Every one of you. Stop what you’re doing and take your nitroglycerin pills. The human heart is simply not made to experience this kind of football match.
Thanks to superhero performances from Dak Prescott and CeeDee Lamb, the Dallas Cowboys left Houston with a 34-30 victory over the Texans.
Trailing 27-23 with 40 seconds left in the fourth quarter, Prescott and Lamb connected for a 12-yard touchdown to put Dallas in front permanently. The defense then stood tall on Houston’s final Hail Mary attempt
This team isn’t without its flaws – God knows it’s true – but Prescott, Lamb and George Pickens, who have been successful in their own ways, will be within reach in most games. A 2-2 record with a favorable upcoming schedule? We can think of worse places.
Let’s get into some instant reactions to an absolute rodent at Reliant Stadium.
Instant reactions to the Cowboys’ victory over the Texans
1. Why is DaRon Bland covering Nico Collins in the red zone?
The Texans capped an eight-play, 85-yard opening drive with a Nico Collins touchdown run from CJ Stroud.
Returning from a two-game absence, Collins beat DaRon Bland off the line of scrimmage, and Caleb Downs traveled with the crossing route underneath, leaving Bland in 1-on-1 coverage. Bland was making up ground from Collins’ first step. It was an easy score.
If you’re curious, yes, Joey Porter Jr. was in the play. It was at the top of the screen. He played four snaps on the drive. Why wasn’t he lined up against Collins? He’s had a lot of success against the Texans’ WR in the past, including allowing just 16 yards in the playoffs last January.
Bland has to be better, but why trade for a “boundary eraser,” as Christian Parker called him, if not to erase the opposing team’s best receiver?
2. Jake Ferguson’s value is rapidly declining
Will Ferguson occasionally come up with a touchdown and third down conversion? Yes. His chemistry with Dak Prescott is valuable, but he makes over $12 million per year and doesn’t offer much beyond the fundamentals of the position.
He doesn’t break tackles, doesn’t create yards after the catch, and doesn’t consistently make tough catches outside of his frame. At this price, you need more than reliability.
The lack of catch radius showed on a 3rd and 16 in the second quarter. Prescott placed the ball where only Ferguson could get it, and he didn’t even touch his hands. Was it an easy catch? No, but it was within his reach.
And what more can be said about the Ferguson blockade?
The Texans’ physicality exposed him on several occasions, including on a handoff to CeeDee Lamb. At some point the coaching staff needs to stop asking him to contribute so much as a blocker, but a TE who earns that much should at least be helpful in that department.
Ferguson’s value is rapidly declining.
3. Nick Sorensen may have to leave
The Cowboys’ kickoff coverage is much improved from last season. But as one problem disappeared, another appeared. For the second week in a row, Brandon Aubrey had a field goal blocked. This time it was a 62-yard attempt.
The Dallas team protection replay was shocking. The whole right side exploded, led by Will Anderson Jr. Have you ever heard of him? While Anderson deserves credit for destroying the game, it’s embarrassing that Nick Sorensen’s unit fell asleep against one of the best players in the world.
You can’t strong-arm Brandon Aubrey if he can’t even kick off. Ironically, Aubrey missed a 65-yarder later in the half, but that’s beside the point.
It’s a miracle that Sorensen kept his job after last season. No one on the coaching staff has covered themselves in glory this season, but Sorensen has done the least to justify his place on the staff.
4. Another horrible end-of-half situation by Brian Schotteheimer
Speaking of bad coaching…
After promising to be better after giving the Ravens a victory last week, Schottenheimer made another mistake late in the first half. Rather than punt with 27 seconds left and give Houston the ball with no timeouts and having to run the length of the field, Schottenheimer called Aubrey’s number from 65 yards out.
The field goal missed wide right, giving the Texans a short field. They picked up nine yards and Kai’imi Fairbin connected on a 54-yard field goal to take a 16-6 lead.
If Schottenheimer had punted, Dallas would have lost a possession at halftime and would have gotten the second half kickoff. Now they’re down two possessions in a game where the offense struggled to move the ball.
Yet another example of the Cowboys head coach lacking a feel for the game. This was not the time to chase points.
5. Officiating saves Schottenheimer’s poor play in the red zone
The Cowboys got an assist from the officials on a must-win drive trailing 23-13 in the third quarter. Thanks to two pass interference penalties against Texans cornerback Kamari Lassiter, Dallas found its way into the end zone thanks to Javonte Williams.
Lassiter was first flagged on an incomplete pass on 3rd and 7 intended for George Pickens. It was a cheesy decision that could have gone either way. He was then flagged for a clean catch on Pickens on 4th and goal on a play that seemed doomed from the start.
If you get that many bites into the apple, you’ll eventually find the end zone. But Schottenheimer’s playing vocation left much to be desired. Two calls particularly stood out:
- Javonte Williams shotgun ran to the outside
- Goal line disappears to CeeDee Lamb vs. Derek Stingley
Why…WHY are we trying to outrun the fastest defense in football with a slow running back? Another case where Schottenheimer gets too cute. And why…WHY are we calling for a fade against one of the best cornerbacks in football? It’s a low percentage game to begin with.
The Cowboys had six downs inside the five, and they somehow made the end zone feel 20 yards away. Line up under center and run the damn ball. This needs to be cleaned.
6. Dak Prescott and the offense woke up when they needed to
How about a 28-point second-half explosion against the NFL’s best defense? Sure, the refs saved them on that one drive, but Prescott, CeeDee Lamb, George Pickens and Javonte Williams — and some Ryan Flournoy mixed in, too — were huge in the second half.
Three consecutive touchdowns. Four in total. More runs up the middle to set up play action. More shots downfield. Thanks to Schottenheimer for making adjustments after halftime. He pressed the right buttons and his players executed.
7. Quinnen Williams with a momentum-changing sack
On 3rd-and-3 from the Texans’ 42 with 9:31 left in the fourth quarter, Williams raced home, sacking CJ Stroud to force a punt.
Unfortunately, the Cowboys offense rewarded him with a quick three-and-out, the last thing you could have in this situation. But that doesn’t take away from Williams’ moment. He was paid to be a destructive defensive tackle, precisely to make a play like that while the game was on the line.
8. The Dak Prescott and CeeDee Lamb game vol. 15?
If you’ve lost count of the number of times Prescott and Lamb have put the Cowboys on their backs over the years, you’re not alone.
Lamb set a new career high with 17 catches. He was uncoverable, racking up 189 receiving yards and the go-ahead touchdown in the final minute of regulation. Doing this against arguably the best defense in football while his sidekick George Pickens has a relatively calm game makes it all the more remarkable.
Prescott was just as good in the fourth quarter. He finished the game 32 of 45 for 335 yards and a touchdown. He saved his best for last, however, making several perfect throws, including a fourth-down conversion with the game on the line.
Outside of a three-and-out, the Cowboys scored a touchdown on all of their possessions in the second half.
There are many people who deserve credit, but make no mistake: Prescott and Lamb led Dallas to victory and reminded everyone that they were two of the best players at their respective positions.
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