Going through the early part of the Texans schedule on Friday during Texans Training Camp Live presented by Xfinity, I couldn't help but compare the start of the Texans 2020 and 2021 seasons. The first thing that stood out was the difference in the starting quarterbacks that the Texans faced in 2020 vs. what they could be facing to start the 2021 season.

In 2020 through the first six games:
Week 1 @ Kansas City - Patrick Mahomes
Two Super Bowl trips
One Super Bowl championship
One league MVP
Three trips to the Pro Bowl

Week 2 vs. Baltimore - Lamar Jackson
One league MVP
One trip to the Pro Bowl
Two trips to divisional round playoffs

Week 3 @ Pittsburgh - Ben Roethlisberger
Two Super Bowl rings
Three trips to the Super Bowl (2-1 in those games)
Seven time Pro Bowler
Led league in passing twice

Week 4 vs. Minnesota - Kirk Cousins
Two time Pro Bowler
Week five v. Jacksonville - Gardner Minshew
Week six @ Tennessee - Ryan Tannehill
NFL Comeback Player of the Year in 2019
One time Pro Bowler
Led Tennessee to the AFC South title in 2020

As we know, the Texans finished 1-5 in those games. Now take a look at the first six games of the 2021 season at the quarterback position:

Week 1 vs. Jacksonville - Trevor Lawrence
Never started a game in the NFL

Week 2 @ Cleveland - Baker Mayfield
2018 PFWA Rookie of the Year
One playoff win at Pittsburgh in 2020

Week 3 vs. Carolina - Sam Darnold
Second team for the former overall No. 3 pick - would be just third game as a Panther

Week 4 @ Buffalo - Josh Allen
Led Bills to the AFC Championship game
Pro Bowler and 2nd team All-Pro in 2020

Week 5 vs. New England - Cam Newton or Mac Jones
Newton had two lowest passing totals the last two years, missed most of 2019
Jones would be in his fifth start, at most, in the NFL

Week 6 @ Indianapolis - Carson Wentz, Jacob Eason or Wild Card
Wentz had surgery on a foot and the earliest he can be back is week one. As such, he'd have just five starts under his belt as a member of the Colts prior to week six.
In his second season, Eason has never played an NFL down
Wild card is just that a wild unknown

So in summation, the six quarterbacks the Texans faced to start the 2020 season:

• Two Super Bowl champions, three total rings
• Five Super Bowl appearances
• Two lead teams to the AFC championship game
• Two league MVPs
• Five Pro Bowlers - 14 total Pro Bowls
• Two league passing leaders

This year?

• No Super Bowl champions
• No Super Bowl appearances
• Two led teams to AFC/NFC championship game - one if Cam doesn't start in New England
• Three Pro Bowlers if Cam starts for the Patriots and Wentz for the Colts
• One Pro Bowler if neither starts in those two locales
• Three potential NFL first timers if Cam, Wentz don't start

There were many reasons to fear the start of the 2020 campaign, but the Murderer's Row of quarterbacks to start the year was at the top of the list. That is not as prevalent in 2021 and the Texans defense needs to take advantage of some potential young players, depending on health and other reasons, in these first six games of the 2021 season.