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The NFL released its full 2012 preseason schedule on Wednesday, and while none of the dates for the Houston Texans four games have been announced, we do know the identity of their four opponents.
In Week 1, Houston will face off against the Carolina Panthers and Cam Newton, who has a full off-season to improve on his phenomenally successful rookie season.
The Texans host the San Francisco 49ers in Week 2 in a match-up of two of the NFL's surprise playoff teams last year, both of whom are powered by a dominant defense.
Week 3 sees Houston traveling to New Orleans for a nationally televised CBS game, which will be the first chance for most of the country to check out the post Bountygate Saints, and whoever ends up becoming Sean Payton's replacement.
The Texans conclude the preseason in Week 4 when they host the Minnesota Vikings, which may be an important game for Adrian Peterson in his quest to recover from a serious knee injury at the end of last season.
For the latest news and notes surrounding the Texans offseason, head over to Battle Red Blog.