Keys to Victory: Cowboys vs Texans
The Cowboys are back in the country fresh off the heartbraking loss to the Baltimore Ravens. A lot of good things to notice but also the bitter taste from the end of game debacle that was Brian Schottenheimer's playcalling. Let's see what the keys are to avoid the upset from a Houston Texans team that is looking for its first win.
BALANCED ATTACK / SITUATIONAL PLAYCALLING: The passing game has been a bright spot, but dropping back 40–50 times against this defense is asking for trouble, regardless of the weapons we have. With this pass rush, the Cowboys need a balanced approach. More importantly, Brian Schottenheimer has to clean up his situational playcalling. Everyone knows about the end-of-game debacle, but the opening red-zone sequence—including the shovel pass to Ferguson—was just as frustrating. This offense has too much talent for questionable playcalling to keep holding it back.
CONTAIN: As an edge defender, your job isn’t to chase wild squirrels—it’s to set the edge and funnel the play back inside. Put plainly, we’ve been terrible at that. The Cowboys have repeatedly allowed quarterbacks and runners to escape outside. Houston’s weakness is at tackle, and while C.J. Stroud isn’t Lamar Jackson, he can still hurt you with his legs if you lose contain. Take advantage of those tackles, but stay disciplined.
PRESSURE: Don’t let Houston’s struggles in the passing game fool you. This team can still beat you through the air if you let Stroud get comfortable. Our secondary has made strides, but it still has work to do. Even with the addition of JPJ, the front seven needs to make Stroud’s life miserable. Generate pressure, disrupt his timing, and force him into rushed decisions.
STAY AHEAD OF THE CHAINS: This ties back to a balanced attack, but the Cowboys cannot live in third-and-long against this defense and expect to succeed. They need to consistently win on first and second down to create manageable third downs. That means getting GP and CeeDee more involved with quick throws to the outside—something I thought was missing against Baltimore. Get the ball into your playmakers’ hands early and give this pass rush fewer chances to dictate the game.
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