The 2012-13 schedule for the NFL has been released, and while the official week-by-week listings won't be available until the end of the month, home and away matchups are known and ready for analysis and discussion.
Because the season is still several weeks away, it's impossible and almost naive to attempt to guess the outcome of every matchâ€"there are simply too many unknown factors to try to predict.
What we can do, though, is look at whether the 2012-13 schedule is easier than it was last year for certain teams, and what that will do for their overall chances.
So for the Houston Texans, you'll find a complete breakdown of their schedule compared to last year, as well as the three most exciting matches to look forward to in 2012.
Ready? Let's roll.
Houston Texans in 2011
Tipped by many to challenge the Indianapolis Colts, the Houston Texans lived up to the expectations by taking out the AFC South in 2011â€"helped in part due to an injury to Peyton Manning.
After starting the year strongly, the Texans lost their last three before entering the playoffs with a 10-6 record. They dispatched of the Cincinnati Bengals comfortably in the wildcard round before going down to the Baltimore Ravens the following week.
The main talking point of the year, however, was the injuries that crippled the Texans' chances of progressing further in the playoffsâ€"losing quarterbacks Matt Schaub and Matt Leinart as well as Andre Johnson during the regular season.
2011-12 Schedule
Obviously, Houston played six divisional matches in 2011 and finished 4-2 out of these matchesâ€"losing to the Indianapolis Colts and the Tennessee Titans in the final two rounds of the regular season. Earlier in the year, the Texans had recorded big wins over both of these sides.
The Texans played the entire AFC North during the year, winning three and losing to the Baltimore Ravens on the road. They were impressive at home to the Pittsburgh Steelers and the Cleveland Browns and managed to sneak a one-point victory over the Cincinnati Bengals late in the year.
They also played the NFC South where Houston finished with a split series against New Orleans, Atlanta, Tampa Bay and Carolina. After losing in a shootout with the Saints, the Texans won strongly over the Buccaneers and the Falcons before being outclassed by the Panthers late in the year.
Houston completed its schedule in 2011 with matches against sides from the AFC East and the AFC West in the Miami Dolphins and the Oakland Raiders. They were too good with Matt Schaub under center for the Dolphins but despite the quarterback throwing for over 400 yards, the Texans still fell by five points to the Raiders.
The schedule was relatively tough for the Houston Texans in 2011â€"perhaps compounded by the loss of Schaub and then Leinart during the season. Out of their 16 matches for the year, the Texans played five of them against teams that made the playoffs, and went 3-2 in those matches.
2012-13 Schedule
Again, starting with the simple one, Houston will again play six divisional matches against their fellow AFC South teams in a division that will drastically improve throughout the year.
The obvious place to start is the Indianapolis Colts, who will be much more competitive with Andrew Luck at quarterback, but even the Tennessee Titans and Jacksonville Jaguars should improve. The Titans will benefit from another year with Matt Hasselbeck, and Blaine Gabbert will benefit from having another year under his belt in the National Football League.
The Texans will also play the AFC East during the yearâ€"taking on Buffalo and Miami at home and New England and New York on the road. Both the Bills and the Dolphins are matches that the Texans feel they should win with their defense and their strong ground game. The real test will come against the Patriots and Tom Brady, who will be looking to avenge their Super Bowl loss last year.
And regardless of whether it's Tim Tebow or Mark Sanchez under center for the Jets, the Houston defense should cause New York some trouble. That match will be a low-scoring, street-fight type of affair, with the most disciplined and patient side taking the win.
Disciplined and organized is exactly what they'll have to be when the Packers and Vikings come to town during the seasonâ€"two sides that will not want to let the Texans defense get settled at all. Minnesota will benefit from having a stronger offensive line during the year and Aaron Rodgers will continue to make it look like he's playing with a NERF ball.
