We’ve known the opponents and where the games were to be played but now we know when.
The 2024 NFL schedule has been released, setting the dates and times for all of the Texans upcoming matchups this season. The Texans landed several primetime games after their stellar 2023 season in which first-year head coach DeMeco Ryans, along with Offensive Rookie of the Year C.J. Stroud and Defensive Rookie of the Year Will Anderson Jr. led the Texans to a 10-7 regular season record and AFC South title. Houston beat the Browns in the wildcard round of the playoffs before falling to the Ravens in the divisional round.
Texans’ general manager Nick Caserio loaded up the roster this offseason with the trades for wide receiver Stefon Diggs and running back Joe Mixon. The Texans spent lavishly in free agency as well with defensive end Danielle Hunter, defensive tackle Denico Autry and linebacker Azeez Al-Shaair along with re-signing key free agents like tight end Dalton Schultz.
The Texans are locked and loaded for 2024. Here are the five most exciting matchups to look forward to this season.
5 must-watch games on Texans 2024 NFL schedule
No. 1 Texans @ Chiefs - Week 16 - Sat, Dec. 21st at Noon CST on NBC
There are a ton of great matchups for the Texans this year. It’s hard to narrow it down to the top 5, more so the top matchup.
The Texans can head into the belly of the beast in Kansas City to take on Patrick Mahomes and the back-to-back reigning champion Chiefs to announce their presence to the NFL world. A victory in Arrowhead could give the team the confidence to propel them toward and beyond their first-ever AFC Championship matchup.
After this past season’s success and the offseason’s transactions, the fans in Houston do expect progress. A Stroud-led win over Mahomes in Kansas City would boost the national perception. It also would show that the team is as good as advertised.
If the Texans are going to get over the hump, it starts in Kansas City and through Mahomes, Travis Kelce and Andy Reid.
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No. 2: Ravens @ Texans - Week 17 - Wed, Dec. 25th at 3:30 pm CST on Netflix
Houston’s vengeance tour in 2024 will not only have the Chiefs and Mahomes, but also the two-time MVP quarterback Lamar Jackson. The Ravens beat the Texans in Baltimore in Week 1 to start the 2023 season in Stroud's NFL debut. Then, they finished the Texans’ season in Baltimore with a playoff victory. Since 2011, the Texans have lost seven playoff games. Two were to the Chiefs (2015 and 2019), two to the Patriots (2012 and 2016), one to the Colts (2018) and two to the Ravens (2011 and 2023).
The top two teams on this list have had the number of the Texans in the playoffs, making up four of the seven franchise losses for Houston. For the Texans to get to a Super Bowl they need to exorcise their demons. That would entail beating Jackson, who now has a familiar Texans’ foe by his side in running back Derrick Henry. Houston had the answer for Henry while still with the Titans in 2023 when they held him to a total of 28 carries for 51 rushing yards (1.8 ypc) and four receptions on five targets for one yard in two games.
Houston will be home for Christmas. A late season win against a team with the talent and expectations of the Ravens would be huge to set the Texans up for extra rest heading into Week 18. If they already have their playoff seeding secure, they could rest starters in the finale and give their stars up to two-and-a-half weeks of late season rest before the playoffs.
The Texans play the Chiefs and Ravens four days a part on a Saturday and a Wednesday. It's an unusal schedule against top competition at a critical time in the season.
No. 3: Texans @ Cowboys - Week 11 - Mon, Nov. 18th at 7:15 pm CST on ESPN
The Cowboys tied for the best record in the NFC at 12-5 this past year with the 49ers and Lions. The Cowboys and Texans both have high expectations for the upcoming season. Football is king in Texas and any time the two professional franchises of the state meet, it’s a top watch. This year, it'll be one the nation will tune in for in prime-time on Monday Night Football.
In Texas, this game has become about bragging rights. The rivalry takes on a whole new level of importance with the weight of the expectations for each franchise. If that wasn’t enough, Stefon Diggs faces his brother Trevon Diggs in the Lone Star State matchup. Former offensive weapons wide receivers Brandin Cooks and Noah Brown, along with tight end Dalton Schultz passed like ships in the night with each joining the other’s team last season and into 2024.
It’s hard not to list “Dallas vs Houston” as the top game. In past years it would have easily been the case. This year there’s more on the line than rivalry bragging rights. The Texans have a tough schedule loaded down with great matchups and in an expected tightly contested AFC, those head-to-head matchups hold more weight than out-of-conference opponents.
No. 4: Dolphins @ Texans - Week 15 - Sun, Dec. 15th at Noon CST on CBS
Dolphins head coach Mike McDaniel and Texans head coach DeMeco Ryans have crossed paths plenty with their time in Houston and San Francisco together. McDaniel was the offensive coordinator and Ryans was the defensive coordinator with Kyle Shanahan in 2021 before each landed their first head coaching gig.
The offensive-minded McDaniel has the speed and weapons to attack the defensive-minded Ryans. At receiver, Miami has added Odell Beckham Jr. with Tyreek Hill and Jaylen Waddle. Second-year stud running back De’Von Achane returns at the position with last year’s rushing touchdown leader (18) in Raheem Mostert and also rookie, fourth-round speedster Jaylen Wright.
The AFC has several teams that are expected to be jockeying for playoff positioning, each of the battles with the top teams could dictate anything from a steep playoff positioning drop to falling out of the playoffs altogether.
The Texans caught a break with a Week 14 bye before the toughest part of their schedule. They'll face the Dolphins, Chiefs and Ravens all within a 10-day span. They'll need the rest of the bye week, heading up to the late-season tests. Houston needs to get out to a fast start record rise and the schedule is set up for them to best their franchise record of five straight wins to start a season, back in 2012. They haven't started the season with more than two consecutive wins any other year.
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No. 5: Texans @ Jets - Week 9 - Thu, Oct. 31th at 7:15 pm CST on Prime Video
Jets’ head coach Robert Saleh was the defensive coordinator before Ryans with the 49ers. Ryans began his coaching career under Saleh and moved up the ranks before he took over for Saleh in 2021. This is similar to how Saleh started his NFL coaching career with the Texans as a defensive intern in 2005.
There were teams with better records and other storylines for a top-5 matchup against the Texans but the Jets rounded out the top-5 as the fourth AFC team to make the list. While talented teams like the Bills with Josh Allen and the Diggs storyline are enticing, I believe Aaron Rodgers versus Stroud is a more exciting matchup. One of the greatest quarterbacks of all-time in Rodgers against one of the best young talents in the game in Stroud.
Rodgers returns to pursue a title and has weapons surrounding him and, more importantly, a line to protect him. Rodgers has Stroud’s old Buckeye teammate Garrett Wilson as a weapon at receiver with Mike Williams and rookie Malachi Corley. Behind him, stud running back Breece Hall is joined by Braelon Allen and Isaiah Davis giving him a versatile blend of talent and depth at the position.
Attempting to slow down Rodgers and Stroud are the former 2022 No. 3 and No. 4 overall picks — Derek Stingley Jr. and Sauce Gardner. This one is set to be a showdown of stars on both sides of the ball. The entire world gets to watch this battle on Thursday Night Football.