Nov 10, 2024; Houston, Texas, USA; Houston Texans working again Joe Mixon (28) alerts after speeding for a primary down throughout the first quarter towards the Detroit Lions at NRG Stadium. Obligatory Credit score: Troy Taormina-Imagn Photographs The battle of the Lone Star State performs out in primetime Monday evening when the Texans go to the Cowboys, who’re winless at residence and trotting out backup Cooper Rush at quarterback with Dak Prescott executed for the season.
Dropping streaks usher every staff into “Monday Evening Soccer.” Houston coughed up a 23-7 lead towards the Lions to endure a second straight loss, whereas Dallas is winless in 4 consecutive video games and beginning a window of three video games in 10 days.
The damage report is especially essential. The Texans’ defensive position will not have starters Will Anderson Jr. (ankle) and Folorunso Fatukasi (foot) out there.
However Houston does welcome again large receiver Nico Collins from an injured reserve stint attributable to a hamstring downside.
Dallas must navigate the remainder of the season with out Prescott, who required season-ending surgical procedure for his hamstring concern. Extensive receiver CeeDee Lamb was a late addition to the damage report, although the staff does count on him to play Monday.
Cowboys cornerbacks DaRon Bland (foot) and Jordan Lewis (neck) will not see any motion after being dominated out.
Whereas the damage report is an enormous cause the Texans moved two factors — from laying 5 factors to -7 — this matchup won’t be the slam dunk that some view it as on paper.
–Issues in Huge D
Dallas was already in hassle even earlier than the Prescott damage. Cowboys proprietor and common supervisor Jerry Jones has drawn loads of criticism for a way he put the roster collectively.
Jones cited wage cap constraints as the explanation for passing on signing working Derrick Henry at a lower fee throughout the offseason when he was out there as a free agent, and did not even think about top-dollar signings corresponding to Saquon Barkley.
The choice seems to be worse every week. Henry leads the league in yardage, yards per carry and touchdowns and Barkley is placing collectively an MVP spotlight reel for the Eagles.
Jones even doubled down on his feedback by saying that whereas Henry is having an important yr with Baltimore, it is unlikely that the nine-year veteran would’ve had comparable success with the Cowboys as a result of they run a distinct sort of offense.
The issue with this assertion is that Henry was profitable as a straight-ahead runner for the Titans, and one has to count on {that a} Corridor of Fame-level working again in peak situation can nonetheless get the job executed in varied schemes.
Dallas clearly had a void at working again after opting to not resign Tony Pollard. Henry might need been in a position to masks a number of the deficiencies inside the Cowboys’ offensive line, which has taken a step again relative to latest dominant entrance 5 teams.
Defensively, the Cowboys had been all the time extra of an opportunistic staff that benefited from turnovers, which is not all the time a sustainable metric.
Nonetheless, even with their issues, I am undecided they warrant the Cowboys catching seven factors as residence underdogs.
–Prop Cease
Joe Mixon has grow to be the bread-and-butter choice within the Houston offense.
With Collins again on the sphere and Dallas’ well being issues within the secondary, the Cowboys are sure to be on their heels anticipating C.J. Stroud will push the ball to Collins and Tank Dell.
It is Mixon who could possibly be in for a lunchpail shift Monday. That is as a result of Dallas has been steamrolled within the working recreation the previous 4 video games, permitting 173.5 yards per recreation.
Mixon has 24 carries or extra in 4 consecutive video games and 5 100-yard speeding video games regardless of lacking three attributable to damage.
Prop choose: Joe Mixon 100+ speeding yards, +152 (FanDuel)
–A primary-half wager value contemplating
We’ll study a lot in regards to the Cowboys’ resolve Monday and over the following 10 days.
Whether or not they can put forth a greater effort after final week’s 34-6 loss to the Eagles is just not clear. Between Rush and Trey Lance, the Cowboys longest cross play went all of 10 yards. The Cowboys had 49 yards passing whereas averaging 2.6 yards per play.
It is tough to suppose that they will play a lot worse, and I do know the general public is lining as much as fade them towards the Texans.
We should observe that groups have struggled to get again in control of their following recreation after dealing with the Lions. Detroit is understood to be a really bodily staff, and its opponents are simply 2-6 straight up and 0-8 towards the unfold of their subsequent recreation.
These numbers are actually sufficient cause for me to pause on backing Houston.
Nonetheless, Collins’ return ought to convey Houston juice.
With Collins on the sphere, Houston went 4-1. Whereas shedding Stefon Diggs to an ACL damage stays a colossal blow to the Texans, Collins is greater than able to occupying that No. 1 large receiver place.
The Texans went scoreless for the ultimate two quarters towards the Lions, and I feel there will likely be a concerted effort to get the offense up and working once more with a quick begin.
Houston ranks seventh in first-half scoring with 14.2 factors per recreation, whereas the Dallas protection permits a league-worst 24.3 at residence on this spot. They’ve given up factors in 18 consecutive quarters, an indication of weary legs and lagging effort.
In consequence, I want to cross on the factors unfold altogether and again the Texans to go over their first-half staff complete of 11.5 factors.
Greatest wager: Texans 1H staff complete over 11.5 factors (-112 at DraftKings)
–Michael Nwaneri, Subject Degree Media