If the Houston Texans are serious about making a Super Bowl run in 2026, it starts with flipping the script on offense. The defense?
That unit looks poised to be elite again. But it’s the offense that needs to come out of the gate firing - and not just field goals.
We’re talking touchdowns, big plays, and putting pressure on opponents early, not playing catch-up.
No Room for Another Slow Start
The Texans dug themselves into a hole last season with an 0-3 start - and it wasn’t just the losses, it was how they happened. A five-point loss in Week 1 where they didn’t score a single touchdown.
A one-point heartbreaker in Week 2, thanks in part to a goal-line breakdown. And in Week 3, two costly interceptions from C.J.
Stroud, including a game-sealing pick near the red zone against Jacksonville.
It was a brutal stretch that had fans in Houston questioning everything. But then came the spark - a wild 19-point comeback win over those same Jaguars, and from there, the Texans caught fire. They rattled off nine straight wins and finished 12-5, tying the best regular season record in franchise history.
Still, that early stumble nearly cost them everything. And in 2026, there’s no margin for that kind of start.
This team has expectations now. The locker room has tasted success.
The fanbase believes. And if they want to stay in that conversation, they can't afford to spend the first month of the season digging themselves out of a ditch.
That means the offense - and specifically, the Nick Caley-C.J. Stroud partnership - has to hit the ground running in Year 2. The margin for error is gone.
Field Goals Won’t Cut It Anymore
Let’s talk numbers. The Texans led the NFL in field goals made last season with 48.
Ka’imi Fairbairn hit 44 of those, tying David Akers’ single-season record. That’s a cool stat… but also a red flag.
Because while Fairbairn was automatic, the offense’s inability to finish drives was a recurring issue. Houston settled for three points far too often. And when you’re trying to hang with the AFC’s best - teams that are putting up touchdowns, not just field goals - that’s a problem.
Look at the Super Bowl teams. Seattle, the champs, made 41 field goals (second-most), but they also had the third-highest scoring offense at 28.4 points per game.
New England, the runner-up, made just 27 field goals (21st) but were second in scoring at 24.4. Houston?
They were 13th in scoring at 23.8 - despite being fourth in time of possession (31:38 per game).
So they had the ball. They controlled the clock.
But they didn’t make teams pay. That has to change.
You don’t want to lead the league in field goal attempts again (they had 52). You want to lead in red zone touchdowns.
That’s where games are won in January.
Let the Playmakers Loose
One of the biggest shifts we could see in 2026 is a more explosive, dynamic offense - and that starts with unleashing the young playmakers.
Rookie running back Woody Marks showed flashes late in the year. After a breakout Week 10 performance - 63 yards and a touchdown in a 36-29 win over Jacksonville - he earned his place as the lead back. From that point on, he looked like a guy who could carry the load.
Jayden Higgins quietly had a strong rookie campaign, tying for the team lead in touchdown receptions with six. He made the most of his opportunities and could be in line for a bigger role moving forward.
Jaylin Noel didn’t get many chances on offense, but he made his mark on special teams, setting a franchise rookie record with 335 punt return yards. That kind of speed and vision deserves a look in the offensive game plan.
Meanwhile, veterans Nick Chubb and Christian Kirk struggled to find consistency. Chubb never topped 70 rushing yards in a game.
Kirk didn’t eclipse 70 receiving yards all season and had just one touchdown. With both players likely headed elsewhere in free agency, there’s a clear opening for the next wave of talent.
Tank Dell will be back in the mix, and you can bet GM Nick Caserio will be active in free agency and the draft to add more juice to the offense. But the key is simple: get the ball in the hands of your most dangerous players - early and often.
The Bottom Line
The Texans have the pieces to contend. They’ve got a franchise quarterback in Stroud.
A defense that can go toe-to-toe with anyone. A coaching staff that proved it can rally a team from the brink.
But to take that next step - to go from playoff hopeful to legitimate Super Bowl contender - the offense has to stop leaving points on the field. That means touchdowns over field goals.
Explosive plays over safe ones. And trusting the young talent to make game-changing contributions from Week 1 through Week 18.
Houston’s window is open. Now it’s on the offense to kick it wide.