Now, officially less than 3 months away from the start of the 2023-24 NFL season, anticipation is building among Houston Texans fans.
In the offseason, Houston not only got its money’s worth from the draft, bringing in a very no-nonsense prospect on both sides of the ball to go along with strong players, but it also upgraded its free-agent roster.
Coach DeMeco Ryans has spearheaded the positive replacement of the power surrounding the young team, and if backup quarterback Case Keenum’s testimony is any indication, things are fine in Houston.
“It’s a time to sign up for the Houston Texans organization,” the veteran said. “You can feel the excitement [around] DeMeco Ryans. . . [and] you can feel the little pulse coming back. “
With a fresh look, literally, the Texans are poised to have another good luck on the field or, as the No. 33 team suggested, they can simply be the wonder team of the AFC South.
“Robert Woods’ comments during the offseason about the Houston Texans’ similarity to the Los Angeles Rams team he was a part of when they exceeded expectations are revealing,” the site wrote. “He talked about global acceptance and his good fortune when no one expected it. “
“When you have a young team, if everyone buys into the vision and everyone pushes in the same direction, something has a price. “
It’s already evident that the players have accepted Ryans’ mentality. They love it and need to play better because of the way you relate to them. But the Texans also have a new arsenal of weapons on both ends of the ball, adding C. J. Stroud. , Will Anderson Jr. , Dalton Schultz, and Jimmie Ward, as he fired some of his key members to round out his roster.
But what about AFC South teams?
Tennessee is in a wonderful place. ESPN’s recent NFL offseason ratings are a testament to that, calling the Titans the team with the worst offseason in the league.
In part, it’s easy to see why.
Selecting another backup quarterback for Well Levis a year after hiring Malik Willis wasn’t exactly a productive choice. Derrick Henry continues to dominate the NFL’s running game, but without more pieces around him, it looks like the Titans will continue to sail below average. .
Indianapolis is also in trouble. The Colts have had another starting quarterback in the past five seasons and are expected to make six next year with the addition of Anthony Richardson.
In the backfield, Jonathan Taylor, the running back many enthusiasts put over Derrick Henry in the MVP race two seasons ago, has struggled all year due to injury. He hasn’t reached the 1,000-yard mark and will have to recover. Next time we’ll have a healthy year, but the offensive line will want some work, which doesn’t bode well.
Indianapolis also sits at the back of ESPN’s offseason standings, and having managed to win just one more game than the Texans at the back last season without having to “take care of premium positions on their roster,” Houston turns out to be a lot further away. next season.
That said, the Texans arguably won’t be the most productive team in the AFC South next season. The Jaguars are on an upward trajectory led by quarterback Trevor Lawrence. The second-year rising star finished the season in the top 10 in passing yards and touchdowns, while Travis Etienne Jr. rushed for just 10 rushing yards, making him a high-powered offense.
Wide receiver Calvin Ridley is also expected to return to the NFL after missing all of last season due to suspension, joining Zay Jones and Christian Kirk. So, with the Jaguars in position to send their young core back, they’ll be a risk to the AFC, and even a playoff contender, but after last season, that wouldn’t be surprising.
That’s what probably makes Houston the most disappointed team in the department. It’s entirely possible that they will find themselves among the two most sensible in the department’s standings this year, and if their new game plan goes well, they may even become a wonder team in the AFC Conference.
“[Houston] can get wins that no one expects,” the No. 33 team wrote. “Every game the Texans play, [other teams] are probably thinking, ‘This is our offseason,’ [which] makes them more dangerous. “
The Texans will open their 2023-24 season by visiting the Baltimore Ravens on Sunday, Sept. 10.
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Texas-based, Missouri-educated, and deeply passionate storyteller Matt Guzman is a 19-year-old NFL reporter covering the Houston Texans for SI/FanNation.