When it comes to hype, there isn’t a team in this column headed into the 2024 campaign with more than the Houston Texans.

It’s not just last year’s surprising run to an AFC South championship. Or the team’s blowout win over the Cleveland Browns in the Wild Card Round. Or even quarterback C.J. Stroud, who topped 4,100 passing yards during an excellent first season that culminated in Offensive Rookie of the Year honors. Or edge-rusher Will Anderson Jr., who brought home the same award on the defensive side of the ball.

No, the Texans also added as much veteran talent as any team in the NFL. Star receiver Stefon Diggs joins a pass-catching corps that already included 2023 breakouts Nico Collins and Tank Dell. Running back Joe Mixon was acquired to boost the ground game. The defense added an ascending young linebacker in Azeez Al-Shaair and one of the NFL’s elite pass-rushers in Danielle Hunter.

“People talk about how exciting of a year it was,” Ryans said, “but I throw up a stat to our guys this offseason, like, ‘Look, I know we won some games, but guys, look, we had 10 games within one score, and these games were down to the wire and we had to find a way at the end.’ That doesn’t change. That’s the NFL. It’s about being smart, being confident in those crucial situations, like the last two minutes of a game. Can you go perform? Can you be clear-minded and go execute the details of your job to the highest level? That’s what it’ll come down to.”

Ryans is spot-on—the Texans remain a young team in many respects. There are questions on the offensive line and in the defensive backfield. And unfortunately, Houston plays in the AFC—a conference loaded with star quarterbacks and excellent teams.

Houston is an improving team with a bright future, largely because of its second-year signal-caller. Houston is the favorite in the AFC South.

But Patrick Mahomes, Joe Burrow, Lamar Jackson, Josh Allen—the list goes on and on. It’s just too many elite quarterbacks to get past.