Can the Dallas Cowboys win two in a row in Texas?

After winning a nail-biter last week at home, the Dallas Cowboys stay in state, traveling to Houston on Sunday Night Football. Here’s what to watch for.

For the Dallas Cowboys, last week’s win over Detroit was no work of art but desperately needed. Thankfully, they don’t put pictures in the wins and losses column. Did the Cowboys putrid offense improve? Absolutely.

It was a nice change to see the quarterback actually throw the ball down the field once in a while. A very Ezekiel Elliott centered game plan did not hurt things either. Meanwhile, the defense came back to Earth a little, giving up the most points it had in any previous game.

All in all, the Dallas Cowboys were still unable to put a total package game together but head into October at 2-2. Tonight, they head back out on the road, albeit a very short trip, to Houston. Facing the Texans on Sunday Night Football, the Cowboys hope to win back-to-back games for the first time all year.

Can the Dallas Cowboys do a Texas two-step? Here’s what to watch for in this intrastate primetime matchup. Whenever you talk about slowing down the Texans, the conversation begins and ends with receiver DeAndre Hopkins. Currently eighth in the league in receptions and fifth in yards, he’s a matchup problem for every cornerback in the NFL.

Luckily, the Dallas Cowboys have a cornerback in Byron Jones who is playing as well as anyone right now. In fairness, this will be by far and away his stiffest test, but Jones looks very good so far in 2018.

If Dallas is to be successful tonight, Jones will need to limit big plays from Hopkins. One thing is for sure, the ball is coming his way. Hopkins has 44 targets in four games, with no less than 10 in any one game.

One way to help out Jones will be to get pressure on opposing quarterback Deshaun Watson. Only Bills quarterback Josh Allen has taken more sacks than Watson’s 17.

Watson has gone down three times or more in every game, including seven last week at the hands of the Indianapolis Colts. Whether these sacks are occurring due to Watson’s inexperience in the pocket or the Texans porous offensive line, you know DeMarcus Lawrence can’t wait for this game.

Lawrence leads the league in sacks with 5.5 and will look to continue his earn his place as the leader of the “Hot Boyz.” Lawrence has registered a sack in every game so far in 2018, including three last week against Detroit. The Dallas Cowboys will need to limit Watson’s playmaking ability running and force him to beat them from the pocket. If they fail to do so, it will be a long night for the “Boyz” in silver and blue.

Offensively, the Cowboys need to continue to pound the rock with Elliott. While the Texans have a top ten rush defense, there is a lot of fools gold to that designation. For one, they have not faced an elite running back all season. For another, their pass defense has been so bad, teams have chosen to attack them that way.

We all know how successful this team is when Elliott is the focal point of the game plan. Dallas is undefeated when Elliott goes for more than 130 yards rushing. They are 8-1 when he gets 25+ carries.

Last week, Zeke went for 152 yards on 25 carries and added another 88 receiving yards in a Cowboys’ win. Dallas must use Elliott as a multi-option threat to have a chance at their third win of the season.

This game is difficult to predict. You have to believe that the Texans will play desperate at 1-3, already two games out of first place. Dallas is more talented than the Texans and the coaching on both sides leave a lot to be desired.

This game is the exact type of game the Cowboys need to win if they have any desire to be a good team in 2018.

Prediction:

Cowboys 23, Texans 21