Texans 2009 schedule is ... a schedule

April 14, 7:17 PMHouston Texans ExaminerAlan Burge

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Rex Ryan will make his head coaching debut at Reliant Stadium                                                            (SI.com)

Like every other Texans fan, I'm sitting here looking at the newly released 2009 schedule.  Get your copy here.

I also have my eye on the much hyped NFL Network schedule release special, which so far (20 minutes in) isn't living up to the hype. 

As far as the Texans schedule, I can already hear the chorus through the ether.

It goes something like this:  "We'll beat the Jets in the opener, then steal one at Nashville, then come back home and beat Jacksonville and Oakland and we're 4-0 baby!!!"

I don't even have to look, but I guarantee you will already find several threads like that on the message boards.

So to you Mr. 6-1 Predictor Guy, I say, slow down. 

Not that I really want to, but I feel the need to invoke the worn out joke about the old bull and the young bull. 

You know the one where a young bull and an old bull were standing at the top of a hill, looking over the herd.  The young bull says to the old bull, "let's run down the hill and get us some cows!"  The old bull looked at  the young bull and said ' let's walk and get them all."

I wonder if Toro has heard that one?.

There's too many factors, injuries at the top of the list, that can derail the best laid plans to the playoffs.  Wait until we start playing the games, see how we play, and take them one at a time.

Like I said previously, I'm not getting into the game by game prediction business.  We already knew our opponents and the order doesn't matter (much).  You still have to line them up and play them.

I say the order doesn't matter much because, as I mentioned in this entry, I'd rather play Rex Ryan's guys in their first game instead of their last.  I think it could take a little while for them to get their stuff together and playing them at home in Week 1 is one of those 'must wins' for Kubiak's boys.

You like that?  I already pegged Week 1 as a must win.  It is because it is.

Conversely, playing Steve Spagnuolo's boys late could have the opposite effect, so don't get so automatic in penciling in your win over St. Louis on December 20.

Other noteworthy observations about the schedule:

• The Texans play 3 of their first 4 at home - unlike last year when it was October something before we had a home game.
• The Texans then play 4 of their next 5 on the road.  That's never easy, no matter how much you think the opponent is a cupcake.  Just remember, most teams still look at the Texans as a win until proven otherwise.
• The Bye Week is in Week 10 which is the last of the Bye Weeks.  A little late but it may turn out to be well-placed rest before a playoff push in the final six games.
• Four division games in a row to start the second half of the season: Colts-Titans-Colts-Jags in consecutive weeks around the bye week
• The Monday Night Football crew returns for the third time in two seasons, counting pre-season, when the much hated Titans visit Reliant in Week 11.  Let's hope that's a statement game for the Texans - but let's also not get ahead of ourselves because there's 9 games to play before that one.  Based on industry trends, I think the VY 10 jersey wearers will be at an all time low at that one.  That's just natures way of seeking equilibrium.
• Following the Bye Week the Texans play 3 of 4 at home, including the MNF game, before finishing with 2 of 3 on the road.
• The Texans close out the season at home against New England.  I just heard Pats owner Robert Kraft interviewed on the NFL Network special, and he said they were "looking forward to returning to Houston" because of all the good karma (Super Bowl win over Carolina).  That would be another statement game for Kubiak's kids.
• There aren't many long road trips on the schedule.  Buffalo is the longest trip but at least it's not in mid-to-late December.  Those few weeks can make a big difference in the weather, although it could very well be cold and snowing in Buffalo on November 1.
• On a personal note, I was looking at a St. Louis roadie this year because it's an easy trip, but Christmas in South Florida doesn't sound bad either.  Especially if it's a meaningful game.

And as I wrap this up, 43 minutes in to the much hyped NFL Network broadcast, I'm not impressed.  Too much advertising and too little compelling content.  And if you have trouble sleeping tonight, just fast forward to the Bruce Allen and Carl Peterson panel discussion.  That will take care of any insomniacs out there.

After all it's just a schedule. 

You can watch/read Gary Kubiak's and players reaction to the schedule here.

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