Bleav in Texans

The Houston Texans have been good enough to win regular season games. But are they finally built to win the kind of games that happen in January?

Seth Payne breaks down why this offseason feels different for Houston, from the focus on offensive line depth and a more physical run game to the additions of Keylan Rutledge, Kayden McDonald, Reed Blankenship, and David Montgomery. The Texans have clearly tried to build a tougher, more versatile team that can handle cold weather, road playoff environments, and the kind of physical football that has ended their seasons in the past.

Seth also looks at how the improved offensive structure could help C.J. Stroud stop playing sped up, why the run game is so important to avoiding third-and-long, and how DeMeco Ryans continues to push a defense that already has elite potential. Plus, thoughts on Azeez Al-Shaair’s comments about the standard inside the building, Nick Caley’s next step as offensive coordinator, and why this Texans team may finally be equipped to push toward the AFC Championship Game.

Hosted by Simplecast, an AdsWizz company. See pcm.adswizz.com for information about our collection and use of personal data for advertising.

The Houston Texans’ 2026 schedule is here, and Seth Payne goes game by game to predict wins and losses — while finding a reason to respect, fear, or loathe every opponent on the schedule.

Seth breaks down the Week 1 matchup against Josh Allen and the Buffalo Bills, Joe Burrow’s Bengals, two division games against the Colts, the Cowboys coming to Houston, the London matchup with the Jaguars, the Chargers’ rebuilt offensive line, the Ravens/Lamar Jackson problem, cold-weather road trips to Pittsburgh, Washington, Philadelphia, and Green Bay, and the season finale against the Titans.

The final prediction: 12-5 — but not because the schedule is easy. Seth explains why last year’s records don’t tell the full story, why Vegas win totals paint a tougher picture, and why teams like the Bengals, Ravens, Giants, Commanders, Jaguars, Packers, and Cowboys could be better than their 2025 records suggest.

Plus, how much of this comes down to C.J. Stroud, the Texans’ improved run game, DeMeco Ryans’ defense, and whether Houston can survive one of the NFL’s tighter schedules.

Subscribe to Bleav in Texans and leave a five-star review.

Hosted by Simplecast, an AdsWizz company. See pcm.adswizz.com for information about our collection and use of personal data for advertising.

The Houston Texans schedule release is here, but once the excitement fades, what should Texans fans actually be watching next?

Seth Payne breaks down the biggest storylines to follow after the schedule drops, starting with the possible return of Tank Dell to the practice field and what it would mean for C.J. Stroud and the Texans offense. Seth also looks ahead to C.J. Stroud’s inevitable contract questions, how Keylan Rutledge could earn attention at center during OTAs and minicamp, and why Marlin Klein may be one rookie to monitor before the pads come on.

Plus, Seth discusses potential veteran additions at running back and defensive end, why Texans training camp could finally feature real offensive line vs. defensive line battles, and answers listener questions on Jaylin Noel, “knuckleheads” in a strong locker room, and the idea of moving on from C.J. Stroud.

Finally, Seth reacts to early schedule leaks that could send the Texans into a brutal December stretch with road games in Pittsburgh, Washington, and Philadelphia — and explains why that cold-weather gauntlet may become a defining test for this team.

Follow Bleav in Texans for more Houston Texans analysis, roster breakdowns, schedule reaction, and C.J. Stroud conversation all offseason long.

Hosted by Simplecast, an AdsWizz company. See pcm.adswizz.com for information about our collection and use of personal data for advertising.

CJ Stroud’s next contract is coming eventually — but maybe the Texans and Stroud are both better off waiting.

Seth Payne breaks down why Stroud’s “down year” needs context, including Houston’s lack of a consistent run game, too many third-and-long situations, and an offense that never fully forced defenses to respect the run. With new pieces added up front and David Montgomery in the backfield, Stroud may finally have the balanced setup he needs to prove he belongs in the top-tier quarterback conversation.

Plus, Seth reacts to Jason McCourty’s take that Stroud has a runway to get paid, Kayden McDonald’s big rookie goals, DeMeco Ryans’ comments from rookie minicamp, and the reported Texans-Jaguars matchup in London.

Hosted by Simplecast, an AdsWizz company. See pcm.adswizz.com for information about our collection and use of personal data for advertising.

Houston Texans rookie minicamp gave us our first real look at how DeMeco Ryans is introducing this draft class to the standard in Houston.

On this episode, I react to the best moments from DeMeco Ryans, Kayden McDonald, and Keylan Rutledge after rookie minicamp. DeMeco made it clear that the Texans’ culture is already established — now the rookies have to catch up. Kayden McDonald showed huge confidence, talking about joining “the best defense in the league,” chasing a Super Bowl, and helping Will Anderson Jr. and Danielle Hunter wreck games off the edge. Keylan Rutledge gave a very different kind of answer: mature, detailed, coachable, and all about earning his role up front.

We’ll get into what these clips reveal about the Texans’ rookie class, why McDonald’s swagger matters, how Rutledge fits the offensive line, and what DeMeco’s message tells us about the type of players Houston is trying to build around.

The Texans have a type — and rookie minicamp made it pretty obvious

Hosted by Simplecast, an AdsWizz company. See pcm.adswizz.com for information about our collection and use of personal data for advertising.

