With the Indianapolis Colts showing quarterback Peyton Manning the door, they basically handed the keys to the AFC South over to the Houston Texans. While the games pitting Manning and the Colts against Matt Schaub and the Texans were the biggest games in the south for the past few years, there seems to be little standing between Houston and the AFC South title now, except for some of the toughest games of the 2012 NFL season.
Sept. 23 at Denver Broncos
Just when it looked like the Houston Texans finally shook off the man that made their lives tough for years, they get Peyton Manning back in Week 3 of the season. Houston travels to battle the Denver Broncos and their new future Hall of Fame quarterback on Sept. 23 and Matt Schaub vs. Peyton Manning will rekindle once again.
Oct. 8 at New York Jets
The Texans get their first of two Monday Night Football games on Oct. 8 when they travel to the New York Jets. Schaub and company will have a tough time with Rex Ryan's defense and will get a look at the Jets' new weapon in Tim Tebow. The Texans have never beaten the Jets in the team's history.
Oct. 14 vs. Green Bay Packers
On October 14, the Texans get their second straight prime time game, this one at home against the mighty Green Bay Packers. While the lead-in will look at the matchup between Schaub and Aaron Rodgers, this will also provide the Texans a chance to prove they can match up with the best the NFC has to offer as they continue to search for their first Super Bowl appearance.
Dec. 10 at New England Patriots
By Dec. 10, Houston fans should know where their team is heading and that makes this Monday Night Football game against the Green Bay Packers huge for the team. The game will be on the road and Schaub will match wits with Tom Brady in front of a nationwide audience. This is where Houston can prove themselves to the world.
Dec. 20 at Indianapolis Colts
While I don't think this game will be important, Indianapolis should be statistically eliminated from the playoffs well before this, the Houston Texans can end their season with a game that proves to them, and their fans, that the AFC South is a much safer place without Peyton Manning leading the Colts.
Author Shawn S. Lealos has a bachelor's degree in journalism from the University of Oklahoma (2000) and has been a Houston football fan since he was a child, originally cheering for Earl Campbell and the Houston Oilers and now cheering for Arian Foster and the Houston Texans. Despite the Oilers leaving for Tennessee, Shawn's heart remained in Texas until the Texans brought football in southern Texas back to life.
Source: NFL.COM
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