Battle Red Blog Groupthink: Cowboys

Houston and the Texans have to move on after a demoralizing loss to the Detroit Lions. It's the type of loss that takes two in a row and turns it into four. Can the Texans save the season? At this point it's completely unknown. The next matchup provides plenty of intrigue and leads off our Groupthink of the week.

Another gut wrenching loss. Let's look to the Cowboys game. How much of a rivalry is this game and after two straight losses, how important does this game become to the Texans? L4blitzer : It kinda counts as a rivalry in the sense that you have the two Texas teams going at it and the fanbases will be eager to smack talk one another. The fact that they don't play often dampens the effect, but it could be fun. Sure, Houston is a bit disappointing given expectations, but would take the Texans ' situation over the Cowboys right now...or at any other time since 2002, honestly. As for the importance, maybe not as much as originally thought. Since the AFC South is the worst division in the NFL, the Colts are two games back plus behind on the head-to-head tie-breaker. Houston is looking like it will keep a stranglehold on the AFC 4 seed, the main thing is for Houston to get back on track of playing winning football. Which means actually scoring in the second half of games...make that, scoring actual TDs. in the second half. Could they use a win? Yes. Is it must win? Probably not.

Vballretired : The Cowgirls are a dumpster fire and I'm here for it. Beating them is a must but it only feels good if it's a blowout. Backdooring and turtling your way to victory just won't cut it. Luckily we should be able to run on them and if they start Trey Lance he will be good for a derp or three. Hopefully that is enough.

Kenneth L. : This loss felt like the most Houston Texans loss of all time. The offense let up off the gas and could never find the accelerator pedal again in the second half. The first team to lose since 1933 to record five interceptions and lose. That's incredibly embarrassing. Considering how well the defense played against one of the most effective and creative defenses in the league deserves scorn to be placed on the offense.

For the Cowboys game, I absolutely think the NFL should turn the 17th week into a rivalry week and/or a rotating rivalry. Houston should play New Orleans and Dallas every other season. Jacksonville should play Tampa Bay and Miami. Indianapolis should play the Bears and Bengals (it's crazy that Indianapolis is in the AFC South and Cincinnati which is further south is in the AFC North). It fun for local fan bases, it saves on travel, and it develops additional rivalries.

In terms of importance, Houston has fallen to the fourth spot in the AFC playoff race as the worst division leader. It's now a race against the AFC South - particularly the Colts. Houston has three games remaining against the South; a home-and-away against Tennessee and away at Jacksonville. Those three matchups will matter more than an NFC opponent, but Houston needs this win for moral support, a primetime victory, and momentum heading into the back half of the season. Crucial? Yes absolutely. Can the Texans still achieve all their goals and lose? Sure.

Patrick.H : In terms of making the playoffs it's not a huge deal. They're an NFC East team which doesn't factor a ton into playoff seeding unless we're tied with someone else.

In terms of morale and momentum it's enormous. The Cowboys are going down in flames and like VB said, I'm here to watch them go splat. The Texans, despite the last few games are if not favored by a touchdown then at least close to it. This is one of those "they HAVE to win this one, right?" kind of games. Good teams put the hurt on bad teams and the Cowboys are a bad team. To not win this game would only add fuel to the fire that this Texans team, somehow, despite the big free agency splashes they made, are not serious contenders (at least this year).

It's a big game psychologically, if not for playoff seeding purposes.