(SportsRadio 610) -- Considering the Texans have two of the most recognizable players in the league, it seems odd the Texans don't have more primetime games on the 2020 schedule.
For a Texans team with Deshaun Watson at quarterback, surefire Hall-of-Famer J.J. Watt on the defense and an offseason that helped feed the NFL news cycle even beyond Houston, there's only one primetime game -- opening the season at Kansas City against the defending Super Bowl champions on Thursday Night Footall.
The other nationally televised game for Houston is visiting the Detroit Lions on Thanksgiving Day.
After Week 2, when the Texans host the Baltimore Ravens in their home-opener, all but the last game against the Colts in Indianapolis will be at noon on a Sunday
Texans head coach Bill O'Brien said he sees a benefit in not having as many later games, and touted the importance of developing "a real routine."
"I think our players enjoy that," O'Brien told Texans TV on Thursday. "We enjoy the noon games, especially at home in front of our fans, and I think you're right about that. It allows us to get into a little bit of a normal routine during the season which hopefully will help us."
Meanwhile, Watson appears to play his best football under the brightest lights. He is 6-2 in eight career primetime regular season games, going 156-for-228 passing (68.4 percent) for 2,010 passing yards, 21 passing touchdowns, three interceptions and a 121.1 passer rating.
Related: Complete 2020 NFL Regular-Season National TV Schedule
For what it's worth, Watson downplayed his approach being different in primetime games when asked about it last November. Watson said he treats every game the same.
Texans players have generally responded positively to the schedule on social media.
Good schedule.
— JJ Watt (@JJWatt) May 8, 2020Run it back turbo
— Justin Reid (@jreid_viii) May 8, 2020Run it Back -- #allinchallenge
A post shared by Lonnie Johnson Jr. (@lonniejohnson06) on May 7, 2020 at 5:55pm PDT
It does seem unfortunate the Texans don't seem to have much of a national appeal.
This is the first season since 2011 without a Texans game on Monday Night Football, where last year they played an entertaining one against the New Orleans Saints at the Superdome.
At least the Texans don't have to travel west of Houston, and travel far less in general, as opposed to having games in London, Los Angeles and Baltimore last season.
"It's all got to play out, like I always say, but I do think that not having to travel as much as we did last year hopefully will help us," O'Brien said. "I think that the London travel game, we went over there, our operations people did a great job for that game. We were able to win the game, but that's not an easy trip.
"Then obviously having to travel to the coastal cities sometimes can be tough, especially if it's a Sunday night or a Monday night game, and this year we don't have those. So, again ... being able to get into a routine I think is a great opportunity for our players to be ready week in and week out."
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