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          NFL Nation

          Houston Texans schedule 2023: Takeaways, predictions

          • DJ Bien-Aime, ESPNMay 12, 2023, 12:22 AM
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              DJ Bien-Aime covers the Houston Texans for ESPN. He joined ESPN in July of 2022 after covering the New York Jets. He's a former athlete who finished his college career at Louisville. You can catch DJ on ESPN Radio on his show, "Talkin' Texans."
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          HOUSTON -- The Houston Texans' 2023 schedule and the rest of the NFL schedules were released Thursday.

          First-year coach DeMeco Ryans leads the new-look Texans and will make his coaching debut on the road against the Baltimore Ravens and former MVP quarterback Lamar Jackson. Rookie head coaches went 4-1 in Week 1 last season after logging a combined record of 4-15-1 from 2018-21. Rookie quarterback C.J. Stroud, the 2023 No. 2 draft pick, will also look to make his season debut for Houston, as well as the No. 3 pick, defensive end Will Anderson Jr.

          One noteworthy game will be when the Texans face the Carolina Panthers in Week 8 in a showdown between the top two picks of the 2023 NFL draft. The Panthers took quarterback Bryce Young with the No. 1 pick. The Texans' bye week will be during Week 7.

          Here's what's in store for the Texans:

          Schedule

          Sept. 10: at Baltimore

          Sept. 17: vs. Indianapolis

          Sept. 24: at Jacksonville

          Oct. 1: vs. Pittsburgh

          Oct. 8: at Atlanta

          Oct. 15: vs. New Orleans

          Oct. 22: Bye

          Oct. 29: at Carolina

          Nov. 5: vs. Tampa Bay

          Nov. 12: at Cincinnati

          Nov. 19: vs. Arizona

          Nov. 26: vs. Jacksonville

          Dec. 3: vs. Denver

          Dec. 10: at New York Jets

          Dec. 17: at Tennessee

          Dec. 24: vs. Cleveland

          Dec. 31: vs. Tennessee

          Week 18: TBD at Indianapolis

          Strength of schedule: Third easiest, .432.

          Over/Under: 5.5

          Biggest takeaway

          The intrigue heightens whenever quarterbacks from the same draft class face off. The teams that took the first four quarterbacks in the draft will all face off. Beyond the potential battle between No. 1 and No. 2 with the Panthers, the Texans will face the Indianapolis Colts twice (selected No. 4 pick Anthony Richardson) in Weeks 2 and 18 and the Tennessee Titans twice (selected No. 33 Will Levis) in Weeks 15 and 17.

          Revenge game

          Houston gets another chance against the Browns and its former quarterback Deshaun Watson in Week 16. Last season, Watson returned to football against the Texans at NRG Stadium in Week 13 after being suspended for 11 games after he was accused by more than two dozen women of sexual misconduct during massage sessions. The Browns won 27-14 as Watson went 12-for-22 for 131 yards and an interception against the team that selected him No. 12 overall in 2017.

          Bold prediction

          After concluding the 2022 season with a 3-13-1 record, the Texans will win at least six games in 2023. The Texans added more talent to their offensive line, defensive line and quarterback room this offseason. Their chances to surpass last year’s win total is bolstered by games against three teams projected to win fewer than seven games: the Tampa Bay Buccaneers, Colts and Cardinals.