Why the Texans being pigeonholed in early game window is a benefit
The Houston Texans don’t have any prime time games on the 2023 schedule.
For the first time since 2006, and the third time in franchise history, the Texans will not be playing a game with a kickoff time after 7:00 p.m. Eastern Time.
In fact, all but one of the Texans’ 16 games has a kickoff time other than 1:00 p.m. Eastern. Other than the TV network being either CBS or FOX, Houston sports fans will have the most predictable NFL Sundays this fall.
Former St. Louis Rams coach Mike Martz told the 33rd Team he used to dread looking at the schedule because of the short weeks due to prime time games, particularly Monday Night Football. By the time Martz was an offensive coordinator with the Chicago Bears from 2010-11, Thursday Night Football was becoming more prevalent.
The other thing I never liked to see was traveling on a short week. Those are the things that would really bother me. You’d play a game on Sunday and then have to play a Thursday night game across the country, that’s hard on everybody.
With the NFL not giving all 32 teams a Thursday night game this season, it gives the Texans a chance to build a steady workflow throughout the week.
New coach DeMeco Ryans wouldn’t take the cheese and say the team was using it as extra motivation.
“For me, it’s not about showing the NFL anything,” Ryans said at rookie minicamp May 12. “It’s about us as a team just going out, working, and when you humble yourself and you work, you put your head down and work, you’re deserving of those things, then they’ll come to you. So that’s what it does for me, the internal motivation as opposed to external.”
As a coach, Ryans has to appreciate the fact the team won’t be balancing hectic travel schedules as they play in an assortment of prime time affairs. There are no short weeks or long layoffs. Ryans’ team simply just has to show up on Sundays.
While the Texans may not have been scheduled any prime time affairs, it is still possible for them to play in such contests. After Week 11, the NFL will flex more compelling games into Sunday Night Football. If the Texans are looking like a playoff team, and their opponent is equally as interesting, don’t be surprised if Houston gets at least one prime time game.
