The Dallas Cowboys really squandered a chance on Sunday to not only improve to 2-1, but also send a message to the rest of the NFL that they are to be taken seriously. Any talk of Dallas being a legitimate contender is on pause until further notice.
Right now, their main focus has to be climbing back to .500 this week. And that won't be easy, even though the Houston Texans are still searching for their first win.
Already one of the most physical teams in football, Houston will now be playing with a sense of desperation. Dallas should absolutely match that desperation, however. Falling to 1-3 wouldn't be a death knell, but it would leave them walking a tightrope the rest of the way.
This has the makings of another close game. As we get closer to Sunday, we've got you covered on everything you need to know about this intrastate matchup.
- How to watch Cowboys vs. Texans in Week 4
- Cowboys' Injury Report for Week 4
- Texans' Injury Report for Week 4
- Biggest Cowboys storylines heading into Week 4
- Predictions for Cowboys vs. Texans in Week 4
Last updated: Thursday, October 1 at 5:00 am CT
How to watch Cowboys vs. Texans in Week 4
- Date: Sunday, September 27
- Time: 12:00 p.m. CT
- Location: Reliant Stadium, Houston, TX
- TV Network: FOX
- Announcers: Kenny Albert (Play-by-Play), Greg Olsen (Color Analyst), Pam Oliver (Sideline)
Cowboys' Injury Report for Week 4
Player | Position | Injury | Wednesday (9/30) | Thursday (10/1) | Friday (10/2) | Game Status |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
DeMarvion Overshown | LB | Hamstring | DNP | |||
Cobie Durant | CB | Hamstring | DNP | |||
Shavon Revel | CB | Knee/Ankle | DNP | |||
Malik Hooker | S | Forearm | Limited | |||
James Houston | OLB | Shoulder | Full |
Texans' Injury Report for Week 4
Player | Position | Injury | Wednesday (9/30) | Thursday (10/1) | Friday (10/2) | Game Status |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
Azeez Al-Shaair | LB | Groin | DNP | |||
British Brooks | RB | Hamstring | DNP | |||
Trent Brown | OT | Illness/Knee/Wrist | DNP | |||
Will Anderson | DE | Ankle | Limited | |||
Calen Bullock | S | Quad | Limited | |||
Jadeveon Clowey | DE | Knee | Limited | |||
Nico Collins | WR | Hamstring | Limited | |||
Logan Hall | DE | Knee | Limited | |||
Jake Hansen | LB | Calf | Limited | |||
Ed Ingram | G | Groin | Limited | |||
Dalton Schultz | TE | NIR-Rest | Limited | |||
M.J. Stewart | S | Knee | Limited | |||
Wade Woodaz | LB | Thumb | Full |
Biggest Cowboys storylines heading into Week 4
Who starts in the depleted secondary?
Any optimism about the secondary has all but vanished. As of this writing, Dallas is without three of its five starters: Jalen Thompson (hamstring), Malik Hooker (forearm), and Cobie Durant (hamstring), as well as two of its top backups: P.J. Locke (foot) and Shavon Revel (knee/ankle).
The NFL season is a war of attrition, but to be down that many key players three games is ungodly luck. Even if it were late November, this would be a long injury list.
If Hooker and Revel can't go, that would mean Caelen Carson or Ameer Speed starting opposite DaRon Bland. Reddy Steward could start in the nickel if Dallas wants to move Caleb Downs to safety. Markquese Bell just can't hold up in coverage. Alijah Clark has significantly more range.
Here's what the secondary might look like:
- CB: DaRon Bland
- NCB: Reddy Steward
- CB: Caelen Carson
- S: Caleb Downs
- S: Alijah Clark
Woof.
How does Brian Schottenheimer respond?
There's no sugarcoating it. Schottenheimer was terrible in Week 3. While the Cowboys made pivotal blunders in all three phases against the Ravens, Schottenheimer's situational play-calling and end-of-game management put his team at a severe disadvantage.
Let's run through Schotty's mishaps (not in order of importance);
- Abandoning Javonte Williams at the goal line on the first drive after he rushed for 36 yards on the drive
- Calling a shuffle pass to Jake Ferguson with CeeDee Lamb and George Pickens dominating
- Overcoaching Dak Prescott on the biggest play of the game (the 3rd-and-goal throwaway)
- Playing for overtime despite having a depleted defense
- Not calling a squib quick with seven seconds left in regulation, which allowed the Ravens enough time for one play and the game-winning field goal
Schottenheimer gave his play-calling an "F" grade and said he deserves all the criticism he's taken this week. You'd rather your head coach be self-aware than the alternative, but the Cowboys cannot afford for accountability from their head coach to become a recurring theme.
One false move in a high-leverage moment against the Texans would only exacerbate the criticism and further erode confidence in his ability to manage close games.
Sunday is a huge game for Schottenheimer.
Will the pass rush finally wake up?
The Cowboys' pass rush has been about as active as Jalen Hurts is throwing over the middle of the field, which is to say, not at all.
Caleb Downs still has the only sack of the season, and Dallas doesn't have a single player with double-digit pressures. Quinnen Williams leads the team with eight pressures, while Donovan Ezeiruaku and Rashan Gary both have six. Just not good enough.
Ezeiruaku has been more consistent in generating pressure, but even when he's found his way into the backfield, he hasn't finished. That's a huge part of the job. There's no reason that first-round pick Malachi Lawrence should only have 31 pass-rush snaps on the year.
Lawrence has the highest pass-rush win rate on the team (24.1 percent), per Pro Football Focus. He's been a quiet bright spot.
C.J. Stroud is the least mobile QB the Cowboys have faced thus far, and the Texans' offensive line is nothing to write home about. If the pass rush doesn't produce this week, we're not sure when it will.
Notice how these storylines are defense- and coach-related. Nothing about the offense. The same as it ever was in the Dak Prescott Era.
Predictions for Cowboys vs. Texans in Week 4
Predictions will be added as they are shared throughout the week.
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