NFL Week 11: Texans at Cowboys — Four Key Aspects to Watch
The Houston Texans’ season has become a bit of a paradox in the last few weeks. On one hand, they’ve lost three out of their last four games, and fan confidence in DeMeco Ryans and the team has wavered. On the other hand, their single victory in that stretch came against the Colts, which has kept them two games ahead in the division and given them a 94% chance of reaching the playoffs.
To sum it up, this team is virtually guaranteed a postseason berth, which is a far cry from being one of the NFL’s bottom-dwellers just two years ago. Yet, despite that success, frustration is bubbling, especially after disappointing losses to the Jets and the Lions, along with concerns over C.J. Stroud’s safety due to poor offensive line play.
So, what’s the best way to restore some optimism? A dominant victory over the Dallas Cowboys on national television. The Cowboys, sitting at 3-6, will be without starting QB Dak Prescott for the rest of the season due to a hamstring injury. The Texans, despite their recent struggles, are 7.5-point favorites heading into this game. Here are four key things to watch for on Monday night:
4. Pressure Cooper Rush
With Dak Prescott out, backup QB Cooper Rush will take over for Dallas. Rush was dreadful in his last appearance, throwing for only 66 yards in a loss to Philadelphia. However, his career record as a starter in Dallas is an impressive 5-2. The Texans’ pass rush has been one of the league’s best, even without star rookie Will Anderson in the lineup last week. The defense put consistent pressure on Jared Goff, and against teams like Buffalo and Indianapolis, the Texans forced completion rates in the low 30s. Expect Rush to have a tough time against Houston’s defense on Monday night.
3. Shut Down CeeDee Lamb
The Cowboys’ offense has little else going for it besides CeeDee Lamb. The dynamic wide receiver is one of the NFL’s top playmakers, but he’s been a one-man show this season with minimal help from his teammates. In Dallas’ loss to Philadelphia last week, Lamb caught six passes but only managed 21 yards. The Texans will likely focus their coverage on him, whether that means assigning Derek Stingley to him or doubling him with extra coverage. If Houston can neutralize Lamb, the Cowboys’ offense will struggle mightily.
2. Turn Red Zone Chances Into Touchdowns
One of the Texans’ biggest issues this season has been their inability to score in the second half, and it’s been over a month since they last found the end zone after halftime. If that doesn’t improve, the Texans could find themselves out of playoff contention quickly. On Monday, the Texans need to capitalize on red zone opportunities, especially early in the game, to put pressure on the Cowboys’ struggling offense. Dallas has been terrible in red zone defense this year, ranking dead last, so this is a prime opportunity for C.J. Stroud to get comfortable and lead his team to touchdowns. The return of Nico Collins should also help boost the Texans’ scoring potential.
1. Contain Micah Parsons
The other player who can completely disrupt the game for Dallas is linebacker Micah Parsons. Though he’s battled through a high ankle sprain for much of the season, Parsons returned last week and made an impact with two sacks against Philadelphia. Dallas defensive coordinator Mike Zimmer will likely move Parsons around to exploit favorable matchups. The Texans’ offensive line has struggled with pass protection all year, so it’s critical that they prevent Parsons from generating turnovers or creating short fields for the Cowboys’ offense. If the Texans neutralize Parsons, they’ll have a much better chance of staying in control of this game and keeping the crowd out of it.
