The crazy part of the Houston Texans 2024 schedule is just around the corner

Because it's an odd number of games, there's really no intermediate point in a 17-game NFL season to evaluate and comment on things (unless you do that at halftime of the ninth game, I suppose). on, but that would be strange). So if you feel like making a mid-season report card or prediction, you can do so after eight or nine games of your choosing.

For me, the Texans' season is in the middle. I like to divide the schedule into sections based on various factors. The first eight games of the Texans' 2024 schedule looked a lot like most of the last few seasons. Sunday at seven noon begins with a Sunday night game inserted into Week 2. My hope (and prediction) was that the Texans would go 6-2 in those eight games. That's exactly what they did.

The reason I put the metaphorical dotted line between Week 8 and Week 9 is because the Texans' schedule is now in turmoil. For eight weeks we've been on the easy part of the rollercoaster ride with some gentle waves, but now comes the triple loop-the-loop and the 150-foot drop, complete with multiple primetime games OVER THE NEXT THREE WEEKS as a series of three games in 11 days, culminating at Christmas! This is a football lid trip, man! Take a look:

REMAINING SCHEDULE

WEEK 9: at Jets (TNF)
WEEK 10: vs. Lions (SNF)
WEEK 11: at Cowboys (MNF)
WEEK 12: vs. Titans
WEEK 13: at Jaguars
WEEK 14: Bye
WEEK 15: vs. Dolphins
WEEK 16: at Chiefs (Saturday)
WEEK 17: vs. Ravens (Christmas Day)
WEEK 18: at Titans

At 6-2 overall, 5-0 in the AFC, 3-0 in the division, and a head-to-head win over the Bills, the Texans are in an enviable and fantastic position right now. More on that in a moment. Let’s dive into this crazy carnival schedule for a few paragraphs, shall we?

Three games in a row in prime time starting Thursday
The Houston Texans went nearly two years without a Thursday night game before this season and nearly five years without a Sunday or Monday night game. They had their only game on Sunday night against the Bears in Week 2, but now we get all three – Thursday, Sunday and Monday nights – within two weeks. I always thought this would be the track that decided the season. Even with the Jets at 2-6 and the Cowboys at 3-4, the fact that both games are on the road is still disheartening. After three years of virtually EVERYTHING starting at midday on Sunday, three primetime games in a row is like sending a teetotaler on a hardcore whiskey drinker.

Three games in 11 days, the highlight being Christmas
After three primetime games, the Texans take a few breathers against the Titans and Jaguars before a bye in Week 14. After that comes the next loop-the-loop – three games in eleven days, which also include the Dolphins at home, followed by games against the Chiefs and Ravens within four days. The Ravens game is on Christmas Day at NRG Stadium. The two most recent MVPs are with the Chiefs and Ravens, with Patrick Mahomes (2022) and Lamar Jackson (2023). If you include the Jets game and Aaron Rodgers, the Texans are actually facing the last MVP award winners in the SIX league, as Rodgers, Mahomes and Jackson have all won twice since 2017.

The opposing quarterback's game is turned up
As you can see from the previous paragraph, the Texans move up significantly in weight class relative to opposing quarterbacks in the second half of the season. Jared Goff (Detroit, Week 10) is a top MVP candidate this season. Dak Prescott (Dallas, Week 11) was the MVP runner-up last season. Tua Tagovailoa (Miami, Week 15) is back from his concussion, and if he stays healthy through Week 15, the Dolphins will be a much different operation than the one that struggled to score ten points per game with Tua out. And these are the guys NOT named Mahomes or Jackson!

The reality is actually really good
While this all looks much more difficult, the Texans' situation is a reality. They are currently at the top of all division leaders. They are 6-2 overall, 5-0 in the AFC, 3-0 in the division, winning against their second-place division rival this season and winning straight against the Bills, who are also 6-2 in their division. Let's say the Texans go 4-5, matching their 10-7 record from a year ago. The Colts would need to go 7-2 to win the division. That doesn't happen. Get ready for more postseason football in Houston in January, folks!

Listen to Sean Pendergast weekdays from 6 a.m. to 10 a.m. on SportsRadio 610. Also follow him on Twitter at twitter.com/SeanTPendergaston Instagram at instagram.com/sean.pendergast and like him on Facebook at facebook.com/SeanTPendergast.