Going out west for 2025!
With the culmination of the 2024 season, every team knows which opponents they’ll face for the next season. The exact schedule won’t be decided until mid-to-late April, but it’s exciting to finally know who Houston will face.
Houston, along with the rest of the AFC South will be facing the AFC West and NFC West. It’s a rare year where the division will solely be heading out west for its games. This was a landmark season for the AFC West as they secured three spots in the playoffs.
The last time the AFC West had three teams qualify for the playoffs was in the 2013 NFL season. That year, the Denver Broncos (13–3), Kansas City Chiefs (11–5), and San Diego Chargers (9–7) all made the postseason.
The NFC West, featuring the San Francisco 49ers, Seattle Seahawks, Arizona Cardinals, and Los Angeles Rams had a down year. San Francisco’s season crumbled and the best teams in the division could only sport a 10-7 record (Seattle and LA).jj
As well, thanks to their placement atop the AFC South, they get to face the other two AFC divisional champs. Houston will play host to the Buffalo Bills (13-4) and head to Baltimore to play the Ravens (12-5).
Finally, the 17th game is an additional non-conference opponent from a division that the team is not scheduled to play. Matchups are based on division ranking from the previous season. Texans will face the Tampa Bay Buccaneers (10-7) as the illustrious 17th game. Considering the other two options were the Detroit Lions (15-2) and the Philadelphia Eagles (14-3), Houston came out with the best option. Houston will host the Bucs next season.
Based on opponents, Houston will have one of the easier Strength of Schedules in 2025. They only face four teams with over 10 wins, all of which being in the AFC. Unfortunately, three of those games are away, making those contests quite difficult to notch as potential victories.
The Texans will be playing nine home games in 2025. The number of home and away games alternate every season now that the schedule features 17 contests.
For those who are intrigued as to how the schedule opponents are decided every season, here’s a blurb from the NFL:
- Six games against divisional opponents — two games per team, one at home and one on the road.
- Four games against teams from a division within its conference — two games at home and two on the road.
- Four games against teams from a division in the other conference— two games at home and two on the road.
- Two games against teams from the two remaining divisions in its own conference — one game at home and one on the road. Matchups are based on division ranking from the previous season.
- The 17th game is an additional game against a non-conference opponent from a division that the team is not scheduled to play. Matchups are based on division ranking from the previous season.