Houston Texans coach DeMeco Ryans ‘excited’ about 2024 schedule release

HOUSTON — When the NFL releases its schedule for the 2024 season, coach DeMeco Ryans will look for the bye week first. He will have the opportunity to do so on May 15, when the NFL releases its regular season schedule.

“Where is this bye week,” Ryans said. “Do we get a week off? Are they taking care of us? I’m excited about it.”

The Texans are one of several teams expected to play a handful of nationally televised games. Following the success of their 2023 season, Ryans believes the Texans have earned the right to take center stage as one of the premier franchises in the league.

The Texans finished the previous season with a 10-7 record while winning their seventh AFC South division championship. Their success has led the franchise to face several of the league’s top teams in the upcoming season.

“I’m always excited to know the schedule, to see where we’ll play,” Ryans said. “We showed we’re a good team last year. We look forward to continuing to show what we’ve done, but our guys have to continue to earn the right to be watched by more viewers.”

Led by the back-to-back defending champion Kansas City Chiefs, the Texans’ next opponents will include seven teams that qualified for last season’s playoffs: Buffalo Bills, Dallas Cowboys, Miami Dolphins, Detroit Lions, Green Bay Packers and Baltimore Ravens.

The Texans went 0-2 against the Ravens last season. They lost their first game of the 2023 season in Baltimore in September and were eliminated from the playoffs four months later. However, every game was played at M&T Bank Stadium. When they face the Ravens this season, the Texans will have home field advantage at NRG Stadium.

Houston’s 2024 schedule will feature three of the top quarterback prospects selected in the 2024 NFL Draft: No. 1 overall pick Caleb Williams (Chicago Bears), No. 3 pick Drake Maye (New England Patriots) and selection No. 10 JJ McCarthy (Minnesota Vikings).

The AFC South appears to be one of the toughest divisions, with the Indianapolis Colts, Jacksonville Jaguars and Tennessee Titans all making significant roster upgrades to challenge Houston.

The Texans’ desire to surpass the previous year’s success will drive them throughout the 2024 season.

From individual player improvements to general manager Nick Caserio making several upgrades to the team’s roster, the Texans have exploited every avenue in hopes of representing the AFC in New Orleans in Super Bowl LIX. For Ryans, having a perfect Bye Week will help the Texans realize their championship aspirations.

“You want it right down the middle,” Ryans said. “What sucks is sometimes you have a bye week right after Week 4. It’s early and then you have a long stretch until the end of the season. Everyone wants it in the middle. This way you can take a good break and continue this run to qualify for the playoffs.

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Follow Coty M. Davis on Twitter at @CotyDavis_24.