(SportsRadio 610) -- There are several aspects of the Texans' 2021 schedule released earlier this week that nobody's talking about.
Consider this list as you reflect on the schedule.
1. There's a strong possibility, if the NFL is headed toward full capacity crowds as it appears, the roof at NRG Stadium will have to remain open.
If they have full stadiums, opening the roof will allow for more circulation and it was make a lot of sense to encourage. This would create a huge homefield advantage for the Texans early in the season.
2. The Texans only play one game where temperatures might be colder than 40 degrees.
The Browns are early. The Packers are early. It could be cold in San Francisco when the Texans play the Niners in January, but they escape the cold weather for the most part.
3. There's a real possibility the Texans could be leading, or tied for the division lead after the first two weeks of the season. What's that going to do for the team's collective confidence?
The Titans open the season against the Cardinals and Seahawks. Both of those could be losses.
The Colts open the season against the Seahawks and Rams.
Jacksonville opens against the Texans and Broncos.
The Texans have winnable games against Jags and Browns. What would this city be like if the Texans started 1-1, or 2-0?
4. What if by the time the Texans face the Colts in Week 6, Carson Wentz hasn't figured it out? The Texans could be facing a Wentz who's either off the rails, or has been replaced.
5. If the Texans have a strength, unlike last season, it's likely to be against the run. They've brought in so many linebackers and put so much of a focus on it.
They face run-heavy teams early in the season -- Browns, Panthers and Patriots. Could this be something that keeps the Texans in striking distance, being good against the run and facing teams that like to run the ball?
6. The Texans might be beaten up and hobbling by the time they face J.J. Watt, DeAndre Hopkins and the Arizona Cardinals in October.
The Bills, Patriots and Colts are on the docket just before Arizona. All of those defenses are bruisers.