Two extremely winnable losses have frightened the fanbase. Just last week, the fanbase was at 70% confidence. Now? The confidence is just above 50%. The season hangs in the balance as the Houston Texans take on the Dallas Cowboys on Monday Night Football.
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With Kenyon Green out of the lineup, the offensive line continuity improved, but the run game disappeared. Texans can’t have too much of any good thing.
Texans face a decimated Cowboys team without Dak Prescott, an injured CeeDee Lamb, Jourdan Lewis out, DeMarcus Lawrence, Brandin Cooks, Marshawn Kneeland all on injured reserve. They do have Micah Parsons back from a high ankle sprain.
Internally, Houston has a lot to figure out. The offense fully stalls in the redzone, the run game is hit-and-miss, and the team has been a shell of itself without Nico Collins. Fortunately, Collins returns this week and is 100%. He’s what the team desperately needs.
Outside of that, this is a critical game that will impact the direction of the entire season. Houston’s easiest part of the schedule is ahead of them and they need to go 3-0 to secure a playoff spot. If not, they’ll be competing to be anything but the fourth seed in the AFC.
Confidence is waning, but a three-game stretch against the Cowboys, Titans, and Jaguars will dictate the entire season. At 6-4, Houston is sitting pretty in the AFC, but overall are falling behind compared to the rest of the elite AFC teams. Kansas City has yet to lose, the Ravens oscillate between unstoppable and questionable, the Pittsburgh Steelers are a problem, and the Buffalo Bills are legit. If the Texans are to head back in the right direction, then this is the week to do so.