Texans at Cowboys: How to watch, odds, expert picks for intrastate Monday matchup
Two teams from the Lone Star State desperately need a win on Monday Night Football when the Dallas Cowboys host the Houston Texans . Still in a playoff push, Houston dropped three of its last four games. Without injured quarterback Dak Prescott , the Cowboys got dismantled by their division rivals, the Eagles , and continued a four-game slide. Around a touchdown separates the favored Texans over the Cowboys entering this primetime matchup.
How to watch Texans at Cowboys
Question marks surround Houston's passing game. Quarterback C.J. Stroud saw a noticeable decline in numbers with injuries to stars Nico Collins and Stefon Diggs . Losing a league-high 269 yards on sacks this season, Stroud is burdened with a shaky offensive line (27th in sack rate).
Collins is active off of injured reserve and should provide a lift. Without Collins, Stroud frequently targets receiver Tank Dell to mixed results. Support from Houston's running game was consistent until Joe Mixon saw a four-game 100-yard rushing streak snapped against the Lions . Still, Mixon averages 93.7 yards per game, ranking third overall in the NFL among running backs.
Last in passing yards per play, the Cowboys' defense struggles when it doesn't get to the quarterback. Given Houston's offensive line concerns, Dallas could aggressively pursue Stroud.
The offense is a mess for the Cowboys with backup QB Cooper Rush . Dallas was unable to generate a touchdown in Rush's first full game. Benched in the fourth quarter, Rush and replacement Trey Lance combined for five turnovers and 49 passing yards on 29 passing attempts. Nearly last in rushing before Prescott's injury, opposing defenses can load up the line of scrimmage and dare the Cowboys to throw. Further complicating their offensive efforts, WR CeeDee Lamb was added to the injury report Saturday and is questionable for Monday night.
Seventh in the league in sacks, Houston's defense inflicts damage on opposing quarterbacks while limiting yardage (third in passing defense). If Dallas' passing game flounders again, Week 11 could get ugly for the Cowboys offense.
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