Texans Could Surprise the NFL in 2026 With Fun Factor

The Houston Texans are usually an under-the-radar kind of team, but this year could be different. This franchise is sitting on the edge of something big, and fans can feel it.

In a feature for USA Today published on Friday, June 12, Michael Middlehurst-Schwartz lists every NFL team from most to least entertaining. Now, this is subjective, of course. He notes that “there’s no universal standard for football aesthetics.”

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“While transactions have mostly slowed to a trickle, the period before training camps doesn’t tend to lend a lot of insight into the state of teams,” he adds. “Prior to practices starting in a more formal summer setting, it can be difficult to make substantive assertions about the upcoming campaign. But summer is meant to be a time of fun, so let’s assess each franchise on how amusing each team might be in the fall.”

“A defense that routinely demoralizes its opponents is the driving force behind Houston’s ranking,” he says in the feature. “If C.J. Stroud and a dormant run game don’t wake up in 2026, the Texans are liable to sink here – and in the AFC South standings. Still, don’t let the pedestrian brand reputation fool you: DeMeco Ryans’ group should hook anyone who gives it a proper chance.”

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The Texans aren’t usually a team that NFL fans have on their weekly schedule to watch, unless they’re true fans. but, this year is certainly on track to be different, in a good way.

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This story was originally published June 14, 2026 at 8:41 PM.