Houston Texans won’t go 0-17, but they’ll come close
The Houston Texans have one of the worst rosters in recent memory, and it’ll likely land them the No. 1 overall pick in 2022.
It’s going to be a long, long year in Houston.
The Houston Texans were in the AFC Divisional round two years ago, leading the Kansas City Chiefs 24-0 in the second quarter at Arrowhead Stadium. The roster was adorned with such stars as quarterback Deshaun Watson, receivers Will Fuller and DeAndre Hopkins, and edge rusher J.J. Watt.
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If the Texans won, they would host the franchise’s first-ever AFC Championship Game, taking on the Tennessee Titans. Everything was lining up for the youngest franchise in the league.
Kansas City outscored Houston 51-7 the rest of the way.
Fast forward to today, and the team is unrecognizable from that group. Watt and Hopkins play with the Arizona Cardinals, while Fuller joined the Miami Dolphins this offseason in free agency. Watson remains with the club but only officially, as he has requested a trade but can’t get one, largely because he is facing 22 civil suits and criminal complaints for alleged sexual assault.
Houston went 4-12 last year ands awarded the No. 3 overall pick in the 2021 NFL Draft, but it belonged to Miami after it was sent there as part of the deal for left tackle Laremy Tunsil. The Texans also relinquished their second-round pick in the same acquisition.
Read: Dolphins’ Brian Flores Adamantly States Tua Tagovailoa ‘Is Our Quarterback’
All of this madness leaves the Texans with a 65-year-old, first-time head coach in David Culley, who is overseeing the worst roster in recent times. Tyrod Taylor is the unlucky soul starting at quarterback, surrounded by receivers  who outside of Brandin Cooks are Chris Conley, Anthony Miller and Andre Roberts. Phillip Lindsay is a nice running back, but from a weaponry standpoint, there’s quite little.
Defensively, the news is worse. Edge rusher Whitney Mercilus, linebacker Zach Cunningham and safety Justin Reid are the unit’s only plus players on a group which will be on the field plenty. It’s a horrible combination, and one that will lead to a bevy of blowout defeats.
If there’s any silver lining — beyond drafting highly next year — is the schedule. Houston might have its best shot at a win in Week 1, welcoming in the Jacksonville Jaguars. Of course, Jacksonville is coming off a 1-15 campaign in which it lost its final 15 contests.
No matter the record, it would be shocking to see Houston have a respectable season, less than two full years from being a few quarters from hosting the conference title game.
