The Cowboys got away with one in Houston, no thanks to Schottenheimer

HOUSTON — The week before in Rio, in a last-second loss so stunning it earned the head coach a call from the owner to his radio show, the Cowboys gave the Ravens seven seconds to do whatever they wanted.

Sunday at Reliant Stadium, they gave the Texans 40 seconds, practically a lifetime in comparison.

What could go wrong, right?

Oh, let’s say, a Hail Mary from CJ Stroud that somehow slipped through Malik Hooker’s mitts into the end zone, then spread through a crowd of players onto the turf, preserving a 34-30 victory in front of 77,217, a good portion of whom appeared to be customers of the visitors.

Dak Prescott said they appreciated the encouragement they received from fans in silver and blue. The Texans’ 13 penalties also helped. It probably goes without saying that there’s a reason the hosts are now 0-4.

The Cowboys, meanwhile, are 2-2, as are the Eagles, both one game behind the Giants in the East. A loss to the Texans wouldn’t necessarily have ended their playoff aspirations, but it seems safe to say they would have taken a serious hit.

What we’ve learned about the Cowboys a quarter of the way through the schedule is that whether they win or lose, they seem determined to do things the hard way, the head coach in particular.

Brian Schottenheimer’s decision-making and communication skills were questioned last week by the media as well as Jerry Jones after the botched finish in Rio, where his quarterback got the idea that it was better to aim for a tie than a victory. Time management in the final minutes was also a topic of discussion.

Frankly, as Sunday’s chaotic match ended in wild fashion, it was almost impossible not to feel a sense of déjà vu, and not just because there was only a one-point difference between the final scores.

“Obviously, yes,” Dak said. “The nerves are there.”

The similarity wasn’t as obvious to his head coach.

“Rio doesn’t define us as a football team, nor as a coaching team,” Schottenheimer said. “I think I’m very upfront and honest about it.

“Rio had nothing to do with this game. This game stood on its own.”

In the winnings column, yes.

But as a vote of confidence in the head coach?

Consider the final minute of the first half: After a touchdown, he opted to attempt a 65-yard field goal even after the Texans had already foiled a 62-yard attempt by Brandon Aubrey, the second blocked kick Schottenheimer’s special teams had given up in successive weeks.

The best part of Bravery suggested punting with 30 seconds left in the half, thus pinning the Texans deep in their own territory and preserving a one-score deficit. Instead, the Cowboys gave the Texans excellent field position and time to score a field goal to put them up 10 at halftime.

Schottenheimer didn’t even flinch when I mentioned it.

“We have our yard lines that we aim to hit,” he said, referring to Aubrey’s reach, “and we went over them by a yard or two. And, like I said, we were very comfortable with the fact that Brandon would make that kick.

“And, at this point in the game, you know, I have no doubt that if for whatever reason he missed it, we had plenty of time to fight back. But you’re always going to trust your players in those situations.”

Of course, trusting your players is a good thing, especially if that player is Aubrey. But it’s also possible to set your players up for success and avoid unnecessary risks. A coach’s job is to determine the difference between the possible and the practical.

As it turned out, the Cowboys had time to come back as Christian Parker’s defense finally made a few stops after a full afternoon of DaRon Bland chasing Nico Collins all around the field. He probably chased him home. They also came in just under the wire because the biggest offense ever — Dak’s description, not mine — did its job in the second half. CeeDee Lamb, who caught 17 passes for 189 yards, and George Pickens, who is great even when catching just two for 75, were too much even for the Texans’ talented defense.

But the Cowboys were also lucky that a few of Dak’s throws ended up in the hands of his teammates and not their opponents. The Texans’ 13 penalties for 90 yards were also a gift that kept them from running away early in the game.

You can’t always trust your players to do the right thing. Not these Cowboys. Not when the Texans’ touchdown with 2:23 left came after facing a third-and-19 that became a third-and-14 because of an offside, then a first down because of a hook and lateral.

Bad things happen to these Cowboys, that’s the lesson learned, so it’s up to the head coach to keep them from getting hurt. Unfortunately, sometimes the head coach is the problem. They got away with it on Sunday. At some point, they may not be so lucky.