If you felt déjà vu at the end of theHouston Texans‘ 2025 season, you aren’t alone.
For the third straight year, C.J. Stroud’s talented club won in the Wild Card round in the NFL playoffs and then promptly came up short in the Divisional Round.
In their most-recent go-round, Demeco Ryan’s squad fell 28-16 to the eventual AFC champion New England Patriots.
“Of course, my last game didn’t go the way I wanted it to,” Stroud said five weeks after that contest where he threw four interceptions. “…I’m just grateful for the suffering. Not only the suffering that people don’t see, but also the suffering that people also do [see].”Hopefully, that suffering doesn’t continue for Houston heading into 2026.
Blessed with the NFL’s seventh-easiest schedule — their opponents had a combined winning percentage of .474 in 2025, according toYahoo! Sports— the club hopes to capitalize on this advantage, especially in their eight home games at NRG Stadium.
However, a soft schedule doesn’t mean there won’t be major challenges along the way.
Just a few of their most notable tests include showdowns with Josh Allen’sBuffalo Bills(Sept. 13), Dak Prescott’sDallas Cowboys(Oct. 4), Daniel Jones’Indianapolis Colts(Nov. 19), Lamar Jackson’sBaltimore Ravens(Nov. 29) and Trevor Lawrence’sJacksonville Jaguars(Dec. 20).
To make sure they’re up for the challenge, General Manager Nick Caserio signed standout safety Reed Blankenship, star offensive tackle Braden Smith, gritty guard Wyatt Teller, dominant defensive tackle Logan Hall and depth piece defensive end Dominique Robinson to shore up an already elite defense.
They join returning stars Stroud, Will Anderson Jr. (who was just awarded the largest non-quarterback contract in NFL history), Derek Stingley Jr., Danielle Hunter and Nico Collins.
If you want to be part of the Swarm (or sit in the Bull Pen in the North End Zone) and see the Texans attempt to win the AFC South live,tickets are available for all eight 2026 home games at Houston’s NRG Stadiumas of today on SeatGeek.
Source: California Post – Breaking California News, Photos & Videos
