24 on Thursday Night Football. The Eagles have consistently been one of the top teams in the league, and this one will be in a hostile environment.
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And finally, they’ll conclude this stretch at Green Bay on Jan. 4 on ESPN’s Monday Night Football. It often snows in January in Green Bay. And the last time Houston played in snowy weather, it didn’t go particularly well.
One to not overlook
The Texans destroyed the Ravens last season 44-10 in Baltimore, but the Ravens were missing many of their top players, including quarterback Lamar Jackson, who remains the most dangerous player in the league.
Now he has a new coach and offensive system. Who knows what it’ll look like with Jackson and running back Derrick Henry.
A game Houston can’t afford to lose
The second game against the Jaguars on Dec. 20 is the beginning of a three-game stretch against 2025 playoff teams to close out the season. A win here, against a division opponent, could give Houston much needed momentum down the stretch. A loss could loosen its grasp on the division and maybe a playoff berth.
When is the open week?
The Texans have an open week on Nov. 1, the eighth week of the season and two weeks after their London game on Oct. 18. The Texans would have probably preferred to have the open week right after the London game. But this could prove favorable because it comes in the middle of the season.
Predicted record: 12-5
The Texans play a second-place schedule and will be motivated to host as many postseason games as possible this year. They’ll start the season much quicker than last year and will end the season as one of the top two seeds in the AFC.
We’ll post a game-by-game prediction on Friday.
Predicted AFC South finish: First
1. Texans
2. Titans
3. Jaguars
4. Colts