12-05-2025
Houston Texans schedule 2025: Predictions, picks ahead of NFL schedule release
Houston Texans schedule 2025: Predictions, picks ahead of NFL schedule release
The 2025 NFL schedule release is just days away, and Houston Texans fans are about to find out what awaits the back-to-back AFC South champions this season.
The Texans are coming off another 10-7 finish behind the duo of DeMeco Ryans and C.J. Stroud. While Houston might have won another AFC South crown, it was expected to make a jump into a contention threat for 2025, but finished with the same record despite spending over $70 million in free agency. There's hope on the horizon with the hiring of new offensive coordinator Nick Caley, but everything falls in line based on the offensive line.
Houston's roster boasts ample talent, including a former Offensive Rookie of the Year in Stroud, receivers Nico Collins, Christian Kirk and Jayden Higgins, tight end Dalton Schultz, as well as All-Pro cornerback Derek Stingley Jr., defensive backs Calen Bullock, C.J. Gardner-Johnson and Kamari Lassiter, defensive tackles Danielle Hunter, Will Anderson Jr. and linebacker Azeez Al-Shaair.
Here's what we know about the 2025 NFL schedule release date.
Buy Houston Texans tickets for 2025
Houston Texans opponents 2025
The Texans will play the NFC West, AFC East and their fellow AFC South teams twice.
HOME: Indianapolis Colts, Tennessee Titans, Jacksonville Jaguars, Denver Broncos, Las Vegas Raiders, Arizona Cardinals, San Francisco 49ers, Buffalo Bills, Tampa Bay Buccaneers
AWAY: Indianapolis Colts, Tennessee Titans, Jacksonville Jaguars, Kansas City Chiefs, Los Angeles Chargers, Los Angeles Rams, Seattle Seahawks, Baltimore Ravens
Texans strength of schedule
The Texans have one of the easiest schedules next season. Houston's 2025 opponents hold a combined win-loss record of 124-114 (.521), ranking as the 25th-most difficult in the NFL. The Texans face the fourth-toughest schedule in the AFC South, trailing the Jaguars (sixth-toughest), Titans (eighth-toughest) and Colts (12th-toughest).
Texans prime time games
The NFL limits teams to six prime-time games in a regular season, meaning the Texans are probably in a lock for three or four games. Houston should have a chance to take on the Bills or Chiefs either on Sunday night or on ESPN's Monday Night Football. There's a chance for a rematch of last season's AFC Wild-Card Round against Los Angeles on Amazon Prime. Other likely prime-time matchups include the Bucaneers, Rams, Seahawks and potentially Jagaurs if Trevor Lawrence and Travis Hunter hold up their end of the bargain.
Buy Houston Texans tickets for 2025
Texans record prediction 2025
Record prediction: 11-6
Despite strong drafts from Tennessee and Jacksonville, Houston remains the top team in the AFC South entering the summer. Stroud, under the direction of new offensive coordinator Caley, should take a step forward due to the arrival of Jayden Higgins, Jaylin Noel and veteran slot receiver Christian Kirk.
The Texans went 5-1 in the AFC South in 2024. Maybe instead of losing to the Titans, Houston drops a home game against Jacksonville. Even 6-0 isn't far-fetched when considering the status of all three AFC South quarterbacks.
Houston will also face the AFC West and NFC West in non-divisional play, though, which is a tough slate of games. Three AFC West teams made the playoffs in 2024, but the NFC West could be tougher in 2025 with improvements in Arizona and Seattle.
If the defense takes a step forward, Houston could be a top-three unit in the sport. The offense should also take a step forward under Caley with lots of investment via the draft. Add all that up, even if Houston loses six games in non-conference games, so long as it wins four and goes 5-1 in conference play, a third championship is in play.
