HOUSTON – The last time the Texans squared off against the Buffalo Bills, their top-ranked defensive flexed a lot of muscle as they relentlessly chased down star quarterback Josh Allen in a narrow victory
Now, the Texans’ absolutely loaded defense will begin the season with a home game against Allen and the Bills on Sept. 13 at Reliant Stadium after sacking him eight times last November in a 23-19 win that was part of their nine-game winning streak.
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The Texans have made major investments in their roster, especially on defense (Will Anderson Jr., three years, $150 million as the highest paid non-quarterback in NFL history along with Danielle Hunter, one year, $40.1 million extension, Azeez Al-Shaair, three years, $54 million contract), across the offensive line (Wyatt Teller, two years, $23 million, Braden Smith, two years $25 million, Ed Ingram, three years, $37.5 million, drafting Keylan Rutledge in the first round) and at running back by trading for David Montgomery and signing him to a two-year, $16.5 million extension. The Texans also signed former Philadelphia Eagles safety and team captain Reed Blankenship to a three-year, $24.75 million free agent deal.
Now, they’re looking for immediate dividends. They’re chasing a Super Bowl after losing three consecutive AFC divisional round playoff games under coach DeMeco Ryans and are 0-7 all-time at that stage of the postseason.
“We get paid to do this, it’s our job,” Anderson said. “I think everybody comes in with the right mindset, the right mentality. I think everybody in that locker room knows we have the guys to get it done. So, I don’t think it’s ever a question of like, ‘I got to do this again.’
“It’s like, we get to do this again. I get to go out with the same group of guys again that we had so much success last year. I know we’re going to have even more success this year. We have a great bunch of people in the building that want to see this place succeed, that want to take this place somewhere that it’s never been.”
The Texans are hoping for a resurgent season from quarterback C.J. Stroud, a former NFL Offensive Rookie of the Year who struggled in two playoff games last season with a combined five interceptions and five fumbles, including a career-high four interceptions in a divisional round loss to the New England Patriots.
Stroud is noticeably leaner and has drawn praise from Ryans, ownership and teammates.
“He’s been doing a tremendous job,” running back Woody Marks told KPRC 2 last Sunday. “I’d say he got bigger and stronger. His times when we were running outside, he’s getting faster. I’d say he should be using his leg a lot this year, too.”
The Texans need to get off to faster start than last year when they began the season 0-3 before finishing 12-5 behind a strong finish. Six of their final 10 games are on the road.
The Texans have a lot of travel cumulatively with 28,400 miles for their games, ranking third overall, primarily due to the London game.
That includes likely cold-weather games against the Pittsburgh Steelers, an AFC wild-card playoff rematch on Dec. 6 on NBC on Sunday Night Football, the Washington Commanders on Dec. 13, the Philadelphia Eagles on Dec. 24 in a Thursday Amazon Prime game and at the Green Bay Packers on Jan. 4 on Monday Night Football on ESPN.
The Eagles’ game on Christmas Eve is particularly high profile against a team that has been to two of the past four Super Bowls and won it all two seasons ago.
The Texans’ schedule, which includes an international game against the Jacksonville Jaguars on Oct. 18 at historic Wembley Stadium, is ranked 26th out of 32 teams in terms of difficulty. Their opponents this season had a combined record of .474 with six returning playoff squads: the Bills, AFC South defending champion Jaguars, Los Angeles Chargers, Steelers, Eagles and Packers.
The Texans have a well-timed bye in the eighth week of the 17-week regular season.
They face several top quarterbacks. That starts with Allen and continues in the second week of the regular season at home against the Cincinnati Bengals and star quarterback Joe Burrow.
They also host the Dallas Cowboys and quarterback Dak Prescott on Oct. 4 and his receiving tandem of CeeDee Lamb and George Pickens.
Other accomplished quarterbacks on the schedule include Baltimore Ravens quarterback Lamar Jackson, a former NFL Most Valuable Player, on Nov. 29 at Reliant Stadium, potentially Aaron Rodgers against the Steelers, Jayden Daniels at the Commanders, the Eagles’ Jalen Hurts, a Channelview graduate, the Packers’ Jordan Love, plus two games against the Jaguars’ Trevor Lawrence.
“We just seen it on our first team meeting back, trying to be the first team to put a bull on the ring,” Marks said. “Really believe that, we really want that to come true this year.”
Aaron Wilson is a Texans and NFL reporter for KPRC 2 and click2houston.com