Are the Houston Texans Super Bowl-bound in 2026?
According to one publication, the AFC South franchise will do more than just make the trip out to SoFi Stadium for the showdown in February.
Sports Illustrated’s Connor Orr recently published his 100 bold predictions for the 2026 NFL season and wasted little time getting Texans fans hyped. Following a promising offseason and robust draft class, Orr believes Houston is a cut above everyone else in the AFC.
He also has them hoisting up their first Lombardi Trophy with a victory over the Seattle Seahawks.
“The Texans and the Seahawks both have among the league’s best net rest differentials, and Houston has one of the 10 easiest schedules in terms of opponent win percentage (which, while a faulty measurement tool, does indicate that the Texans’ path is less arduous than it was a year ago),” Orr wrote. “I got turned on to Houston’s true successes from 2025 after realizing that the Texans and Rams were the only two teams with one of the five hardest schedules that managed to reach the postseason. This was despite an offense that is still in the developmental phase. Meanwhile, I predict the Seahawks will again win their division thanks to the Rams being slammed by the league’s ruthless Jigsaw House of a schedule and minus-seven net rest differential, which does no favors for an aging quarterback whose replacement was just selected. The Seahawks have a much better relative rate of rest between games and the advantages created by Mike Macdonald and rising star defensive coordinator Aden Durde are still very much in place.”
Houston still retains its No. 1 defense from a season, which improved with the additions of safety Reed Blankenship and rookie defensive tackle Kayden McDonald. Most of the offensive woes should also be improved after the Texans elected to revamp the offensive line and upgrade the running back room with additions like David Montgomery, Wyatt Teller and Braden Smith.
To read Orr’s full predictions for the 2026 NFL season, click here.
This article originally appeared on Texans Wire: Texans viewed as Super Bowl favorites by one NFL anlayst enterng 2026
Reporting by Cole Thompson, Texans Wire / Texans Wire
USA TODAY Network via Reuters Connect
By Cole Thompson, Texans Wire | USA TODAY Network
