After a few seasons of futility, the Houston Texans made a breakthrough by winning a playoff game last year. C.J. Stroud's playing like a franchise quarterback helped the team transform from cellar dwellers to legitimate contenders.
The Texans went all in this offseason by surrounding Stroud with incredible talent. However, that’s only a part of the story because they are starting their preparations earlier than other teams. As ESPN NFL insider Adam Schefter tweeted, the Texans had rookies and veterans report to training camp on July 17. Typically, the rookies report earlier than the veterans or report at the same time but later in July.
However, the Texans are mixing things up by starting their preparations early because they have high expectations for 2024. They have enough talent to compete against other top contenders, especially the two-time defending Super Bowl champions Kansas City Chiefs.
Stroud will have a star-studded roster playing around him, starting with All-Pro wide receiver Stefon Diggs. He is a massive acquisition for a team with dependable targets in Nico Collins and Tank Dell. The Texans also bolstered their ground attack by adding Joe Mixon.
Last season C.J. Stroud became the 8th rookie starting QB since 1950 to win a playoff game. Good news for Houston? Five of the previous seven QBs also won a playoff game their second season and two of them, Ben Roethlisberger and Russell Wilson, won the Super Bowl, per @EpKap. https://t.co/EqLLpI6fkE
— Adam Schefter (@AdamSchefter) July 17, 2024
Meanwhile, they brought reliable defensive players in Danielle Hunter, Denico Autry, and Azeez Al-Shaair. These players will lead the charge in the Texans’ quest for their first Super Bowl title. Luckily for Houston, history might also be on their side because five of the eight QBs who won a playoff game in their rookie season earned a postseason victory in their second season.
But after reaching last season’s Divisional Round, the Texans are striving for more, especially a Super Bowl appearance.
-Lance Fernandez