The Houston Texans made a splash during the 2023 NFL Draft, making two of the top three selections and setting themselves up for the future by drafting a quarterback prospect who they hope is their signal caller of the future. CJ Stroud has developed will enough during the preseason to earn the job as the starter for his rookie season opener, being officially named the quarterback of the Texans on Sunday evening.

3 Key Games On The Schedule For The Houston Texans

Official word that CJ Stroud is Houston’s QB1: pic.twitter.com/sMNdQy5wyJ

— Adam Schefter (@AdamSchefter) August 28, 2023

There will most certainly be some ups and downs during his first year. The Texans were one of the worst teams in the NFL last season, but they cleaned house and have brought in a new coaching regime in hopes of changing their fortunes. They play in what should be one of the weaker divisions in the league, and have a somewhat favorable schedule outside of the AFC South.

Here are the three toughest tests that CJ Stroud and the Texans will face in 2023:

Week 1 – @ Baltimore Ravens – Sun Sept. 10th 1:00PM

Welcome to the NFL. The Ravens ranked in the top-10 in total defense 5 of the last 6 seasons, and allowed the third-fewest points of any unit in 2022. They figure to be just as strong this coming season, returning essentially all of the starters.

It will be a truly difficult test for Stroud and the Texans. They’ll not only be on the road for the first game of the quarterback’s rookie season, but they’ll be taking on a team that may wind up being one of the best in the league.

Week 10 – @ Cincinnati Bengals – Sun Nov. 12th 1:00PM

The mid-season game against the Bengals might be the toughest date on the entire schedule for the Texans. We know about how dynamic Joe Burrow is with his stable of weapons, but Cincinnati’s defense shouldn’t be slept on at all. The unit allowed the 5th-fewest points and 7th-fewest yards last season, making them one of the top teams on both sides of the ball.

Week 14 – @ New York Jets – Sun Dec. 10th 1:00PM

Who knows what either team will look like at this point in the season, but if Stroud and Aaron Rodgers are still starting for their teams, it will represent one of the larger age gaps between quarterbacks that we’ve seen (that didn’t involve Tom Brady). The strong point for the Jets last season was their top-5 defense, and they are projected to be one of the best units again in 2023.

NFL Betting Guides You May Like

Best NFL Betting Sites Sites 2024 – Discover Top-rated Football Sportsbooks Ranked & Reviewed.Live Betting NFL Guide – Compare The Best NFL Live Betting Sites for 2024.Best NFL Betting Apps 2024 – List of Top Football Betting Apps in US.Best Offshore Betting Sites Review – Compare Best Offshore Sports Betting Sites.Best Online Gambling Sites 2024 – Best Gambling Sites in USA Ranked & Reviewed.