The Houston Texans prepare for the Lone Star State shootout, preseason style
After opening up the preseason on the road against the Green Bay Packers, the Houston Texans rode off into the crisp Wisconsin night with a decisive 26-7 win. This time the trip will only be about an hour as the Texans head north to take on the Dallas Cowboys for Week 2.
Dallas enters the game with an 0-2 record, having lost to the participants of Super Bowl XLIII, The Pittsburgh Steelers in the Hall of Fame Game, and most recently the Arizona Cardinals as well. It’s safe to say that their record is a result of their younger players getting game time.
The Cowboys defense has limited points, only allowing 19 points in two games. Rookie linebacker Micah Parsons is so eager to play that he was begging for more reps in the Hall of Fame game. Parsons will be looking to get the first preseason win of his career against the Texans.
Heading into this week’s game, the questions surrounding this game are more about consistency for the Texans. Will the defensive line continue to wreak havoc? Can the offense sustain a drive enough to score through the air? Here’s a response to those questions and more ahead.
Steven Mullenax of The Landry Hat was kind enough to take some time and answer 5 questions pertaining to the Houston Texans-Dallas Cowboys matchup on Saturday. Here are his responses.
1) The Cowboys have done a good job at limiting points and keeping offenses out of the endzone as much as possible. With Micah Parsons getting more and more involved with the defense, what are his expectations heading into this week’s game? Or which defensive player/unit needs to be better?
SM: We should get to see the Cowboys’ 2021 first-round draft selection, linebacker Micah Parsons, play his most snaps of the preseason against the Houston Texans this Saturday in the dress rehearsal game. By all accounts, it should be an indication of just how much of a difference-maker he can be on the defensive side of the ball and how much he deserves to start when the regular season kicks off.
As for a unit that needs to play better in this matchup, all eyes will be on the interior defensive line this week following the elbow injury suffered by second-year defensive tackle Neville Gallimore last Friday. Someone from this revamped unit has to step up in his place if the team is going to improve on their lackluster run defense from last season that saw them ranked 31st in the NFL allowing an average of 158.8 rushing yards per game.
2) The NFL world is waiting for the return of Dak Prescott after last year’s gruesome injury. Will we get to see Prescott in this game? When he does return, do you think he may struggle to regain a connection with his offense?
SM: I know the plan is for Dak Prescott to potentially play against the Texans in what would be his lone appearance of the preseason. But honestly, there’s no reason to risk him. While he’s started to throw again after suffering a lat strain in his right shoulder, this latest scare only supports the idea of protecting him from further injury (and himself) as much as possible. So don’t be surprised if No. 4 is on the sidelines in this one as well. But when he does return, I don’t expect him to struggle based on his hot start from last season and the fact this is his third year playing in offensive coordinator Kellen Moore’s scheme.
3) Do you think the younger Cowboys are playing a little better because they have had the “Hard Knocks” filming happening during camp?
SM: No. I think they might be playing better despite the extra attention. It’s simply something else they have to overcome as the Cowboys are under an intense media spotlight all the time. The extra folks from HBO being around only intensify what’s commonplace when you play for America’s Team.
4) Some people have said that Mike McCarthy carried his “disconnect” that ended his time in Green Bay to Dallas. If this year is not an improvement, what will happen to McCarthy?
SM: The problem with potentially replacing McCarthy at the end of this season if he is unable to meet expectations is finding his replacement. Despite how things ended for him in Green Bay, he posted 10 seasons with a record of 8-8 or better and took the Packers to the playoffs nine times, winning the Super Bowl in 2010. There simply aren’t very many coaching candidates with that kind of pedigree. So it will need to be a monumental meltdown on his part for Dallas to move on from McCarthy after only two seasons.
5) Ever since Jason Witten departed, the battle for the tight end spot has been open for anyone to take. If Dalton Schultz is healthy, can he take the starting role away from Blake Jarwin?
SM: Absolutely. After Jarwin suffered an ACL injury in Week One last season, Schultz stepped up and proved he’s a true NFL starting tight end. And that trend has only continued in training camp. Having both is a luxury for the Cowboys this season. And both have much to prove as Jarwin is coming off that injury after signing a four-year, $22 million extension last March while Shultz is entering the final year of his rookie deal in Dallas.
With the Cowboys and Texans set to square off, these questions will be answered by the game themselves Saturday night. If the Texans can go 2-0 against Green Bay and Dallas alike, then that would provide some positivity heading into the regular season.
Dallas will have their success if Dak is healthy and they play up to their talent level and potential. They are very capable of winning the NFC East this season, and their preparation for that goal continues with this is preseason game against the Texans.
Both the Texans and Cowboys have something to prove on Saturday, and for some entertainment value the winning team will give their fanbase bragging rights in the state of Texans for this season.