The 2020 NFL season presents its challenges for the Houston Texans. Never has a team in the AFC South won the division three straight years since the Indianapolis Colts from 2003-07.
It appears during the offseason the rest of the division got better as the Texans employed an “addition by subtraction” philosophy. Here are four reasons why fans should be pessimistic about the upcoming season.
1. Relying on an injured receiving corps
Will Fuller has never played a full 16-game season in his career. Brandin Cooks missed two games with a concussion last year. Randall Cobb has a history of hamstring injuries, and he missed time last year with the Dallas Cowboys. Kenny Stills also missed games in 2019.
It’s a theme.
On paper, in Madden, Deshaun Watson throwing to this quartet of speedy receivers has high scoring potential. However, if injuries strike, as they always have in most of these wideouts’ careers, then DeAndre Carter, Keke Coutee, and rookie Isaiah Coulter will be filling the void, which is exactly the anxiety Texans fans had when they first learned of the DeAndre Hopkins trade.
2. The first three games
The Texans open up the season on the road against the Kansas City Chiefs. That is a great matchup for the NFL to start the 2020 season.
Then, the Texans follow up that first-place finisher game with another rematch of division title winners as they host the Baltimore Ravens at NRG Stadium.
Finally, the Texans go on the road to Heinz Field and face the Pittsburgh Steelers, who probably will have a healthy Ben Roethlisberger under center and definitely T.J. Watt coming off the edge to pressure Deshaun Watson.
If the Texans aren’t careful, they could find themselves in an 0-3 hole to start the season. Though they have proven they can rally from such a deficit in the standings, there was a reason that 11-5 team was historic. Chances are an 0-3 hole with all three of those games being AFC games could scuttle Houston’s season early.
3. Bill O’Brien
There is at least one game a season the Texans drop that was downright winnable. In 2018, it was Week 3 against the New York Giants. In 2019, it was Week 4 against the Carolina Panthers. O’Brien’s decision making in those games cost Houston a win that could have made a difference in qualifying for a first-round bye.
In 2020, there is only one postseason bye to be had per conference. More than likely, the Texans won’t be in the running for it. However, with a seventh playoff team added, the wins and losses could be the difference between hosting a home playoff game in the wild-card and divisional rounds, getting a home wild-card game, or having to go on the road the entire way to the Super Bowl.
4. The rest of the division improved
Aside from the Jacksonville Jaguars, who appear to be taking the Miami Dolphins’ place as the tanking AFC team in Florida, the rest of the AFC South upgraded in the offseason.
The Indianapolis Colts added quarterback Philip Rivers and traded for defensive tackle DeForest Buckner. The Colts picked up young, complementary skill players in wideout Michael Pittman and running back Jonathan Taylor. Frank Reich remains on the sidelines and has proven to give the Colts a chance in his first two seasons.
The Tennessee Titans are riding a wave of optimism after their AFC Championship Game appearance. Ryan Tannehill is now the man under center, and the Titans ostensibly will benefit from a full season of great quarterback play as opposed to 10 games. A.J. Brown is expected to take DeAndre Hopkins’ place as the most dominant AFC South receiver. Mike Vrabel also knows the Texans all too well having been an assistant coach from 2014-17.
