Got a question about the Texans?
Life in general?
Drew Dougherty's your guy.
He's been with the Texans since 2009 and is chock full of meaningful, as well as generally useless, information. Fire away by clicking HERE.
David Saenz: Dear Drew, Why do our Texans have to always travel to Kansas City during regular season games? It feels like the Texans have played 5 consecutive games in Kansas City. Thanks for your anticipated answer, Drew.
DD: Great question, David. I've received variations of this one over the years, and there was a time about seven years ago or so it seemed the Texans always had to play the Patriots in New England.
Every year, the Texans play their AFC South opponents once at home and once on the road. They also play every team in another AFC Division, and this year it's the AFC West. They'll get the Raiders and Broncos at home in Houston, and play the Chiefs and Chargers on the road. Since the Texans won their division last season, they'll also play the other two division winners: at Baltimore and home for the Bills. Mix in the matchups with the NFC South, and the rotating matchup with another NFC division winner in the West's Seattle Seahawks, and you have a 17-game schedule.
The last time the Texans played Kansas City when they were facing the entire AFC West, was 2022. The game that season was at NRG Stadium. Last year's regular season game was at Arrowhead because both teams had won their divisions the year prior.
For historical perspective, though, five of the last six games have been at Kansas City. But two of those matchups were in the playoffs. Before that, however, Houston played the Chiefs 10 times (including the playoffs) between 2003 and 2017. Eight of those 10 were at NRG Stadium.
Essentially, you flip-flop venues when you play the opposing division every three years, but when you finish in the same spot in your own division as another AFC team, this anomaly of playing a team consecutive times at their place can pop up. Factor in playoff games (see the Patriots in 2012 and 2016, and the Chiefs in 2019 and 2024), and the number grows.
James Threadgill: Dear Drew, Are the Texans done trying to improve the offensive line?
DD: No.
They're never "done" with any portion of the team, for that matter. Executive Vice President/General Manager Nick Caserio has reiterated many times that the team will continue to try and improve itself on a regular basis. We've routinely seen Houston add impactful players in between the NFL Draft and training camp, or even during training camp, through free agent signings, waiver wire pickups and trades.
With regards to the offensive line, if they think there's someone out there who can compete for a spot and help improve the squad, they'll try and find a way to get him.
Adam G.: Why can't Texans fans make some real noise to become a bother to opposing teams?
DD: They do.
I've covered a Texans game in every current NFL stadium, as well as the former venues in San Diego's Qualcomm Stadium (Chargers), Candlestick Park (49ers) the Edward Jones Dome in Saint Louis (Rams), the Los Angeles Coliseum (Rams, again), Dignity Health Sports Park (Chargers, again). I also was at the 2016 Texans-Raiders game in Azteca Stadium in Mexico City and the 2019 Texans-Jaguars game at Wembley Stadium in London.
NRG Stadium can get just as loud as any of the current spots, and the former ones as well. It's up there, noise-wise, with Seattle and Minnesota as the loudest I've ever experienced.
