“Built for things like this”

HOUSTON – A little trickery was an effective strategy for the Texans the last time they hosted a Sunday night football game against the New England Patriots.

After a handoff to running back Duke Johnson, a second handoff to wide receiver DeAndre Hopkins and an option pitch back to quarterback Deshaun Watson, the Texans reached the end zone and scored a touchdown.

Fast forward to Sunday night: The Texans are back with a nationally televised Sunday night game, hosting the Chicago Bears and their rookie quarterback and top pick Caleb Williams at NRG Stadium.

The defending AFC South champions started the season opener with a 1-0 away win against the Indianapolis Colts and are seven points ahead as favorites.

“I’m definitely ready, man,” Texans wide receiver Tank Dell said. “I’m built for this kind of thing. I’m built for this kind of game. I’m ready, that’s all I can say.”

It’s a sign of the Texans’ evolution, who set a franchise record with six national games, including four in primetime, after a dramatic turnaround in coach DeMeco Ryans’ first season that saw the team finish 11-8, including an AFC wild-card playoff victory over the Cleveland Browns.

“Wherever we play, whoever we play, we’re just excited to get another opportunity to get better and play football,” Ryans said. “We know our fans are going to be excited to be able to play here in our home stadium on Sunday night. Our players are excited. We’ve got to make sure our stadium rocks on Sunday night. We’ve got to show up, be loud, be wild. We need a real home field advantage so they can communicate on offense and be as loud as they can.”

A year ago, the Texans played no role in NFL decision-makers’ scheduling of the most prestigious games of the regular season.

This year, there’s a Christmas afternoon game against the Baltimore Ravens on Netflix. The Texans had zero primetime games last year, aside from a flex night game against the Colts that clinched them the division title and a playoff spot.

This is the first of two Sunday night games on NBC for the Texans, who won a playoff game against the Cleveland Browns last season, including a Nov. 10 home game against the Detroit Lions. The Texans travel to face the New York Jets and former NFL MVP quarterback Aaron Rodgers in an Amazon Prime Thursday night game on Oct. 31. And they play the Dallas Cowboys on the road on Monday night in a battle for the best NFL team in Texas.”

“Your family is watching, so you have to dress for the name on the back of your jersey,” wide receiver Nico Collins said. “Dress for yourself, dress for your city, just have fun and take advantage of every moment. I think that’s what we’re going to do. It doesn’t get any bigger than that.”

The Texans have invested heavily in their roster, including trades for Pro Bowl wide receiver Stefon Diggs and Pro Bowl running back Joe Mixon, as well as a two-year, $51 million contract for Pro Bowl defensive end and Morton Ranch graduate Danielle Hunter.

Diggs caught two touchdowns against the Colts. Mixon rushed for 159 yards and one score on 30 carries in Indianapolis, which is a career high.

The Texans plan to open the roof of NRG Stadium for this night football game. The stadium was damaged by Hurricane Beryl and is almost repaired, and is expected to be fully repaired by the Week 4 home game against the Jacksonville Jaguars.

“We’re looking forward to it,” Texans principal owner Cal McNair said of the prime-time excitement.

Williams is an excellent scrambler who had a bloodless debut as a passer, posting an NFL-low 93 passing yards in a win over the Tennessee Titans.

The Texans have been watching Williams’ USC film to prepare for this matchup against the former Heisman Trophy winner.

“We all kind of went back to college to see what he did well there,” defensive coordinator Matt Burke said. “I think you could say he’s almost elite at throwing from the pocket. Very, very good, all-day shooting talent. He’s got a real talent for making real plays and making throws outside the pocket.”

The Texans allowed a lot of long balls against the Colts due to numerous gaps in their defense.

“What I see on offense is quarterback Caleb, who I think is a really exciting player, with a strong arm, who can move in the pocket and initiate a throw,” Ryans said. “You have to stay in coverage because he’s going to find someone further down the field. We have to pay attention to the details when it comes to him moving in the pocket. We have to make sure we’re as tenacious as possible in coverage against them.”

A year ago, the Houston Texans played no role in NFL decision-makers’ planning the most prestigious part of their schedule.

This is a moment for the franchise, which features brand new uniforms, including white-on-white jerseys and pants for this game.

The Texans, led by Pro Bowl quarterback CJ Stroud, have improved significantly.

“I’m always going to be myself,” Stroud said. “I don’t get caught up in all the hustle and bustle of playing for either the away crowd or the home crowd. I really don’t mind. I just try to play my game and do what I need to do at a high level. I hope people come a little early since it’s a night game.”

“Maybe people are a little late because of the traffic in Houston. And then if they were a little quieter on offense, that would help. Especially when we’re going fast, it’s hard for guys to hear me. So I think we can be a little better there. But hey, we love the energy.”

Aaron Wilson is a Texans and NFL reporter for KPRC 2 and click2houston.com