Houston Texans 2026 NFL season preview, analysis and predictions

Demeco Ryan enters his fourth year in charge of the Houston Texans, and Will Anderson has already told reporters that Houston’s goal is evident: Win the Super Bowl.

The Texans are 32-19 in three seasons under Ryan, but each year has ended in a Divisional Round defeat. While the defence has shown up, QB C.J. Stroud hasn’t lived up to expectations after an elite rookie season. Will this be the season that the Ohio State product gets back to form, or is Houston set for more postseason disappointment?

I’ll break it all down in my Houston Texans season preview, so let’s start with a few futures markets.

Don’t forget to check out Sports Interaction’s complete list of NFL game odds and NFL futures.

Houston Texans NFL futures

The Texans carry the shortest odds to win the AFC South, but you can also bet on these futures for Houston this season:

• Win the Super Bowl (+1800)
• Win the AFC (+850)
• No. 1 seed in the AFC (+850)
• Win the AFC South (+110)
• Make the playoffs (-180)
• Regular season wins: Over 9.5 (-145) | Under 9.5 (+125)

This team will win games as long as its defence is healthy, and you can bet on these futures before the season gets underway:

• Will Anderson Jr. Defensive Player of the Year (+700)
• Danielle Hunter Defensive Player of the Year (+2500)
• C.J. Stroud MVP (+5000)

Houston Texans squad strengths

The Houston Texans’ biggest strength last season was their defence, and that will be the case once again. Houston led the league in yards allowed per game (277.2) and was second in points allowed per game (17.2). Will Anderson Jr. and Danielle Hunter are back leading the defence, and they didn’t have a single notable departure on that side of the football. They will be one of the NFL’s best units once again this season, and there isn’t a team in the league that will look forward to facing them.

Another major strength for Houston is continuity. This season feels like a closing window for Houston, as multiple key players are due for contracts next offseason. However, the same pieces from last season are back, and Stroud should improve in his second season with offensive coordinator Nick Caley. He’ll have WR Nico Collins back as his main target, and although RB David Montgomery is making his debut season in Houston, he’s an NFL veteran and should settle in quickly. 

Houston Texans squad weaknesses

The Houston Texans’ biggest weakness will once again be their offence, specifically, their passing game. Caley improved the Texans’ rushing game immensely in year one, but the passing game still struggled. Houston lacked a true home run threat, and Stroud ranked 17th among QBs with 300+ passing attempts in explosive throw percentage. If they want to be a true postseason threat, they need to get consistent play from Stroud.

The second half of Houston’s weaknesses lies with their pass protection. The Texans struggled to protect Stroud throughout last season, and they tried to improve the offensive line by drafting Keylan Rutledge with their first-round pick. Although he played left guard in college, he is in a position battle with last year’s starter, Jake Andrews, for the starting centre position. Either player won’t fix last season’s woes, and I’m not confident that Houston will do a better job of protecting Stroud this year.

C.J. Stroud to record 3,500+ passing yards (-145)

As poor as Stroud played in his first season with Caley, I expect that to change this season. The former Ohio State QB recorded 4,108 and 3,727 passing yards in his first two seasons in the NFL and can easily get back to form with a 3,500+ yard season. Collins is one of the NFL’s best wideouts, and I expect WR Jayden Higgins to make a jump this season. Expect Stroud to feed both players and easily surpass 3,500 passing yards.