Houston Texans 2020 NFL schedule: 5 must-win games

Going at least 4-2 in the AFC South is critical if the Texans want to three-peat as division champs. To do this, they will need to sweep one team and likely split with the two other rivals. Though they could pull off two sweeps, getting swept by a fellow division rival essentially harpoons your chances of winning the division. That’s why the Tennessee Titans’ home game is so important.

Of the three teams in the AFC South the Texans will be vying for divisional supremacy over, the least likely team they’ll end up sweeping is the Titans. Tennessee was a playoff team a season ago, making it all the way to the AFC Championship game as the No. 6 seed. While winning in Nashville isn’t unheard of, Tennessee’s roster is too good for the Texans to beat them twice.

So if the Texans drop a road game along the banks of the Cumberland River, it wouldn’t be the end of the world as long as they take care of business at home vs. the Titans. Nashville isn’t a cold-weather city, but you don’t want leave it to chance to win at Nissan in November or December once the weather changes. Tennessee is a rare southern team that can win in cold weather.

With the former Houston Oilers coming back to their former city, you’d think the Texans would get up for one of their biggest rivals with potentially the division on the line. Titans head coach Mike Vrabel used to be on Bill O’Brien’s staff as the defensive coordinator. It’s never a good look for the mentor to fall at home to the protege in any capacity. A home loss to Tennessee would be awful.