10 AFC predictions for Week 1 of 2018 NFL season

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HOUSTON, TX – OCTOBER 01: Jack Conklin #78 of the Tennessee Titans and J.J. Watt #99 of the Houston Texans battle it out at NRG Stadium on October 1, 2017 in Houston, Texas. Houston won 57-14. (Photo by Bob Levey/Getty Images) /

2. Houston will start slowly

New England Patriots head coach Bill Belichick usually likes to take the first month of the season to experiment with personnel packages and schemes. That’s lead to surprise losses in prior years and the appearance that the team is on the decline, but their staff adjusts and will maximize their talent.

Houston has the chance to catch the Patriots at a good time, but they won’t. Their unsettled offensive line has the potential to be a critical enough flaw to flatline their season despite Deshaun Watson’s return. And in this particular matchup, it’ll put too much pressure on Watson to create for the entire offense.

While the Texans have an excellent defensive front seven, their secondary has much to prove at the corner position, and are breaking in two new safeties as well. An uncertain secondary and bad offensive line against the Patriots is a clear recipe for a loss.