Saturday, August 5, 2023

Houston Texans - 2023 NFL Season Preview

HOUSTON TEXANS                                                                                  


 

2022 Record - 3-13-1 

Head Coach - DeMeco Ryans 

 

Offensive Rank - 31st (284 YPG); Scoring - 30th (17.0 PPG)

Defensive Rank - 30th (380 YPG); Scoring - 27th (24.7 PPG)


Rookie draft pick C.J. Stroud (Ohio State) is expected to be the starting quarterback this season and Case Keenum and Davis Mills will provide backup. Mills threw for 3,118 yards last season with 17 touchdowns and 15 interceptions. Dameon Pierce (939 rushing yards, 4.3 YPC, four TD) and Devin Singletary (819, 4.6 YPC, five TD with Buffalo) are the running backs and the tight end is Dalton Schultz, who had 57 receptions for 577 yards and five touchdowns with Dallas. Robert Woods (53, 527, two TD with Tennessee), Nico Collins (37, 481, two TD), John Metchie III and rookies Tank Dell (Houston) and Xavier Hutchinson (Iowa State) are among the wide receivers. 

The defense will add two rookies up front with defensive ends Will Anderson, Jr. (Alabama) and Dylan Horton (TCU) along with Jerry Hughes (team high nine sacks in 2022) and tackles Maliek Collins and Sheldon Rankins. Denzel Perryman (two interceptions) comes over the Raiders and will be at linebacker along with Christian Harris. The secondary features safety Jalen Pitre, who had five interceptions last year, along with Jimmie Ward and corners Steven Nelson and Derek Stingley, Jr. 


OUTLOOK FOR 2023 - The new Head Coach is DeMeco Ryans this season. The Texans have been in rebuilding mode for the past two seasons and will have a rookie starting at quarterback along with new faces in the backfield and at wide receiver. The running game definitely needs to improve after averaging just 87 yards per game (31st in NFL) last season. Stroud will likely take his lumps as a rookie quarterback, but he has the talent to make a difference as he gets experience under center.

On defense, the Texans will look to get the pressure on opposing quarterbacks with an infusion of free agents and the two rookie draft picks. The pass defense was 10th overall last year while the run defense was the worst in pro football, allowing 170 yards per game. There are many question marks for this team heading into the 2023 season and if the youngsters can get things going as the season goes along, it could make for a better outcome at season's end.

 

TEAM SCHEDULE 

Week One - at Baltimore 

Week Two - vs. Indianapolis 

Week Three - at Jacksonville 

Week Four - vs. Pittsburgh 

Week Five - at Atlanta 

Week Six - vs. New Orleans 

Week Seven - BYE 

Week Eight - at Carolina 

Week Nine - vs. Tampa Bay 

Week Ten - at Cincinnati

Week Eleven - vs. Arizona 

Week Twelve - vs. Jacksonville 

Week Thirteen - vs. Denver 

Week Fourteen - at N.Y. Jets 

Week Fifteen - at Tennessee 

Week Sixteen - vs. Cleveland 

Week Seventeen - vs. Tennessee 

Week Eighteen - at Indianapolis 



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