Monday Night Football features a thrilling showdown between the Houston Texans (6-4) and the Dallas Cowboys (3-6). The last encounter between these teams took place in 2022, where the Cowboys triumphed by a narrow four-point margin at home. The Texans are reeling from a tough loss to the Lions, falling 26-23, but managed to cover the spread as 4.5-point underdogs. Meanwhile, the Cowboys suffered a disappointing defeat against the Eagles, losing 34-6 while also coming in as 7.5-point home underdogs. Currently, the Texans are favored by 7.5 points on the road. Kickoff is set for 8:15 PM EST at AT&T Stadium in Arlington, and the game will be broadcast on ABC.
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Which team will emerge victorious in this clash between the AFC and NFC? Continue reading for predictions on the Texans vs. Cowboys matchup.
Texans Struggle to Maintain Momentum
The Houston Texans faced the Detroit Lions at home last week on Sunday Night Football, surging to a 23-7 lead by halftime. However, they faltered in the second half, allowing the Lions to mount a 19-0 comeback, resulting in a disappointing three-point loss. The Texans’ offense struggled, contributing to five interceptions overall. Quarterback CJ Stroud threw for 232 yards and a touchdown but also added two interceptions during the game.
Head coach DeMeco Ryans expressed his disappointment, stating, “We didn’t make the plays to win the game … to win games, guys have to step up and make plays, and that’s not happening.” Stroud has been averaging 237.1 passing yards per game with a 62.9% completion rate, alongside a 12-6 TD-INT ratio. However, the passing attack appears to have slowed, with only two passing touchdowns over the last four games. Joe Mixon has emerged as a top threat from the backfield, averaging 93.6 yards per game with seven touchdowns despite missing a few games earlier this season. Nico Collins, who leads the team in receiving yards with 567, is expected to return from the injured reserve, while Stefon Diggs remains sidelined with a knee injury. Tank Dell is set to contribute to the offense as well.
In terms of scoring, the Texans rank 17th in the league, averaging 22.4 points per game, while their defense stands 19th, allowing 22.6 points. Linebacker Henry To’oTo’o leads the team in tackles with 56 and has contributed to the team’s 13 interceptions. Safety Calen Bullock has recorded four interceptions so far. The Texans have accumulated 29 sacks this season, with Will Anderson Jr. leading the charge with 7.5 sacks.
Injury Report:
Questionable: RB Dameon Pierce, WR Nico Collins, T Laremy Tunsil, T Blake Fisher, DE Will Anderson Jr., DT Folorunso Fatukasi, CB Derek Stingley Jr., CB Kamari Lassiter
Cowboys Face Challenges with Backup Quarterbacks
The Dallas Cowboys find themselves in a tough spot, having lost four consecutive games. The situation worsened with quarterback Dak Prescott undergoing season-ending surgery on his hamstring, leaving the team to rely on backup quarterback Cooper Rush. Coach Mike McCarthy expressed confidence in Rush, saying, “We have a lot of faith in Cooper. Everybody believes in him based on the way he’s performed.” Trey Lance is also available as an option if needed. In their previous game against the Eagles, the Cowboys managed a mere six points, which came from two first-half field goals.
In their first game without Prescott, Rush completed 13 of 23 passes for only 45 yards, while Lance managed 4 of 6 passes for 21 yards but threw an interception. Depending on Rush’s performance, the Cowboys might utilize both quarterbacks in this matchup. The team may also need to depend heavily on their running game, with Rico Dowdle currently leading the backfield with 374 rushing yards. While Dowdle has yet to score a rushing touchdown, he has three receiving touchdowns as a valuable red zone target. Former star Ezekiel Elliott is back with the Cowboys and, despite losing some speed, remains effective in short-yardage situations. CeeDee Lamb, the team’s best offensive player, has tallied 681 yards on 59 receptions with four touchdowns, although his performance against the Eagles was subdued, with just six catches for 21 yards.
Scoring-wise, the Cowboys rank 23rd in the league, averaging 19.7 points per game, while their defense sits at 31st, giving up an average of 28.8 points. Linebacker Eric Kendricks leads the team in tackles with 78 and has contributed to two of the team’s 23 sacks. Micah Parsons has three sacks but often faces double-team blocking. The Cowboys have recorded only five interceptions this season, with Trevon Diggs leading the way with two.
Injury Report:
Questionable: G Zach Martin, T Tyler Smith, LB Nick Vigil, CB DaRon Bland, CB Jourdan Lewis
Out: Dak Prescott
Best Bets for Houston Texans vs. Dallas Cowboys
