The early matchup between Dallas and Houston is one of teams going in opposite directions. While Houston has raced off to a 2-0 start Dallas has experienced two disappointing losses, freaking out a fan base and owner who expects their team to go to the Super Bowl in 2011. On the road, facing a 0-3 start, this is as one Texas shootout the Cowboys must win.
Texans on Offense
Houston’s offense has looked magnificent through the first two weeks. Every fan knows about the performance of running back Arian Foster in Week One, and against the Redskins quarterback Matt Schaub threw for 497 yards in a shootout for the ages. With Schaub, Foster, receiver Andre Johnson and a solid offensive line the Texans will be a nightmare for most teams to match up with. Of all the teams Houston’s faced, Dallas is most equipped to handle their skill players. The Cowboys have featured a stalwart run defense and permitted only 38 yards rushing to the Chicago Bears last week. Even though Dallas has been inconsistent in its ability to shut down the passing game (the Cowboys gave up three touchdown passes from Jay Cutler on Sunday and were mostly unable to put pressure on him), Dallas’s defensive personal of Andre Ware, Keith Brooking and Terrence Newman are more skilled and athletic than any the Texans has faced this season. Schaub must carry over his success from against the Redskins, where he went 17-21 on first down and spread the ball out to all his receivers. I expect Schaub and Houston to display a lot of play action and screen passes while sprinkling in Johnson and Foster’s deep-play capabilities. Only by utilizing all of their talents can Houston maintain such a high level of offensive success.
Cowboys on Offense
The Cowboys have constantly looked out of sorts on offense, with offensive coordinator Jason Garrett and his personal not on the same page and Head Coach Wade Phillips always appearing overmatched and half awake on the sidelines. Statistics both demonstrate the struggles Dallas has experienced on offense and the talent it has on this side of the ball. The Cowboys have only rushed for 69.5 yards per game and Marion Barber and Felix Jones have only 34 carries between them. While Tony Romo has thrown for 656 yards, he has been hurt by inconsistent play from his receivers, poor offensive line play and the strange play calling of Garrett, which has handicapped him. Perhaps the best indication of this is Romo having only converted five on 19 third downs in the first two weeks. But there’s no reason the Cowboy’s offense cannot turn it around on Sunday. The Texan’s defense has been poor in 2010, particularly against the pass. They have struggled to get any pressure the QB and only defensive end Mario Williams and to a lesser extent linebacker Demarco Ryans have been forces. On Sunday Donavon McNabb threw for 426 yards against Houston, and Romo is completely capable of having a similar performance if Dallas takes the time to establish any threat of a run game, thereby opening up the field for receivers Miles Austin and Dez Bryant. So far on the season Garrett and Phillips have shown little interest in the run game, but they need to if they want to save the Cowboy’s season.
SuperPrediction
Sunday’s contest will be a shootout as both clubs look to take advantage of each other’s weak secondary’s and offensive lines. However, Houston has both a better big-play offense and a more balanced one with Foster and Johnson and playing at home will carry them to a 3-0 record. Sorry Dallas fans, it may just not be your year.
Houston 34
Dallas 27