The Texans now know when they will play each opponent in 2023. 

Luckily for Houston, the team has the sixth-easiest schedule in the league. Things start off tough with a road game at Baltimore followed by two division matchups and a tilt with the Steelers. 

I doubt anyone has playoff expectations for 2023, but improvement and competitiveness are important things to look for. Today, let's take a look at all 17 games and see what the Texans' record could end up being. 

Full Schedule: 

• Week 1: @ Baltimore Ravens (Sunday, Sep. 10, 12:00 PM CST)
• Week 2: vs. Indianapolis Colts (Sunday, Sep. 17, 12:00 PM CST)
• Week 3: @ Jacksonville Jaguars (Sunday, Sep. 24, 12:00 PM CST)
• Week 4: vs. Pittsburgh Steelers (Sunday, Oct. 1, 12:00 PM CST)
• Week 5: @ Atlanta Falcons (Sunday, Oct. 8, 12:00 PM CST)
• Week 6: vs. New Orleans Saints (Sunday, Oct. 15, 12:00 PM CST)
• Week 7: BYE
• Week 8: @ Carolina Panthers (Sunday, Oct. 29, 12:00 PM CST)
• Week 9: vs. Tampa Bay Buccaneers (Sunday, Nov. 5, 12:00 PM CST)
• Week 10: @ Cincinnati Bengals (Sunday, Nov. 12, 12:00 PM CST)
• Week 11: vs. Arizona Cardinals (Sunday, Nov. 19, 12:00 PM CST)
• Week 12: vs. Jacksonville Jaguars (Sunday, Nov. 26, 12:00 PM CST)
• Week 13: vs. Denver Broncos (Sunday, Dec. 3, 3:05 PM CST)
• Week 14: @ New York Jets (Sunday, Dec. 10, 12:00 PM CST)
• Week 15: @ Tennessee Titans (Sunday, Dec. 17, 12:00 PM CST)
• Week 16: vs. Cleveland Browns (Sunday, Dec. 24, 12:00 PM CST)
• Week 17: vs. Tennessee Titans (Sunday, Dec. 31, 12:00 PM CST)
• Week 18: @ Indianapolis Colts (TBD)

Week 1: @ Baltimore Ravens

CJ Stroud going on the road to face a tough Baltimore team in his first game is not ideal. This is the type of game where the Ravens will be heavy favorites but the Texans will keep it surprisingly close. Ultimately, this team isn't quite ready to be knocking off playoff-caliber teams on the road. 

Result: Loss (0-1)

Week 2: vs. Indianapolis Colts

This will likely be a battle between rookie quarterbacks. Colts' QB Anthony Richardson is widely considered to be more of a project, while Stroud is looked at as a plug-and-play QB. Factor in that this will be the home opener, and I believe the Texans will get the first win of the season here. 

Result: Win (1-1)

Week 3: @ Jacksonville Jaguars

Coming off of a division win, the Texans will be looking to make it two in a row. The Jaguars are heavy favorites to win the AFC South once again and boast the best overall roster in the division currently. The Jaguar defense could make life miserable for Stroud in Duval County. 

Result: Loss (1-2)

Week 4: vs. Pittsburgh Steelers

The Texans return home in Week 4 hoping to add another win in Houston. Unfortunately, the Steelers will be in town. The Steelers will have fans in the building, and Mike Tomlin is one of the best coaches around. Expect Stroud to struggle against this Pittsburgh defense. Ultimately I see this as a low-scoring game that Pittsburgh comes out on top of. 

Result: Loss (1-3)

Week 5: @ Atlanta Falcons

Barring unforeseen circumstances, Desmond Ridder will be the starting QB for the Falcons. With an experienced defensive coach like DeMeco Ryans at the helm in Houston, young QBs may struggle against the Texans. Expect Will Anderson Jr. to have a breakout game against the weak Atlanta offensive line. The Texans get the victory in Atlanta. 

Result: Win (2-3)

Week 6: vs. New Orleans Saints

The Saints may struggle to get going with a new QB under center in Derek Carr. However, the defense should be legit and should put up a ton of sacks once again in 2023. The Saints are the favorites to win the NFC South and will need to win games like this for that to happen. Ultimately, the Saints' offensive firepower will prove too much for the young Texans. 

