The NFL’s new year officially kicked off Wednesday, two days after teams began spending big money in free agency.

The wheeling and dealing continued on the eve of the NFL's start of its new league year.

NBC Sports makes its first foray into doing an NFL alternate broadcast on Saturday when it puts the matchup between the Houston Texans and Kansas City Chiefs into the realm of the Madden video game universe.

The Houston Texans have a first-round draft pick for the first time since 2019, and thanks to the Deshaun Watson trade they have two selections in the opening round.

Every year, players in every NFL city fail to meet expectations.

Carson Wentz threw two touchdown passes, Jonathan Taylor ran for two more scores and the Indianapolis defense protected a big second-half lead to help the Colts put away Houston 31-3.

About a third of the starting quarterbacks have missed time because of injuries, and Richard Sherman’s return to the NFL was hastened by Tampa Bay’s need at cornerback.

Rookie Mac Jones threw a touchdown pass to tie it in the fourth quarter and Nick Folk’s 21-yard field goal with 15 seconds left lifted the New England Patriots to a 25-22 win over the Houston Texans.

Tyrod Taylor went 4 of 4 for 40 yards in his lone series and rookie quarterback Davis Mills led a couple of scoring drives for the Houston Texans in a 26-7 preseason victory over the Packers.

Nick Caserio enters his first draft as the general manager of the Houston Texans with the unique challenge of trying to improve a team that went 4-12 last season without the benefit of a first- or second-round pick.

HOUSTON – Nick Caserio has been hired as the general manager of the Houston Texans. Caserio, a longtime executive with the New England Patriots, replaces Bill O’Brien, who was the team’s coach and general manager before he was fired after this season's 0-4 start. Caserio has spent the last 20 seasons with the Patriots and has been the director of player personnel in New England since 2008. “Nick is an incredibly hard worker, disciplined, a man of integrity and high character,” Texans owner Cal McNair said. Caserio began his career with the Patriots in 2001 as a personnel assistant and became an offensive coaching assistant in 2002 before becoming an area scout in 2003.

Houston Texans quarterback Deshaun Watson throws during the second half of an NFL football game against the Detroit Lions, Thursday, Nov. 26, 2020, in Detroit. (AP Photo/Paul Sancya)HOUSTON – The Houston Texans know Deshaun Watson is the quarterback they need to lead them next year and beyond. First on the list of priorities for the Texans is to hire a coach and general manager. That’s pretty obvious.”DECISIONS ON OFFENSEWhile the Texans are set with Watson, they have plenty of other decisions to make on offense. Star receiver Will Fuller is a free agent and Watson has been vocal about his desire for the Texans to re-sign him.

Tennessee Titans running back Derrick Henry (22) breaks away from Houston Texans defensive end Charles Omenihu (94) during the second half of an NFL football game Sunday, Jan. 3, 2021, in Houston. (AP Photo/Sam Craft)HOUSTON – The Tennessee Titans won the AFC South on Sunday. All it took was Derrick Henry surpassing 2,000 yards rushing and rookie Sam Sloman’s 37-yard field goal that bounced off the upright and through for a 41-38 victory over the Houston Texans. The Titans then capped a long drive with a 5-yard TD run by Ryan Tannehill with less than two minutes remaining. Henry had put the Titans on top 10-3 when he dashed 52 yards early in the second quarter.

Houston Texans defensive end J.J. Watt leaves the field after a losing an NFL football game against the Cincinnati Bengals Sunday, Dec. 27, 2020, in Houston. HOUSTON – The Houston Texans have been bad all season. Sunday was the third time in the past four games the Texans have had a chance to win or tie a game late but lost a fumble instead. “And in my mind, for me, he brings a high level of hope for us to be able to win a game. The Titans beat the Texans 42-36 in overtime in Week 6 behind a 212-yard rushing performance from Derrick Henry.

(AP Photo/Elaine Thompson)Jared Goff popped his dislocated right thumb thumb back into place and kept playing. “It’s OK right now," said Goff, who was 23 of 42 for 224 yards and an interception in the Rams' 20-9 loss at Seattle on Sunday. In East Rutherford, New Jersey, Frank Gore ran his way to another career milestone and then was forced to watch the New York Jets' second win from the sideline. — Baltimore center Patrick Mekari left the Ravens' 27-13 win over the New York Giants with a back injury. — Carolina left tackle Trent Scott left early in the third quarter of the Panthers' 20-13 win over Washington with a shoulder injury and did not return.

Houston Texans quarterback Deshaun Watson (4) is tackled by Cincinnati Bengals linebacker Germaine Pratt during the first half of an NFL football game Sunday, Dec. 27, 2020, in Houston. That preparation paid off on Sunday when Samaje Perine scored a 3-yard touchdown late to give the Bengals their first road win in more than two years with a 37-31 victory over the Houston Texans. It’s the first road win for Taylor, who is in his second season, and the first time the Bengals (4-10-1) won away from Cincinnati since a 37-36 victory at Atlanta on Sept. 30, 2018. Perine put the Bengals up 17-10 when he ran 46 yards for a touchdown early in the third quarter. The Bengals took an early lead when Allen found Drew Sample wide open for an 8-yard touchdown on their first drive.

HOUSTON – Interim coach Romeo Crennel was asked what’s next for the Houston Texans after yet another loss this weekend dropped them at 1-6. Houston held the Packers to 96 yards rushing with Aaron Jones out with an injury a week after allowing a season-high 263 yards rushing in an overtime loss to Tennessee. “You are what your record says you are.”WHAT’S WORKINGQuarterback Deshaun Watson continues to make the team’s passing game the bright spot in this dismal season. He ranks second in the NFL with 2,095 yards passing and hasn’t thrown an interception in two games. Johnson managed just 42 yards rushing and lost a fumble after a reception in the fourth quarter.