The Houston Texans showed up at AT&T Stadium looking to prove something against their in-state rival the Dallas Cowboys.
The Texans ultimately were able to prove victorious against the Cowboys through the stellar play of their defense. What started as a game in which both offenses were stalling mid to late in their drives, ended up being a game that would be decided by the defenses themselves.
Houston was able to once again see all three quarterbacks take the field with Davis Mills getting most of the work throughout the game. Mills finished the contest with 115 yards on 10/16 passing attempts.
The consistent Ka’imi Fairbairn went 2/2 in his field-goal attempts from 38 yards and 24 yards and was also a perfect 2/2 in extra-point attempts.
The game-changer was in the 3rd quarter with Houston down 7-14. Dallas quarterback Ben Dinucci’s pass was intercepted by Texans cornerback Lonnie Johnson Jr. and ended up with Johnson Jr. in the end zone with a pick-six.
The Houston Texans’ receivers saw plenty of opportunities throughout the game and ended up with six receivers hauling in two receptions. Wide receiver Chris Moore led the way with two receptions for 33 yards. His longest reception being for a 26 yard gain.
Houston was able to showcase their skills and instill dominance over the Cowboys. By going 2-0, they gave us 3 more takeaways this week.
Houston Texans Defense Can Make Plays
It’s well known that Defensive Coordinator Lovie Smith is good at what he does. What he’s done with the Houston Texans defense in this short period of time may just bring a positive outlook when the regular season begins.
This defense is full of playmakers who are not afraid to take risks and get rewarded for them. In their past two games, the Texans defense has forced seven turnovers from their opponents, 3 for Green Bay and 4 for Dallas.
Their efforts are vital to the reason that the Texans sit at 2-0 in this preseason. A fumble recovery by Charles Omenihu, a pick-six play by Lonnie Johnson Jr., an interception by Terrence Brooks, and another interception by Shyheim Carter were the difference makers to secure the win on the road against the Cowboys.
Lonnie Johnson pick-sixes Ben DiNucci pic.twitter.com/PfTc7MeI9d
— Rivers McCown (@riversmccown) August 22, 2021
The Houston Texans defense once again pressured the quarterback throughout the four quarters of football. They found themselves able to secure five sacks on the opposing quarterbacks for a total loss of 34 yards.
As always, causation does not mean correlation for preseason. Success during this time doesn’t always carry (see 2008 Lions and 2017 Browns). However, it’s a good sign to see the Houston Texans defense getting after the opposing quarterback and making game-changing plays all over the field.
The Running Backs Need To Be More Consistent
With a roster that includes the likes of Mark Ingram II, Phillip Lindsay, David Johnson, and Rex Burkhead, one can expect the rushing attack from the Houston Texans to be at the forefront of their success.
Although the rushing game found the endzone once with a Mark Ingram two-yard touchdown run in the first quarter, the 3.2 average yards per rush are something that this running back crew must improve on. The Houston Texans are not built to air the ball out for the majority of a football game. When that happens, a team is either losing or finds themselves not confident in the run game.
The rushing game busted out 170 yards on the ground against the Packers but only managed 89 yards against the Cowboys. The Cowboys run defense may be better than the Packers, but games like these make fans wonder if the running game can and will be consistent enough to help the Houston Texans win some games in the 2021-22 season.
If the running backs and offensive line can improve and develop on the same page, that will only bring positive outcomes for every other facet of the Houston Texans football team. An improved running game would help out the next takeaway from Saturday night’s game.
The Texans Third Down Conversion Rate Needs Improvement
In Week 1 of the preseason, the Houston Texans found themselves slightly under 50 percent, 6-14 on their third-down conversion rate. While that is not horrible, it needed improvement. This past week’s matchup against the cross-state rival Cowboys saw the Houston Texans go 0-10 in 3rd down conversions.
After the game, Head Coach David Culley was asked about the team’s lack of success on third down:
"“We need to be more consistent,” coach David Culley said. “It seemed like tonight we got a few more blitzes than we got in the first game. I think it disrupted us a little bit. We’ll get better at that.”"
If the Houston Texans want to find on-field success in the 2021-22 season, they must be more efficient on third down. The cause of this was the result of the inability of the offense to move the ball on 1st and 2nd down. If the Texans can change their third-down situations from the 3rd and 5+ to a 3rd and 3 average, they can expect a monumental jump in their 3rd down conversion rate.
Look for the Houston Texans, David Culley, and Offensive Coordinator Tim Kelly to study and improve on how their offensive unit can convert on more 3rd down situations. With the team sitting pretty with a clean 2-0 record in the 2021 preseason, it may not be hype or hope-worthy just yet. But wins are wins, and this fanbase will take them one at a time.