Result: Loss (2-4)

Week 7: BYE

The bye week falls at an ideal time for the Texans. The team will have a couple of winnable games out of the bye and could be in a comfortable spot. 

Week 8: @ Carolina Panthers

Another battle of rookie QBs takes place in Week 8. I believe this will be circled on both Bryce Young and CJ Stroud's calendars. The Panthers should be an interesting offense after adding DJ Chark, Adam Thielen, and Miles Sanders. Ultimately, this could prove too much for the Texans. The No. 1 pick bests the No. 2 pick in Charlotte. 

Result: Loss (2-5)

Week 9: vs. Tampa Bay Buccaneers

This Bucs team will look much different without Tom Brady under center. Baker Mayfield figures to be the starting QB, and many see the Bucs being one of the worst teams in the league in 2023. This could end up being a blowout in the Texans' favor. 

Result: Win (3-5)

Week 10: @ Cincinnati Bengals

The Bengals will be a trendy Super Bowl pick in 2023. In my opinion, the Bengals are a terrible matchup for Houston. Joe Burrow should pick apart the middle of this defense, and I'm not sure Stroud will be able to keep up. The Bengals win this one convincingly. 

Result: Loss (3-6)

Week 11: vs. Arizona Cardinals

The Cardinals are another team that many expect to be in the running for the worst record in the league. The Cardinals will likely never be an easy out with Kyler Murray at QB, but the Texans should have enough firepower to win this game. This could be a big Dameon Pierce performance. 

Result: Win (4-6)

Week 12: vs. Jacksonville Jaguars

I just do not believe that the Texans match up well with this Jaguar team. Even in Houston, I could see the Jags' defensive line being too much for Houston to handle. Evan Engram could have a big game going against Cory Littleton/Denzel Perryman. I think Jacksonville gets the season sweep. 

Result: Loss (4-7)

Week 13: vs. Denver Broncos

Sean Payton, widely considered one of the best coaches in the league, returns to the sideline in 2023 as a Bronco. Many wonder if Payton can reinvigorate Russell Wilson after a miserable 2022 season. Expect to see some vintage Russ in this game. The Broncos should still have one of the toughest defenses in the league.

Result: Loss (4-8)

Week 14: @ New York Jets

This game looked a lot easier before the Jets landed Aaron Rodgers. The future Hall of Famer Rodgers will put on a big performance in a home game against the young Texans. Once again, the Texans just aren't ready to win this type of game. 

Result: Loss (4-9)

Week 15: @ Tennessee Titans

On paper, the Titans do not exactly look terrifying. It is unknown who the QB will be at this point for the Titans, as rookie Will Levis could have the reins handed over at some point. The Texans were awful against the run in 2023, and while they should be better with the additions of Sheldon Rankins and Hassan Ridgeway, that still might not be enough to slow down King Henry. The Titans have fully bought into the run-first approach once again. This will be an ugly, low-scoring Tennessee victory. 

Result: Loss (4-10)

Week 16: vs. Cleveland Browns

This game will be notable due to Deshaun Watson returning to Houston once again. In last year's edition of this matchup, the Watson-led Browns beat the Texans by 13. In the rematch, I believe the Texans run away with a victory. Ryans will know exactly what to do to slow down Watson, and Stroud will put on a clinic against a Browns' secondary that I am not all that impressed with. 

Result: Win (5-10) 

Week 17: vs. Tennessee Titans

The ground-and-pound worked for Tennessee in Nashville, but it won't in Houston. Ryans will have his defense ready and prepared for Henry this time. The Titans' secondary could be less-than-stellar, and there should be plenty of opportunities for Stroud to show out. The Texans get revenge here. 

Result: Win (6-10)

Week 18: @ Indianapolis Colts

In a rematch against the Colts and Richardson, the Texans are unable to repeat. I doubt this game has any playoff implications, but the Colts will do all they can to avoid being swept by Houston. Richardson has a big performance here and ends the Texans' season with a loss. 

Result: Loss (6-11)

Final Record= 6-11

Thoughts: Would any Texans fans be upset with a six-win season? I don't think they should be if so. Doubling your win total over the previous season has to be a sign of positive development. This season will be more about the development of Stroud and Anderson than anything else. It will be interesting to see if the team can pull out any more of these games and make a run at the AFC South, but I would not expect it. Look for a noticeable improvement in 2023, and a run at the division in 2024.