(SportsRadio 610) -- The Texans schedule comes out Wednesday and it’s one of my most favorite days of the year.
The NFL has the best offseason in sports and the release of the schedule is one of the best days of the offseason.
Don’t let any leg-hiking Jamoke rain on your parade and tell you the NFL schedule release doesn’t matter. It does and it’s awesome.
When you play an opponent matters, the placing of the bye week matters, the climate of a matchup matters, the experience (or lack thereof) of a rookie quarterback matters.
There are so many variables that matter.
The week-long build up and storylines during an NFL season are what separates it from other major sports and despite the fact the Texans aren’t expected to have a ton of on-field success in 2021, they have schedule storylines in Costco and Sams Club-like bulk!
Here are five of the top themes of the Texans 2021 schedule.
Theme No. 1: Rookie quarterbacks
There’s no shortage of potential matchups with rookie quarterbacks on the Texans 2021 schedule.
Houston could face the top-three picks in the 2021 NFL Draft, all quarterbacks. Jacksonville’s Trevor Lawrence (twice), New York’s Zach Wilson and San Francisco’s Trey Lance are all on the schedule.
Lawrence will start immediately in Jacksonville. Wilson should play early in New York. But Lance will likely start the season backing up Jimmy Garoppolo, which means the time of the year the Texans travel to San Francisco and Garoppolo’s health will be factors.
The Texans also face New England, who selected former Alabama QB Mac Jones No. 15 overall, which means we could get a look at four of the top five quarterbacks selected in the 2021 Draft.
Theme No. 2: Former Texans facing their former team
King Bill O’Brien is arguably the worst GM in NFL history.
The way he destroyed the Texans roster in a short time was hard to watch when it was happening. Unfortunately, that GM malpractice will be re-lived and on display in 2021.
The Texans will be facing three of the best players in franchise history in different uniforms for the first time in 2021.
They’ll travel to Arizona to face J.J. Watt and DeAndre Hopkins and will host Duane Brown and the Seattle Seahawks.
A road game with Miami is also on the schedule, which means they’ll face former Texans Will Filler, Benardrick McKinney and Brennan Scarlett.
Plus, a second meeting with former Texans LB/DE Jadeveon Clowney, this time in Cleveland.
Man, King Bill sucked.
Theme No. 3: Coaches mentioned during “The Search”
Former San Francisco 49ers DC Robert Saleh was a popular choice to be the next Texans head coach and according to multiple reports one of Deshaun Watson’s top choices.
Instead, Saleh ended up in New York with the Jets and the Jets ended up on the Texans’ 2021 schedule.
Los Angeles Rams defensive coordinator Brandon Staley was also linked to the Texans HC opening, but chose to stay in LA to coach the Chargers, who the Texans also face in 2021.
Texans fans will get a look at two of the top names mentioned during the coaching search that resulted in David Culley being the fourth coach in franchise history.
Theme No. 4: First look at two young QB’s and the two most recent OROY’s
The Texans will face the two most recent NFL Offensive Rookies Of The Year for the first time.
Kyler Murray (2019) and Justin Herbert (2020) will both face Houston for the first time in 2021.
Theme No. 5: GRUDGE MATCHES!
Everyone loves a good grudge match in sports and there are quite a few for the Texans in 2021.
On top of the previously mentioned former Texans facing their former team, here are two more grudge matches to look forward to this season.
1: Caserio vs Belichick
Two guys who worked very closely together for two decades will be opponents in the NFL for the first time ever when the Texans face New England.
2: Tyrod Taylor vs Former Teams
Tyrod Taylor has started 47 career NFL games with three different teams (43 with Buffalo, three in Cleveland and one for the Chargers). All three of those teams are on the Texans 2021 schedule.
Undercard Grudge Matches:
Caserio vs Brian Gaine. Brandin Cooks vs the LA Rams.
Reminder: The Land Lock annual In The Loop schedule forecast Thursday at 10:40 on SportsRadio 610.