The Texans' 2008 schedule was released today by the NFL. In addition to the six games against division foes, Houston will square off against each team from the NFC and AFC North divisions.
The Texans will play the first Monday Night Football game in franchise history when they entertain the Jacksonville Jaguars in Week 13 on Monday, December 1. They also will face the Oakland Raiders from the AFC West and Miami Dolphins from the AFC East.
General Schedule Notes
- Houston opens on the road for the third time in seven years and the first time since 2005.
- The Texans end the season at home for sixth time in seven years and for the third consecutive season.
- Houston begins the season against an AFC North opponent for the first time in team history.
- Houston opens with three of the first four games on the road, but closes with three of the last five at home.
- The Texans will make their first trips to two NFL cities this year, going to Minnesota to play the Vikings (11/2) and to Green Bay to take on the Packers (12/7). Once the Texans travel to Green Bay, they will have played in every NFL city in either preseason or regular season action at least once.
- Philadelphia's Lincoln Financial Field will be the only NFL stadium in which the Texans have not played; Houston played the Eagles at Veterans Stadium in 2002.
- The Texans' home opener versus Baltimore at 3:15 p.m. is the latest start time for a home opener since the franchise's first-ever game against Dallas in 2002 began at 7:35 p.m.
- The Texans close the season versus an NFC opponent for the second time in team history (at San Francisco, 2005) and the first time at home.
- Houston will play three consecutive home games for the first time in team history when they host Indianapolis (10/5), Miami (10/12) and Detroit (10/19) on consecutive Sundays.
- Houston plays a team-record three road games in September, opening with three of the first four games away from home.
- Houston plays a team-record three games in the 3:00 p.m. time slot. The Texans' two late afternoon home games are also a team record. Houston played in the late afternoon time slot twice last year, at San Diego and at Oakland.
- Chicago, Miami and Oakland are three of five teams to whom the Texans have never lost, joining Arizona (1-0) and Carolina (2-0).
Monday Night Notes
- The Texans will host the team's first-ever regular season Monday Night Football game when Jacksonville comes to Houston on Monday, December 1. Houston's inaugural preseason game vs. the New York Giants in the Hall of Fame Game was on a Monday night in 2002.
- The Monday night contest will be the first in the city of Houston since November 21, 1994 when the Houston Oilers played the New York Giants.
- The Monday night game will be the 15th Monday Night Football game in Houston history.
- Houston's bye week is the second-latest in franchise history, coming in the eighth week of the season. Last year, the Texans' bye was in Week 10.
- The game will be the sixth prime-time game in Texans history. Houston has played on Saturday night four times (Dallas, 2002; Green Bay, 2004; at Seattle, 2005; Kansas City, 2005) and once on Thursday night (Denver, 2007).
AFC South Notes
- The Texans play their three division opponents in consecutive games for the first time in franchise history when they play at Tennessee (9/21), at Jacksonville (9/28) and host Indianapolis (10/5) in successive weeks.
- Houston's cumulative record against division opponents is 10-26 all-time. The Texans are 7-5 against Jacksonville, 2-10 versus Tennessee and 1-11 against Indianapolis.
- The Texans are 4-2 against Jacksonville at Reliant Stadium.
- Houston will make its first appearance in Lucas Oil Stadium, the new home of the Indianapolis Colts, on November 16.
AFC North Notes
- The Texans will look to improve on their record against the AFC North. Houston is 3-9 all-time against the division.
- This will be the first time the Texans open the season with back-to-back games against teams from the same division (at Pittsburgh and vs. Baltimore, AFC North).
- The Texans play at Pittsburgh for the second time in team history. Houston defeated the Steelers 24-6 in 2002.
- Houston will be looking for its first wins against Baltimore and Cincinnati. The Ravens are 2-0 against the Texans and the Bengals are 3-0.
- Baltimore and Cincinnati make their second trips to Houston to play the Texans. Both clubs traveled to the Bayou City in 2002.
- Houston travels to Cleveland for the second consecutive season. The Texans fell to the Browns last year at Cleveland, 27-17, on November 25.
- The Texans and Browns will face off for the sixth time this season. Houston has played Cleveland more than any non-AFC South opponent. Cleveland leads the series, 3-2.
NFC North Notes
- Houston's all-time record against NFC North teams stands at 1-3. The Texans' lone victory came over Chicago in 2004, when the team played every team in the division.
- Detroit will make their first-ever trip to Reliant Stadium (10/19). The Lions' last trip to Houston came in 1995.
- The Texans host Chicago for the first time in regular season play (12/28). The Bears will be making their second trip to Houston in as many years, however, after opening the 2007 preseason at Reliant Stadium.
- The Texans will look to remain unbeaten against the Bears. Houston defeated Chicago, 24-5, at Soldier Field in 2004.
- The Texans will take on the NFC North teams in the same order as they did in 2004, when they played at Detroit (9/19/04), vs. Minnesota (10/10/04), vs. Green Bay (11/21/04) and at Chicago (12/19/04).
Oakland Notes
- Houston travels to Oakland to face the Raiders for the third straight year.
- The Texans will look to stay unbeaten against the Raiders. Houston is 3-0 against Oakland all-time.
Miami Notes
- The Texans host the Miami Dolphins for the third consecutive season.
- The Texans will look to extend a three-game winning streak versus the Dolphins. Houston is 3-0 all-time against Miami.
