Start making plans now - the Texans *will* play in Detroit next Thanksgiving; confirmed to me by a Texan employee. They've apparently started discussing creating ticket packages, etc. That should be a fascinatingly cool match-up if both teams build on their 2011 seasons. (And stay healthy.) Ok, carry on...
Sad that my first response was "Detroit always plays the first game and that game isn't til primetime".
I'm guessing they'll have several next year, especially given their schedule, which is ripe with tasty match-ups: NE, GB, Denver, Baltimore - plus potentially a bounce-back Colt team twice. If they play Baltimore close this weekend, that'll almost certainly merit a Sunday nighter next year with them, I'd wager.
I'm willing to bet the Texans have at least 2 Sunday nighters next year (2 out of Baltimore, GB, NE), at least one (if not 2 Monday Nighters....Denver?), the Thanksgiving game, and probably a Thursday Nighter. Next year is going to be BRUTAL schedule-wise, but a whole lot of fun for the people clamoring for national attention. CAN'T WAIT!
I dont think that will matter since UT and A&M wont be playing each other next year. Or for the forseeable future.
I completely forgot about the whole LHN creating an unfair advantage, the Aggies leaving for the SEC, and UT being "booked" for the foreseeable future. :grin:
It was either us or Indy. Glad they went with us. I have to go find the thread and post, but someone ****ted on me about the Texans not being on Thanksgiving. I know how the tv schedules work.
Eh. No way of knowing right now, of course - but five games against 2011 playoff teams, including the very mediocre Broncos; three games against mediocre 9-7 teams (NYJ and Tennessee twice); one game against a likely bounce-back 7-9 Bears team, and then 7 games against teams picking in the top ten of April's draft. There are easily 10+ wins in that schedule. Compare that to this year's schedule: 6 playoff teams; 7 top ten drafters; 10-6 (pretender) Bucs; mediocre Miami and Oakland.
GB, DET, BAL, NE, CHI <<<<<<<< the tough games MIA, NYJ, DEN <<<<<<<< mixed bag...not sure if they'll be tough or easy. INDx2 (Rebuilding), JAXx2, TENx2, BUF, MIN <<<<<<< should win Barring massive loss in FA or something to that effect, this is a 12 win team next year.