Texans Have a CONTENDER Schedule in 2026… Now Prove It

The Houston Texans’ 2026 schedule is officially HERE… and it says A LOT about how the NFL views this football team. This isn’t a rebuilding schedule anymore. This isn’t a “cute young team” schedule anymore. This is a CONTENDER’S schedule. 🏈 4 prime time games 🏈 5 games against teams projected to win 10+ games 🏈 5 playoff teams from last season 🏈 National spotlight after national spotlight The league clearly believes the Texans are one of the NFL’s rising premier franchises — and now comes the hard part: To become the best, Houston has to beat the best. On today’s episode of Locked On Texans, we break down the biggest takeaways from the Texans schedule release and what it means for CJ Stroud, DeMeco Ryans, and the future of this franchise. Plus: 🔥 Which game is the MOST interesting on the entire schedule? 👀 Why Packers vs Texans feels like a statement-game matchup 👀 Which stretch of games could completely define Houston’s season 👀 Are the Texans finally being treated like true AFC contenders? We also discuss: 📈 Why the NFL is investing in Houston with prime time exposure 📈 What this schedule says about the respect around the league 📈 Why expectations for the Texans are officially different now This season won’t be easy — but elite teams don’t run from elite schedules. The Texans asked for the spotlight. Now they’ve got it.