Even though you knew the teams that would be on it, the release of the schedule still feels like a surprise. The 2007 campaign has a prime time national game with the Dec. 13 prime time battle with Gary Kubiak's former employer, Denver. Vince Young is back at Reliant Oct. 21 as the Texans look for revenge from the O.T. loss last year. Reggie Bush and the Saints visit Nov. 18. Plus, could David Carr be quarterbacking Carolina by Week 2 when the Texans visit the Panthers?
Matt Schaub takes on his former team when Houston plays Michael Vick and the Falcons September 30. There's a home date with Miami and a road game with Oakland. The Texans are 2-0 against each one of these teams making them the only squads Houston is undefeated against in multiple meetings.
The Oakland game is the second half of a back-to-back on the west coast starting with San Diego Oct. 28. Of course there's another battle with Cleveland. It will be the fifth meeting, far and away the most played non-divisional opponent in Texans history.
This is a much kinder road schedule than last year when the Texans played a 6 of 8 game stretch away from Reliant and three in a row on the road at one point. The unfriendly part is spending nearly a month away from home from Oct. 21 through November 18 because of two road games and a bye. It's a total run of four of five away from home but the bye makes it more digestable.
Gary Kubiak quickly pointed out that the home opener and closer are nice to have. Plus the fact that three of the last four are at Reliant Stadium could be helpful if the team is making a postseason push. Most coaches will tell you that there is no way to tell how a schedule will play out. Atlanta and Carolina look beatable based on last year but who knows? You certainly like having New Orleans at home and don't like facing San Diego at their place. The bottom line is with some luck in the health department this could be the best Texans season ever. But we have a long way to go before we can safely predict anything.
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