2011 Schedule released

[Nconroe]

Yeah, if see 32nd ranked defense, hard to be optimistic. but, it is the optimistic time of year. some teams go from 3-13 to playoffs the next so can dream for a while, first six games are kind of brutal,

[painekiller]

I can really see us going 0-6 to start the season, and Bob will still be saying Gary is really getting close.

Please!!!

This is a brutal schedule, and the Texans need to start fast and maintain it, something a Kubiak run team has never done.

[Fonz the Boss]

This is our year guys!!! We will win the division... you heard it here first

[TheMatrix31]

Brutal start.....all-too-early prediction would see the team at 9-7 overall.

[Joshua]

Second thoughts, the first month would be brutal in a regular year but will be incredibly brutal if the lockout stretches into training camp. Indy, NO and Pitt. all have offenses which will likely be able to play at a pretty high level even if there is no training camp. They're offensive units have been pretty stable over the last few years and I don't see any of them needing to integrate any major pieces into their offenses. Any minor issues will likely be covered up by Peyton, Brees, and Big Ben. Looking at the remainder of the schedule, those are easily the 3 worst offenses/QBs to face the first month. Throw in the fact that we're trying to put a brand new 3-4 on the field and it could get ugly. If the lockout goes long enough, we may not even have much of the D installed and will have to play base D (heck, the guys may not even know the terminology yet). Those guys will pick us apart if that's the case.

[HPF Bob]

What concerns me is an early stretch of very physical (dirty) teams all in a row - Steelers, Raiders, Ravens and possibly Titans and how many guys will land on IR from it, particularly if we have a shortened camp and a final exhibition game in the unrepaired Metrosexualdome.

The best news might be if the lockout lasts into October or the NFL puts on scab teams for the first six weeks as we'll miss the toughest part of our schedule or be on equal terms with a lot of scab teams then have our real players come back for the second half.

[Warren]

Originally Posted by HPF Bob

The best news might be if the lockout lasts into October or the NFL puts on scab teams for the first six weeks as we'll miss the toughest part of our schedule or be on equal terms with a lot of scab teams then have our real players come back for the second half.

If there's scabs then the Texans ought to have an advantage -- think of all those recent Texan players who are out of football. They've been building a potential scab roster for years now.

Weeks 2 and 4 appear to have been set up to be "droppable" if necessary: no division games, no byes, and the teams that play on the road in Week 2 are home in Week 4. So the Dolphins and Steelers would likely be the first games to go.

[Warren]

And each team has the same bye week as its Week 3 opponent, so if the season needs to be compressed that could be done by skipping Week 3 and moving those games to the various bye weeks.

So, if necessary, the NFL could shave the 16-game/17-week season down to a 14-game/14-week version without throwing the schedule too far out of whack (no division games lost, all teams have equal number of home/away games, only one game per team moved). Under that scenario, the Texans' schedule would look like this:

1. Colts
2. Raiders (@ Dolphins cancelled)
3. @ Ravens (@ Saints moved to bye)
4. @ Titans (Steelers cancelled)
5. Jaguars
6. Browns
7. @ Bucs
8. @ Saints (no bye, moved from Week 3)
9. @ Jaguars
10. Falcons
11. @ Bengals
12. Panthers
13. @ Colts
14. Titans

[TheMatrix31]

Originally Posted by Joshua

Second thoughts, the first month would be brutal in a regular year but will be incredibly brutal if the lockout stretches into training camp. Indy, NO and Pitt. all have offenses which will likely be able to play at a pretty high level even if there is no training camp. They're offensive units have been pretty stable over the last few years and I don't see any of them needing to integrate any major pieces into their offenses. Any minor issues will likely be covered up by Peyton, Brees, and Big Ben. Looking at the remainder of the schedule, those are easily the 3 worst offenses/QBs to face the first month. Throw in the fact that we're trying to put a brand new 3-4 on the field and it could get ugly. If the lockout goes long enough, we may not even have much of the D installed and will have to play base D (heck, the guys may not even know the terminology yet). Those guys will pick us apart if that's the case.

Our offense is no slouch either. Those games will just be shootouts.