NFL: One bold prediction for every team in 2021-22
![Browns quarterback Baker Mayfield (6) rushes back to the locker room after beating the Pittsburgh Steelers in an NFL wild-card playoff football game, Sunday, Jan. 10, 2021, in Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania. [Jeff Lange/Beacon Journal]Browns Extras 10](https://images2.minutemediacdn.com/image/upload/c_fill,w_1080,ar_16:9,f_auto,q_auto,g_auto/shape%2Fcover%2Fsport%2F954d021f769fef845fdf11f1b6e38fba1938440b3910b3d1749056b1111c073e.jpg "Browns quarterback Baker Mayfield (6) rushes back to the locker room after beating the Pittsburgh Steelers in an NFL wild-card playoff football game, Sunday, Jan. 10, 2021, in Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania. [Jeff Lange/Beacon Journal]Browns Extras 10")
One bold prediction for the Houston Texans in 2021-22: Even with Deshaun Watson gone, they’ll improve
Normally, pundits who cover the NFL have varying opinions. That’s nothing out of the ordinary. But when it comes to the Houston Texans, all of the reviews have been just about the same. Meaning, basically everyone is expecting them to fail…big time.
With that said, we view things slightly differently.
The Texans struggled far more than most would have anticipated this past year. With back-to-back trips to the playoffs in 2018 and 2019, 2020 was expected to be their breakout year. However, they struggled with consistency all season long and managed to win only four games.
Now, with Deshaun Watson not only embroiled in what appears to be serious legal issues, along with the team losing future Hall of Famer J.J. Watt along with their best receiver in Will Fuller, 2021 doesn’t appear to be getting any better. Still, while the talent on the field will undoubtedly be abysmal, the Texans have a chance to do a few things.
For starters, if the reports are true that Watson could be out the door in a trade to Philly, the Texans would presumably get their hands on Jalen Hurts, a supremely talented quarterback who can carve up a defense with his legs and do some damage with his arm. Not to be forgotten is receiver Brandin Cooks. In five of his seven seasons in the league, Cooks has racked up over a thousand yards. Look for him to do so again no matter who’s throwing him the ball.
The defense is going to need major help. There wasn’t a single Pro Bowler on that side of the ball this past season and no one registered more than five sacks on the year. They did though, sign linebacker Christian Kirksey and cornerback Desmond King II. Tyrod Taylor gives them some flexibility at the quarterback position and a player who’s certainly above average. They also have a great one-two punch at the running back spot with Phillip Lindsay who rushed for back-to-back seasons of over a thousand yards before getting hurt this past year and solid veteran Mark Ingram.
It may not sound like much, but the Texans will be competitive this season and float around the .500 mark.