The Texans are in a somewhat awkward spot as the 2026 regular season approaches. It’s clear they have a talented roster capable of making a deep playoff run, but they haven’t been able to take that next step.
Since C.J. Stroud became Houston’s starting quarterback, the Texans have made the playoffs every season and have won at least one playoff game each year. Last season, however, there were several issues on the offensive side of the ball. One of the biggest was the play-calling in critical situations.
Too often, it felt like Houston wasn’t putting their best players in positions to succeed, and that starts with offensive coordinator Nick Caley. He has to be better.
At the same time, Caley can call the perfect play, but if the players on the field don’t execute, it won’t matter. That’s where general manager Nick Caserio comes into the conversation. Last season, it felt like the Texans put duct tape over several holes on the roster, and as the year went on, that tape started to peel away.
The easy answer is to point the finger at Stroud, and to some extent that’s fair. There were plenty of plays he’d like to have back. But the reality is he can’t do it all by himself.
This offseason, Caserio knew the priority was upgrading the offensive line and surrounding Stroud with more talent, and that’s exactly what Houston did. The Texans added at least three new starters up front who should be major upgrades over last year’s group. They also brought in veteran running back David Montgomery, who looks poised for a big 2026 season.
One of the more underrated additions was second-round pick Marlin Klein. The rookie tight end is a massive target who gives Houston much-needed depth behind Dalton Schultz, one of Stroud’s favorite and most reliable targets.
None of these moves guarantee success, but they certainly move the Texans in the right direction. Now it’s just a matter of whether those additions translate onto the field.
While there are still questions surrounding the offense, the defense was the best in football last season and has only gotten better. Houston added veteran safety Reed Blankenship and selected defensive tackle Kayden McDonald, widely viewed as one of the top interior defensive linemen in the draft.
This defense has the potential to be dominant once again. It’s a nightmare matchup for opposing offenses and talented enough to carry the team on most Sundays. But if the offense can finally take the next step, it wouldn’t be surprising to see the Texans emerge as one of the favorites to represent the AFC in the Super Bowl.
