Two teams riding losing streaks will enter. Only one, probably, will exit with a one-game winning streak and bragging rights for Texas.
Barring, of course, a tie.
The way the Dallas Cowboys season has been going, nothing can be ruled out.
The Cowboys, with a four-game losing streak in tow, will host the Houston Texans in tonight’s Monday Night Football game. Dallas is 3-6 going into the game.
With nearly a third of the roster showing up on the injury report this week, and an 0-4 record at home this year, there seems little reason for hope.
The Texans are 6-4, having lost their last two games, but still remain in first place in the AFC South division.
They are also coming off of embarrassing back-to-back performances.
With Dallas’ offense in disarray, and the Texans defense coming off a five-interception effort last week, the Cowboys are underdogs at home. How can they pull off the upset?
Be Lion-like On Defense
The Texans had Detroit on the ropes last week. Jared Goff was hitting defensive backs more than he was his own receivers.
In the second half though, the Lions’ defense took over and kept the Texans’ offense under wraps.
Detroit’s offense finally got started and they pulled off a come-from-behind win.
That’s the blueprint tonight for Dallas.
First, don’t get behind early again. But get the defense to keep C.J. Stroud, Nico Collins, and running back Joe Mixon in check.
Meanwhile, whoever is at quarterback, be it Cooper Rush or Trey Lance, needs to take care of the ball and put points on the board.
A low scoring game favors the Cowboys. If the Texans start lighting up the scoreboard like a Vegas slot machine?
It’ll be lights out again for Dallas.
And the boo birds will be busy in the second half.
The Prediction
The Cowboys are just too banged up right now. The fact that they have little to no depth is manifesting itself massively.
The good news is: We won’t have to worry about CeeDee Lamb losing a Cooper Rush pass in the sun tonight.
Houston 27, Dallas 16.
Ahead Of Schedule
The Cowboys and Texans have played just six times before tonight’s game. This dates back to Houston’s first-ever game on Sept. 8, 2002.
The Texans won that game, 19-10.
The team had played once every four years since. Dallas won three straight, 2006, 2010, and 2014, before the Texans won 19-16 in 2018.
The last meeting back on Dec. 11, 2022, ended with a 27-23 Cowboys win.
Tonight’s game will be the first to be scheduled after just two years since the prior meeting.
The Cowboys are 4-2 overall and 3-0 at home. They are 2-0 in games against Houston inside AT&T Stadium.
Week 11 History
Dallas comes into tonight’s game with a 34-26-2 record all-time in Week 11 games. They had two bye weeks fall on Week 11 in 2013 and 2014.
They are 17-10-1 when those games are played at home.
Dallas is 4-1 at AT&T Stadium in Week 11.
Tonight’s game will be the first Week 11 home game for the Cowboys since a 37-9 loss to the Eagles back in 2017. Dallas has played six straight road games on Week 11 since.
The Cowboys went 5-1 in those games and won the last two straight.
This will be the first ever Week 11 meeting between the Texans and Cowboys. But it will be the third meeting between the Cowboys and a team from Houston in Week 11.
Dallas won the first meeting, 10-0, in Houston against the Oilers back in 1974.
The Oilers won 26-23 in overtime in Week 11 back in 1991 at Texas Stadium.
All-Time Week 11 Vs. Opponents
- GIANTS (1-0-1)
- EAGLES (0-4)
- COMMANDERS (5-2)
NFC WEST
- CARDINALS (6-1)
- RAMS (2-1)
- 49ERS (1-3-1)
- SEAHAWKS (0-0)
NFC SOUTH
- FALCONS (1-1)
- PANTHERS (1-0)
- SAINTS (0-0)
- BUCCANEERS (1-0)
NFC NORTH
- BEARS (1-1)
- LIONS (3-1)
- PACKERS (2-0)
- VIKINGS (2-1)
AFC EAST
- BILLS (0-0)
- DOLPHINS (1-3)
- PATRIOTS (0-1)
- JETS (0-0)
AFC SOUTH
- TEXANS (0-0)
- COLTS (1-1)
- JAGUARS (0-0)
- TITANS (1-1)
AFC NORTH
- RAVENS (1-1)
- BENGALS (1-0)
- BROWNS (1-1)
- STEELERS (1-0)
AFC WEST
- BRONCOS (1-1)
- CHIEFS (0-1)
- RAIDERS (0-0)
- CHARGERS (0-1)