The NFL schedule release is set for May 12 at 7:00 p.m Central Time, but Houston sports fans wouldn’t be surprised to see their Texans play in the early game slot on Sunday for 17 weeks.
The Texans had one prime time game in 2020, the Thursday NFL kickoff at Arrowhead Stadium against the Kansas City Chiefs. Houston technically had another nationally televised game against the Detroit Lions on Thanksgiving at Ford Field, but their other 14 games were on Sunday afternoons.
That was with quarterback Deshaun Watson and defensive end J.J. Watt. One is with the Arizona Cardinals now, and the other is a mere technicality on the roster. Neither will be part of the star power of the 2021 team, if it even has any. Throw in the fact the Texans went 4-12 a season ago and that they play in the AFC South, and there isn’t much hope for Houston to even get an NFL Network game in late December.
Take for example this list of top-10 games for the 2021 season on NFL.com. The Jacksonville Jaguars are listed twice, once as an actual game on the list and another time as part of an honorable mention. Naturally Houston isn’t on there, but neither are other AFC South foes such as the Tennessee Titans or Indianapolis Colts.
Therefore, it isn’t even a guarantee that playing two playoff teams from a year ago twice will ensure Houston plays in front of a national TV audience.
The Texans’ five-man draft class also did not net any rookies that sports fans would want to watch. As much as fifth-round tight end Brevin Jordan was a steal, the Texans don’t have the same cache as they did two years ago when Watson, Watt, and three-time All-Pro wideout DeAndre Hopkins were on the roster. As great teammates as safety Justin Reid, receiver Brandin Cooks, and running back David Johnson are, they don’t exactly move the needle for TV executives.
Of course, winning ballgames would help the Texans catapult into front of national TV audiences. But how long could that take? The most optimistic outlook would have to be 2022 when general manager Nick Caserio has retooled the roster and had the benefit of a first and second-round pick in the NFL draft. As much as it could technically happen, the Texans aren’t going to jump out to a 10-0 start and force a flex into Sunday Night Football in Week 11.
The Texans may be just a Houston thing for quite a while.