Back in the pre-web days, you'd look forward to this time of year when the preseason NFL and College Football magazines would come out. The covers featured the best players and it got you pumped for the upcoming season.
Now, just about every website puts out way-too-early predictions, even before the draft. Then they revise them after the draft. Clicks, right?
Well, I've resisted the temptation to delve too much into predictionville. After all, I've heard it all before. There have been many times this team has been picked to have a rough year then proceed to unravel the prognosticators' arguments week by week.
I surveyed ESPN, CBS Sports, Bleacher Report, USA Today and Athlon and they all had the Texans finishing third in the AFC South. Third! I stopped looking after that.
Look, no one is saying this will be easy. In fact, I can see the argument for the Colts being a whole lot better than last year. Indy was 7th in the league in rushing but couldn't get the passing game going. They have their outstanding line back and now Phillip Rivers is throwing the ball.
The ground game shouldn't be any worse with Jonathan Taylor added to the mix. And the defense got some sacks in '19 but failed to get pressure up the middle to prevent step-up throws. Enter DeForest Buckner. I don't care what the Colts gave up for him, at the end of the day the rest of the division has to deal with him on the field. The Colts are always a big thorn and this could be a sizable bounce back year for them.
Everyone knows the Titans are in what John Harris would call run-it-back mode. With their QB and star running back returning after a huge playoff run, they'll be tough to deal with for sure. Jacksonville appears to be in a major rebuild but we all remember how close the game was at NRG Stadium last season.
An honest inventory of the Texans reveals they should be better overall. Of course these things need to be proven on the field. Predictions mean nothing. Here's hoping the players have read all the news from the doubters and are ready to prove them wrong.
We still have a long way to go and the corona-factor to this season has yet to be determined. We're all waiting to see how this campaign will look on and off the field.
To be continued…
All of the quarterbacks the Texans could face in 2020.
Minnesota Vikings quarterback Kirk Cousins (8) passes against the San Francisco 49ers during the first half of an NFL divisional playoff football game, Saturday, Jan. 11, 2020, in Santa Clara, Calif. (AP Photo/Marcio Jose Sanchez)
Seattle Seahawks' Russell Wilson warms up before an NFL divisional playoff football game against the Green Bay Packers Sunday, Jan. 12, 2020, in Green Bay, Wis. (AP Photo/Darron Cummings)
New Orleans Saints quarterback Drew Brees (9) passes in the first half of an NFL wild-card playoff football game against the Minnesota Vikings, Sunday, Jan. 5, 2020, in New Orleans. (AP Photo/Brett Duke)
Dallas Cowboys quarterback Dak Prescott (4) looks koto throw against the Washington Redskins during the first half of an NFL football game in Arlington, Texas, Sunday, Dec. 15, 2019. (AP Photo/Ron Jenkins)
Kansas City Chiefs quarterback Patrick Mahomes drops back to pass against the San Francisco 49ers during the first half of the NFL Super Bowl 54 football game Sunday, Feb. 2, 2020, in Miami Gardens, Fla. (AP Photo/Chris O'Meara)
Baltimore Ravens quarterback Lamar Jackson (8) works in the pocket against the Tennessee Titans during the first half an NFL divisional playoff football game, Saturday, Jan. 11, 2020, in Baltimore. (AP Photo/Nick Wass)
Pittsburgh Steelers quarterback Ben Roethlisberger throws a pass during the first half of a 28-26 loss to the Seattle Seahawks in an NFL football game in Pittsburgh, Sunday, Sept. 15, 2019. Roethlisberger did not play the second half of the game. (AP Photo/Gene J. Puskar)
Jacksonville Jaguars quarterback Gardner Minshew II (15) throws a pass against the Indianapolis Colts during the first half of an NFL football game, Sunday, Dec. 29, 2019, in Jacksonville, Fla. (AP Photo/Stephen B. Morton)
Tennessee Titans' Ryan Tannehill throws during the first half of the NFL AFC Championship football game against the Kansas City Chiefs Sunday, Jan. 19, 2020, in Kansas City, MO. (AP Photo/Jeff Roberson)
Green Bay Packers quarterback Aaron Rodgers passes against the San Francisco 49ers during the second half of the NFL NFC Championship football game Sunday, Jan. 19, 2020, in Santa Clara, Calif. (AP Photo/Matt York)
Cleveland Browns quarterback Baker Mayfield throws during the first half of an NFL football game against the Cincinnati Bengals, Sunday, Dec. 29, 2019, in Cincinnati. (AP Photo/Bryan Woolston)
New England Patriots quarterback Jarrett Stidham warms up before an NFL football game, Sunday, Sept. 29, 2019, in Orchard Park, N.Y. (AP Photo/Ron Schwane)
Los Angeles Chargers quarterback Phillip Rivers in action during the second half of an NFL football game against the Oakland Raiders in Carson, Calif., Sunday, Dec. 22, 2019. (AP Photo/Kelvin Kuo)
Chicago Bears quarterback Mitchell Trubisky throws a pass during the first half of an NFL football game against the Minnesota Vikings, Sunday, Dec. 29, 2019, in Minneapolis. (AP Photo/Andy Clayton-King)
FILE - In this Jan. 13, 2020, file photo, LSU quarterback Joe Burrow throws a pass against Clemson during the second half of the NCAA College Football Playoff national championship game in New Orleans. No. 1 overall pick Burrow and the rest of the rookie class will begin preparing for their first seasons in the NFL at home instead of at minicamps and team facilities this month. (AP Photo/Gerald Herbert, File)
