Texans will play on Thanksgiving, twice on Monday Night Football in 2012 season

HOUSTON (KTRK) -- The Texans released their 2012 regular season schedule Tuesday and the team will play five nationally televised games.

For the first time in franchise histroy, the Texans will play on Thanksgiving Day, facing the Lions in Detroit. The defending AFC South division champions have two games on Monday Night Football -- against the Jets and Patriots, both of which are on the road.

The 2012 season also features two national TV games on Sunday Night Football vs. the Packers at Reliant Stadium and vs. the Bears in Chicago.

The Texans open the season at Reliant on September 9 against the Miami Dolphins. Houston is 6-0 all-time against Miami and has won all three matchups at home in the series.

Houston will look to avenge last season's AFC divisional round playoff loss to Baltimore on October 21 at home. And the Texans close out their season with a road game in Indianapolis on December 30.

Houston Texans 2012 season schedule (all times 12pm CT unless otherwise noted):

September 9: vs. DOLPHINS
September 16: at Jaguars
September 23: at Broncos, 3:15pm
September 30: vs. TITANS
Monday, October 8: at Jets (ESPN), 7:30pm
October 14: vs PACKERS, 7:20pm
October 21: vs RAVENS
October 28: BYE
November 4: vs BILLS
November 11: at Bears, 7:20pm
November 18:vs. JAGUARS
Thursday, November 22: at Lions, 11:30am
December 2: at Titans
Monday, December 9: at Patriots (ESPN) 7:30pm
December 16: vs COLTS
December 23: vs VIKINGS
December 30: at Colts

The Texans finished with a 10-6 record in 2011, won their division and won their first ever playoff game.

According to ESPN.com, the team is tied for the 29th toughest schedule in the league, with 6 games against quality opponents (teams with 9 wins or more last year). The Texans opponents had a 121-135 record last season.

The team released its preseason schedule last week (all times CT):

Saturday, August 11: at Panthers (ABC13), 6pm
Saturday, August 18: vs. 49ERS (ABC13), 7pm
Saturday, August 25: at Saints (National TV), 7pm
Thursday, August 30: vs. VIKINGS (ABC13), 6pm

ABC13 is the Official Television Home of the Houston Texans.

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