Texas shootout: Cowboys vs. Texans preview
There’s a lot more on the line in this game than to determine the dominant team of Texas. The Dallas Cowboys and the Houston Texans will face off in a game that could sink the Cowboys or turn some heads towards the Texans. The Cowboys are at 0-2 right now
and need the win badly while the Texans can begin to be seen as a serious contender.
While the game does take place from Reliant Stadium in Houston, at a 1:00 pm start time, expect a crowd split right down the middle or even tilted in the Cowboys’ favor. Texas has always been a Cowboys’ state and the Cowboys obviously have a richer history
than the young Houston franchise. One team has five Super Bowls; the other has only eight seasons in the league.
Both teams have an enormous amount of talent but only the Texans have been able to turn that into victories so far, sitting at 2-0. The Texans have been winning their games due to their offensive firepower. They’ve also shown they can beat you in several ways.
Houston won their first game by running the football with Arian Foster, who racked up 231 yards against the Indianapolis Colts. The Texans overcame a 17-point deficit to beat Washington last week. In the game, Matt Schaub was dominant at quarterback, throwing
for 497 yards and three touchdowns. We don’t know what the Texans strategy will be for taking on a tough Dallas defence, but we do know they have their options.
The Cowboys’ defence will have to put pressure on Schaub. DeMarcus Ware should be ready to go this week after battling a neck injury, so this sack-machine will have to be at his best against an explosive Houston offence. Jay Ratliff will also be important in
both stopping the run and hurrying Schaub into his throws. If the Cowboys can’t get to Schaub, then Andre Johnson and the rest of the Texans receiving corps will give the Cowboys nightmares.
Tony Romo and the Dallas offence have been out of sync all summer and through most of the first two games of the season. After mustering just seven points against Washington in Week 1, the Cowboys offence generated 13 of the team’s 20 points last week. Romo
had over 400 yards passing last week but turnovers and the inability to finish drives once again cost the Cowboys.
The Cowboys will have to find some sort of running game. Their main problem is that they have not tried to establish one as Felix Jones, Marion Barber and Tashard Choice have barely gotten any carries. Romo has thrown nearly 100 passes through two games. However
this Sunday Romo has an opportunity to have a big day against a weak Houston secondary. Both Peyton Manning and Donovan McNabb threw for over 400 yards against the Texans and with the weapons at Romo’s disposal; by all means he should have a great game. He
has Miles Austin, Roy Williams, Dez Bryant and tight end Jason Witten who are all talented and can exploit this secondary.
The Texans’ defensive strength is their front line with defensive end Mario Williams. The Cowboys’ offensive line is healing, but they will be rusty, just coming off injury. Williams will have to take advantage of that and make Romo uncomfortable. Romo is erratic
when faced with pressure.
This game can make or break the season for these two teams. The Texans can start 3-0 and maintain their control of the AFC South. They can officially say they have arrived. Meanwhile, the Cowboys season could be in jeopardy with a loss. With a tough schedule
ahead, starting 0-3 would be disastrous, especially when you keep this stat in mind; no team has ever won the Super Bowl after starting 0-3. With the championship game being held at Dallas’ home, expectations are for the Super Bowl and if they can’t pull themselves
together fast, they can kiss those dreams goodbye.
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