Ladies and gentlemen, you’ve arrived at Week One of the NFL Season. Soak it up, the wait is over. The Texans have Greater Expectations than Pip. Three straight AFC Divisional Round finishes has set the benchmark for this franchise. Fans and pundits expect the team to make a run, but another tough schedule and a questionable offensive line will set the terms for this team.
With the season right around the corner, I checked in with the Battle Red Blog crew to gauge their hopes, expectations, and reality
checks for the 2026 season.
What is your outlook for the 2026 season? What record do you think the Texans will have, and if they make the playoffs how far will they go?
VBallRetired:
I will go 11-6 and AFC South champions. I see them losing in the divisional round again. The team will look very similar to last season with great defense and spotty offense. We will be a better running team but the passing game takes a step back without Higgins. That glass ceiling just can’t quite be broken this year.
Mike Bullock:
I’ll echo the 11-6, but I think this year H-Town gets another AFC Championship appearance only to lose in some gut wrenching, “this is why we can’t have nice things” sort of way. Lights-out defense, improved offense, but a few “tragic” ball bounces sets another team up to get destroyed by the LA Rams in the Super Bowl. Then the “waiting for next season since 2002” kicks back in.
L4Blitzer:
I’ll go with the ol’ standby of 10-7 with a +3/-2 on the record. Houston plays a difficult schedule (7th toughest) and they hopes that the offense can actually be better vs last year. If they can improve the offense and can avoid any major defensive injuries, they have a better chance to get that coveted 2 or 1 seed.
However, if the offensive line can’t gel and/or Stroud is more broken from last January than we thought, then a losing record could be in play. Playoffs are likely but I won’t put them higher than the divisional round until I actually see them do it.
Patrick H.:
I’m gonna be optimistic and say they go 12-5, get the first round bye and get to the conference championship game. Beyond that I don’t know that I feel confident saying I like our chances against the field. So much of this hinges on four things.
A) The bad/inexperienced playcalling at offensive coordinator has been resolved (only time will tell).
B) The offensive line has been sufficiently addressed by the talent and depth on the roster. (11 offensive linemen made up of high draft picks, free agents, and trades on the opening roster).
C) The offensive line lives up to the expectations of being at least average (a significant improvement over the last several years).
D) The struggles C.J. Stroud previously experienced were caused by the problems mentioned in A, B, and C and have all been resolved.
E) A crap ton of good injury luck. If all of these hold true, nothing stops this team.
Kenneth L.:
To quote Mike’s Why this is Houston’s Year post, Nick Caserio and Demeco Ryans have “assembled arguably the best team the Texans have ever had” in three years. Top to bottom, the Texans have the weapons, defense, and top-end talent to secure a Super Bowl. Going all the way takes more than talent. There’s health, luck, a couple good calls, and continuous roster management needed.
My big prediction is that by Week 7, if the Texans are 6-1 or 5-2, the will trade their first round pick for an offensive lineman. A top-end guard on a failing team could be the difference maker for this Texans team.
The weakness, it doesn’t take nine years of writing for this site to tell you that the offensive line is confounding. Neither Braden Smith (IR) or Wyatt Teller will start on this re-made (x4 seasons in a row) offensive line. There’s concern over LT Aireontae Ersery’s development and regression by Ed Ingram.
I think Houston will go 12-5. Losses to Buffalo, Dallas, Jacksonville, Baltimore, and Philadelphia. These are teams that can score at will, because otherwise this defense will SWARM. I’m hoping this defense is must-watch TV for fans. I the playoffs, Houston will be without a doubt the team no one wants to face regardless of their rank.
Unfortunately, I do predict another divisional round exit. Whether it’s to the emerging teams such as New England or Denver, or the stalwarts Buffalo, Kansas City, or Baltimore, someone will have our number.
