The Cowboys head into their matchup with the Texans carrying two very different problems: an offense that has been too inconsistent in key moments, and a defense that let last week’s game slip away in stunning fashion. Now they get another shot against a Houston team that’s 0-3, with Brian Schottenheimer under the most scrutiny for how Dallas has handled both sides of the ball.
On paper, this is the kind of game Dallas should be able to control. But paper doesn’t play football, and this all-Texas meeting comes with the Cowboys in the same position they were a year ago before they fought their way out of it. The challenge now is turning that talent into cleaner execution.
For Dallas to come out on top, the edge rush has to show up.
That was not the area of focus last week against Baltimore, when the attention was on the defensive tackles and their matchup with Derrick Henry and a physical Ravens attack. Kenny Clark, Quinnen Williams, and the rest of that interior group handled their part well enough, but the Cowboys still didn’t finish the job.
Against Houston, the pressure point shifts outside. The Texans have had their own offensive frustrations, with second-year coordinator Nick Caley drawing plenty of criticism as the unit has looked static before the snap, struggled to stretch the field, and dealt with too much pressure on C.J.
Stroud. David Montgomery has also seen loaded boxes, which has only added to the mess.
That gives Dallas a clear path. If the front seven can build on last week’s showing, the Cowboys can crowd throwing lanes and make Stroud work under duress.
That matters even more because the coverage group is already stretched thin without P.J. Locke, Cobie Durant, or Jalen Thompson for the foreseeable future.
The pass rush off the edge, though, needs to be better than it has been. Rashan Gary did not have a strong game against Baltimore, Donovan Ezeiruaku got around the quarterback but couldn’t finish, Von Miller was a non-factor, and Malachi Lawrence played just 17 snaps. If Dallas wants this defense to take a step forward, that group has to start producing.
The other major key is much simpler: finish drives in the red zone.
That area could decide the game for both teams, and the Cowboys can’t afford to settle for anything less than touchdowns when they get there. Houston’s defense has already shown it can squeeze teams down there, holding the Bills to 1-3 red-zone touchdowns, the Colts to 1-3 last week, and preventing the Bengals from reaching the red zone at all in Week 2, even in a 20-6 loss.
Dallas should have chances to score against that defense, but the approach has to be sharper. The temptation to overthink things has already cost them, and that can’t happen again.
The Texans have had issues covering linebackers, which could open a lane for Jake Ferguson if Dallas wants to attack that part of the field. Still, the safest bet may be to keep leaning on CeeDee Lamb and George Pickens, with Javonte Williams helping steady the offense.
Houston is likely to be energized, especially with Nico Collins expected on the field for the first time since the opener. That only raises the stakes for Dallas to be efficient and disciplined when scoring chances come. Against a team that badly needs answers, the Cowboys can’t afford to hand over momentum in the red area.
In Other News...
Joey Porter Jr. Trade Just Dragged Cowboys Into A Steelers Controversy
The Joey Porter Jr. trade has stirred more than just roster talk around Dallas. After the Cowboys landed the cornerback from Pittsburgh, former Steelers running back LeVeon Bell jumped on social media to take aim at his old team, using the move to reopen broader questions about how the franchise has handled some of the Black players it drafted.
Bells comments pointed to Porter and former wide receiver George Pickens while leaving linebacker T.J. Watt out of the criticism, and his own history with the Steelers added another layer to the conversation. For the Cowboys, the deal itself is the football piece, but the surrounding noise has ensured Porter arrives in Dallas with a spotlight that reaches well beyond the field. [Read more 🡒]
Eagles Tight End Need Puts An Awkward Cowboys Trade Idea In Play
The Cowboys 2023 draft class has already thinned out, and tight end Luke Schoonmaker is still trying to carve out a clearer role in Dallas. He remains behind Jake Ferguson on the depth chart, which has left him as one of the few members of that class still on the roster without a firm path to starting snaps.
That uncertainty has even opened the door to a curious trade thought, with analyst Kristopher Knox pointing to teams like the Miami Dolphins and Philadelphia Eagles as possible landing spots for Schoonmaker. For Dallas, the awkward part is obvious: the idea of moving a young tight end within the division is never easy to ignore, especially when the roster still has so little left from that draft class. [Read more 🡒]
Tony Pollard Could Be Headed Back Into A Contender's Plans
The Titans rough 0-3 start has already put a spotlight on their offense, and it has also reopened questions about what comes next for Tony Pollard. ESPNs Dan Graziano floated the idea that the veteran running back could become a trade candidate if he stays healthy and Tennessee decides it does not plan to extend his contract, a development that would put him on the radar of teams looking for backfield help.
For Cowboys fans, it is the sort of early-season storyline worth watching because Pollard remains a familiar name with real market value if Tennessee keeps sliding. The Saints, Vikings and Packers were all mentioned as possible suitors if the Titans drift out of playoff contention, which could turn Pollard into one of the more interesting available pieces before the trade deadline picture starts to clear. [Read more 🡒]