C.J. Stroud looks leaner, sleeker, and noticeably different heading into the Houston Texans’ offseason program — but does that actually matter?

On this episode of Bleav in Texans, Seth Payne breaks down what Stroud’s body transformation could mean for his mobility, pocket movement, confidence after last year’s concussion, and ability to get back to using his legs as part of the offense. Seth looks at the stark difference in Stroud’s rushing production before and after the concussion and wonders whether a more athletic version of Stroud could help unlock the next step in his game.

Plus, Seth lays out what he wants to see from Texans OTAs, including Tank Dell’s recovery, Stroud getting valuable reps in Nick Caley’s offense, and whether any rookie can flash early the way Kamari Lassiter did last offseason.

Finally, Seth does a self-scouting session on his own Texans blind spots: Nick Caley’s Year 2 leap, the unresolved center question, running back depth behind David Montgomery and Woody Marks, cornerback availability, pass-rush depth, the wide receiver room, and whether he’s been too optimistic about Aireontae Ersery at left tackle.

Can the Texans’ offseason optimism survive a harder look at the roster? And is Stroud’s slimmer frame just offseason body-watch noise — or a real clue about what’s coming?

Hosted by Simplecast, an AdsWizz company. See pcm.adswizz.com for information about our collection and use of personal data for advertising.

Bucky Brooks is joined by his former teammate Seth Payne as they talk about how the Texans have quickly developed into one of the most recognizably toughest teams in the NFL. Everybody knows to look out when they see the Texans defense on the schedule but has the time finally come that we can say the Offensive Line has caught up to the Defensive Line? DeMeco Ryans knows the kinds of guys he wants to draft and they go and get them, no matter what. What will we get out of CJ Stroud in this major prove it year? ALL these questions and MORE will be answered on this episode of the Bucky Brooks Show w/ Seth Payne

Hosted by Simplecast, an AdsWizz company. See pcm.adswizz.com for information about our collection and use of personal data for advertising.

Seth Payne is joined by Bryant Browning, former Ohio State offensive lineman and host of the Bleav in Buckeyes podcast, to break down why the Houston Texans keep coming back to Columbus for talent.

Bryant gives his perspective on Texans draft pick Kayden McDonald, including how McDonald went from short-yardage run stuffer to every-down force for Ohio State, why his ability to anchor is real, and where his pass-rush upside could still grow. Seth and Bryant also discuss why McDonald fits DeMeco Ryans’ defense, especially in those critical moments when the Texans need a big body who can stop the run.

Then they zoom out to the bigger Ohio State-Houston connection: C.J. Stroud’s growth, Ryan Day’s development culture, Cade Stover’s path from linebacker to tight end, and why the Texans may see Ohio State as one of their trusted NFL pipelines.

Plus, Bryant shares his perspective as a Browns fan on Deshaun Watson, Shedeur Sanders, Todd Monken, and the strange football overlap between Cleveland and Houston.

Hosted by Simplecast, an AdsWizz company. See pcm.adswizz.com for information about our collection and use of personal data for advertising.

The draft is over, the dopamine has worn off, and now the real questions start.

Seth Payne breaks down 12 lingering concerns surrounding the Houston Texans after the 2026 NFL Draft. This isn’t panic — Seth liked a lot of what Houston did — but every roster still has unanswered questions, and the Texans are no exception.

Did Houston actually fix the offensive line, or just reshuffle it? Who starts at center? Are the Texans relying too much on projection at tight end? How quickly can C.J. Stroud adjust to so many new pieces? Is the run game truly solved with David Montgomery? And did Houston do enough to add explosiveness around Stroud?

Seth also digs into the wide receiver depth, Tank Dell’s importance, the defensive line rotation, linebacker depth, secondary insurance, and the bigger-picture reality that the Texans’ margin for error is getting smaller as their young core gets closer to major paydays.

Topics include:

Houston’s rebuilt offensive line
The unsettled center competition
Keylan Rutledge, Febechi Nwaiwu, and Marlin Klein
C.J. Stroud’s leadership challenge
David Montgomery and the run game
Tank Dell as the offense’s biggest wild card
Whether the Texans need more pass-rush depth
Linebacker and secondary questions
Why the Texans are entering a more urgent phase of roster building

Subscribe to Bleav in Texans for more Houston Texans analysis, draft reaction, roster breakdowns, and NFL insight from former Texans defensive lineman Seth Payne.

Hosted by Simplecast, an AdsWizz company. See pcm.adswizz.com for information about our collection and use of personal data for advertising.

The Houston Texans are coming out of the 2026 NFL Draft with a clear identity—but it’s raising a big question:

Did they reach… or do they just see things differently?

In this episode, I break down the full Houston Texans draft class, including:

There’s a clear philosophy here—toughness, intelligence, leadership—but the risk is just as clear:

Are the Texans building something sustainable?
Or betting too heavily on their own evaluations?

Plus, thoughts on:

If you’ve been following the Houston Texans, this draft tells you a lot about where they think this team is going.

Hosted by Simplecast, an AdsWizz company. See pcm.adswizz.com for information about our collection and use of personal data for advertising.