But perhaps Houston's biggest hurdle will be on the road to the Detroit Lions and the Chicago Bears, who would have to be favored at home against the Texans. Detroit will continue to improve again in 2012, with Matthew Stafford and Calvin Johnson sure to cause more havoc for defensive units. And if Jay Cutler can stay healthy this year, he'll be able to take advantage of his strong offense that boasts the names of Matt Forte and Brandon Marshall.
Houston will round out its schedule for the year with a home game to the Baltimore Ravens and an away game to the Denver Broncosâ€"two matches that will be incredibly tough to win. Baltimore knocked the Texans out of the playoffs last year and will surely give them a run for their money again at home.
And Denver? Well, the name's Peyton Manning, and he's pretty darn good.
Comparing the strength of scheduleÂ
Divisional matches
These are no doubt going to be tougher for the Texans in 2012â€"and not just because Andrew Luck is coming to town. Even without him, the AFC South boasts some tricky defensive units and some more than capable offenses for the Texans to do battle with. Now we can throw in Andrew Luck and it's a pretty open and shut case.
Tougher year? 2012.Â
The AFC East
This an interesting prospect for the Texans, who will fancy their chances against all four teamsâ€"especially their home games against the Bills and Dolphins. While the Patriots will be rather tough to beat at Foxborough, Houston's defense should keep them close to the Jets and their "dynamic" quarterback. But whether it's tougher than the AFC North is a difficult question, especially considering the defensive strength that all four sides have.
And because of that, last year has to be considered a tougher period of matches.
Tougher year? 2011.Â
The NFC North
These matches will also give the Texans a huge testâ€"perhaps even more than the NFC South did. While they were able to shut down Atlanta and Tampa Bay, the two dominant passing attacks in the Cam Newton-led Panthers and the Drew Brees-led Saints both beat the Falcons. And looking at the passing strengths that the NFC North has across the board, you've got to say as a whole, it's a tougher ask than last year was.
Tougher year? 2011.
As far as the other matches are for the Texans, you've got the Baltimore Ravens and Denver Broncos compared to the Miami Dolphins and the Oakland Raiders. Baltimore almost made the Super Bowl, Denver now has Peyton Manning, and the other two suck. Let me think about this for a minute.
Tougher year? 2012.
Three games to watchÂ
No. 1: Baltimore Ravens at Houston Texans
Baltimore knocked Houston out of the playoffs last year, but now this is on Houston's turf. With a healthy offense and a sound defense, the Texans could give Baltimore a taste of its own medicine and exact some revenge on a hapless Joe Flacco.Â
No. 2: Houston Texans at Denver Broncos
Due to his injury, Houston was spared from taking on Peyton Manning with the Indianapolis Colts in 2011, but in a twisted sense of fate, they will have to do exactly that when they meet the Denver Broncos. Early in the season, late in the seasonâ€"it doesn't matter, because this one will be at Peyton's home ground against a team he still considers his rival.Â
No. 3: Houston Texans at Chicago Bears
If the Texans are going to make the playoffs again and be considered a genuine Super Bowl contender, then these are the games they must win. Chicago will be a tough, tough side in 2012, but if Houston can shut down Matt Forte with their run defense and get to Jay Cutler with their pass rush, there's no reason to suggest they can't chalk up a huge victory away from home in this one.
Which year is the tougher schedule for the Houston Texans?
Which year is the tougher schedule for the Houston Texans?
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2011-12.
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2012-13.
Overall
As far as scheduling goes, it's a really tough one to decide upon, but I've got to give the slight edge to this year being the tougher year.
They'll have to deal with both Andrew Luck and Peyton Manning, as well as the Ravens tough defense, and that's not even mentioning the likes of Tom Brady or Aaron Rodgers. Chicago will improve, Detroit will improve, Tennessee will improve and suddenly 2012 looks a lot tougher than at first glance.
Having said that, Houston's defense will keep them in a lot of matches, even when they probably should be, and the offense is now good enough to challenge teams both in the air and on the ground.
If the key players in this Texans football team can stay in 2012, Houston may well be a genuine contender again not only in the AFC South, but in the entire National Football League.
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