The Houston Texans are gearing up for a pivotal season in 2026. With the roster mostly intact from a 12-win season last year and Houston just shy of a conference title appearance, there is growing sentiment in regard to a playoff run that this is the year to do it. Earning home-field advantage would make that playoff run a lot easier to make.
The Texans have a real shot to earn the No. 1 seed, but whether or not they follow through will be evident in the first three games. The Texans take on the Buffalo Bills, Cincinnati Bengals and Indianapolis Colts to start the season.
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Jared Koch of Houston Texans on SI shared the opportunity ahead for the first two games of the year at home.
“It’ll be DeMeco Ryans‘ fourth year at the helm of this Texans roster, and to this point, he’s yet to start a season off on his own home field.
That’ll change this season when Ryans and the Texans host the Buffalo Bills in Week 1. The last time Houston was hosting for their Week 1 matchup came back in 2022 when they wound up tying with their division rival Indianapolis Colts, 20-20.
The Texans will also be taking their home field for their second game in Week 2 vs. the Cincinnati Bengals following that game against Buffalo. Houston has only started back-to-back games at home one other time throughout its 25-year franchise history.”
Houston Texans defensive end Danielle Hunter (55) celebrates after defeating the Buffalo Bills at NRG Stadium. Troy Taormina-Imagn Images
The Texans’ first three opponents are all primed for playoff contention. The Bills come off a 12-win season of their own, while the Bengals and Colts look to rebound from underachievement from their last time on the field.
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The Texans defeated the Bills last year in a defining moment for the team. To outsiders, the win proved Houston’s legitimacy even if the team knew what it was capable of doing. Starting the year with a win could set the tone.
The Bengals can be expected to go all out with quarterback Joe Burrow returning from injury. Should he make it out of Week 1 unscathed, Cincinnati should be pedal to the metal when they come to town.
Then there is the matchup with the Indianapolis Colts, who fell apart after starting the season 8-2. Count on the Colts to go all out to beat the Texans.
Houston’s schedule does not come with many pitfalls. Most of the team’s toughest opponents outside of Buffalo and the Jacksonville Jaguars bring promise more than production from last year. But the first three games will test the Texans’ mettle. If they end the three-game stretch with more wins than losses, a No. 1 seed in the AFC is within reach.