How far have expectations fallen for the 3-6 Dallas Cowboys?
After entering the season with hopes of repeating as NFC East champs and going on a playoff run, they now host the Houston Texans on Monday Night Football having not scored a touchdown at home in nearly two months. It’ll be a backup quarterback leading Dallas into the game, where a realistic best-case-scenario for the Cowboys might be to just keep things from getting embarrassment on a national stage.
Can Dallas keep it close against C.J. Stroud and the Texans? Could Cooper Rush and crew somehow muster an upset? The Dallas Morning News’ columnists and beat writers make their predictions below.
Tim Cowlishaw
The countdown is on. Dallas has gone four quarters without a touchdown, 10 quarters without a rushing touchdown. Are the Cowboys — outscored 138-60 in this four-game losing streak — likely to get either one against the third-ranked defense in the league? Biggest problem for Dallas (there are many) is a minus-10 in the takeaway department. Not good when you’re hosting a team that picked off Jared Goff five times last week. But Houston’s offensive line will have its own serious issues with the Dallas pass rush in this low-scoring affair.
Texans, 13, Cowboys 7
Damon Marx
The Cowboys still can’t run the ball, nor stop the run. Now, they can’t pass it either. The pass rush awoke against the Eagles with the return of Micah Parsons, and that’s the Cowboys’ best path to keep this close. Perhaps they’ll get a boost from the Monday Night Football buzz. That won’t last, however, as Dallas surrenders in the third quarter once again. The Cowboys won’t get their first home win of the season this week.
Texans 26, Cowboys 13
David Moore
When this game kicks off Monday night the Cowboys will have gone 57 days since scoring their last touchdown at AT&T Stadium. Not a misprint. We’re talking 57 days. Here’s a declaration: that drought will end. The Dallas offense will find the end zone at least once. Maybe twice. Dream big.
Texans 27, Cowboys 19
Abraham Nudelstejer
The motivation of not getting embarrassed on national television could be a factor in the Cowboys putting up some resistance against the Texans on Monday Night Football. There’s no reason for Dallas to think it can snap its four-game losing streak, but there are times when pride and self-respect can balance the odds. Even if they put together an inspired performance, the Cowboys are in for a long night. C.J. Stroud will dissect the Dallas defense with his passing game, and Joe Mixon won’t be stopped when he carries the ball. The Texans will get an easy win.
Texans 30, Cowboys 10
Kevin Sherrington
Remember when football games between Dallas and Houston were fun and fueled a great intrastate rivalry? Me, neither. This should be like the rest. Best hope for the Cowboys: The pass rush that finally showed up against the Eagles reappears against a Houston offensive line that’s yielded 12 sacks in the last two weeks. Best hope for the fan base? Another loss, another rung scaled in the draft.
Texans 27, Cowboys 16
Calvin Watkins
The Texans need this victory badly. It’s a franchise going places. But the team from Houston struggles on the road. They should get their act together. Let’s see if Rico Dowdle can get 20 carries Monday night.
Texans 21, Dallas 10
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