The Cowboys are upset with how they played in Rio, with a long flight back to think about their actions. This team will need to overcome any jet lag, and be ready to play against a team…who may be more desperate than you.
The Houston Texans came into this season after a playoff year and looked to take the next step. But a 0-2 start started making the Texans see a similar look to last year. In 2025, they started 0-2 and finished 12-2. But after losing 19-17 to the Indianapolis Colts, the Texans are now going to have to go against NFL odds to make the postseason.
There has been only one team (the 1992 Chargers) to make the postseason after a 0-4 start in the Super Bowl Era.
Can’t Cover but Gets Sacks
So what has gone wrong for this Texans defense? The secondary has struggled through three weeks. Which is odd; I think of good things of the personnel in Houston with Derek Stingley Jr. and Kamari Lassiter as the outside cornerbacks. They add Reed Blankenship from Philadelphia this offseason, who I thought of as a Dallas target.
They have given up the 7th most yards per game. They tend to play a lot of zone coverage and don’t blitz often. Utilizing a 4-man rush on 75% of passing downs. Interestingly, they have the 2nd highest sack rate in the NFL at 10.1%.
So you think of their edge rushers Will Anderson Jr. and Danielle Hunter as the starters and former Cowboy Jadeveon Clowney as their pass-rushing specialists. This defensive line has played well for the Texans and presents the biggest problem on Sunday.
Will Anderson Jr. leads the NFL with 17 pressures and eight quick pressures (under 2.5 seconds) on 59 one-on-one pass rushes this season (4 sacks), while his 28.8% pressure rate on those reps ranks second-highest among edge defenders. His matchup on Sunday will be Terrence Steele.
Keeping Stroud Upright
C.J. Stroud has seemed to struggle with this his entire career. The Texans have never been able to protect him. Here’s a fun NGS post.
C.J. Stroud is one of just two qualified quarterbacks to have recorded at least as many sacks taken (10) as completed passes (10) when under pressure this season, along with Jameis Winston, with each of Stroud’s sacks coming when the defense has sent four or fewer pass rushers (most).
Maybe not fun for Texans fans.
C.J. Stroud has been sacked 10 times across 43 total pressures faced this season. This team has struggled to keep Stroud from being comfortable, which in turn has stunted a lot of their drives.
Donovan Ezeiruaku has generated a team-high 10 pressures, including half a sack, across 63 pass rushes this season, twice as many pressures as any other Cowboys defender. He has recorded a 15.9% pressure rate, a figure 6.2 percentage points higher than his 9.7% rate as a rookie.
But just 0.5 sacks for the season. The Cowboys only have 2 sacks as a team. They have not been able to convert pressures into sacks. This is a game where this defensive line absolutely needs to get a sack. Or else Dallas may need to consider moving another one of those picks for a real pass rusher.
Welcome Back Nico: Beware of Noel
Nico Collins has been missed for this Texans offense for the past two weeks. Of course, against Dallas he will receive the magical healing spray that will not only make him good to go on Sunday, but maybe even get him 100 yards.
That is unless JPJ has anything to say about it!
One thing I would watch for in this Texans offense, getting the ball to Jailyn Noel has worked. Noel is a second year receiver who plays a primary role in the slot. He has a great ability to be bursty and could threat a tough matchup for Caleb Downs.
He is generally the lone deep target for Houston while Nico was absent.
Run The Football?
The Cowboys got their rushing attack going last week in Brazil. 98 yards and a touchdown; a majority of Williams’ success has come from outside runs, usually where his explosion comes from.
The Texans are one of the top five run defenses so far in the NFL. This is largely due to Azeez Al-Shaair as their middle linebacker.
On the other side, the interior of the Texans offensive line has been their weak point. Giving opportunity to Quinnen Williams and Kenny Clark the opportunity to be disruptive. The Texans have not been able to get any run game going this year.
Running the ball has held Houston’s offense back; this Dallas team has struggled to stop the run.
Which unit will finally get the victory?
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