The Dallas Cowboys will host the Houston Texans on Monday Night Football tonight, and the Governor’s Cup is on the line. Dallas holds a 4-2 series lead all-time over Houston, but the Texans have the last laugh after a thrilling 27-23 victory in December 2022.
Dallas’ season has not gone as planned, and with QB Dak Prescott sidelined until 2025, fans are split between wanting the team to improve and get some wins and simply losing out for a higher draft pick.
I will never root for the Cowboys to lose, but if they don’t play any better and continue to drop games, I won’t scoff at a top-10 or possibly top-5 draft pick in the 1st round of the 2025 NFL Draft.
Despite what we might think, the Cowboys are still trying to win on the field, and some bold performances will be required to lasso the Texans.
Rico Dowdle Hits the Century Mark
This is a bold prediction because Rico Dowdle’s season high is just 87 yards, and it took him 20 carries to get there. However, his usage might get an uptick.
The word out of Dallas is that there is no longer a running back by committed approach from the offense. Out of HC Mike McCarthy’s own mouth, Rico Dowdle is the lead back going forward, and we can expect a lite version of bell cow usage.
Houston has lost their last two games, and each of those two opponents has eclipsed 100 yards rushing in the process. I’m not saying the Cowboys’ rushing attack is anywhere near Detroit’s, but the gameplan should be to feed the running game to keep the game close.
The Texans will be without two members of their front seven, and it might open up running lanes for the Cowboys’ backs, specifically Dowdle.
DeMarvion Overshown Pulls A Hat Trick
Mike Zimmer has a new toy on defense, and apparently all it needed to be unlocked was the return of Micah Parsons to the lineup. I’m talking about second-year phenom and Cowboys’ leading tackler, DeMarvion Overshown.
My bold prediction for this week is that Overshown pulls a hat trick by notching three sacks of CJ Stroud on Monday Night Football. Overshown is coming off of an 11 tackle and 2.0 sack performance against Jalen Hurts and the Eagles.
He should have had his third sack of the first half late in the 2nd quarter, but he rushed in so fast, that Hurts side-stepped him, and then completed a pass for a touchdown.
Overshown will have another opportunity to add to his sack total, and he won’t let Stroud dodge him to keep him from that feat.
Cowboys Cover the Spread (-7)
This might not seem like a bold prediction, but the Dallas Cowboys have yet to cover the spread at home this season. We all know they are winless at AT&T Stadium in 2024, including the playoff loss to Green Bay back in January.
Not only have the Cowboys failed to cover the spread, but each loss has been by such a wide margin, that bettors have to be shying away from picking the Cowboys in this game.
With the running game working a little better, and the defense playing better as well, the Cowboys should keep this game closer than expected. They might not win the game, but they will cover the seven point spread.
Prediction
My final prediction on this game shouldn’t surprise anyone. I don’t think the Cowboys will find a way to win. They are still a little banged up on the defensive side of the ball, and DeMeco Ryans and the Texans will exploit that weakness.
Dallas will keep the game close, however. If Dowdle rushes for 100 yards and QB Cooper Rush can hit some timely throws, the Cowboys will keep the game close, and have a chance in the 4th quarter to accomplish what practically nobody in the sports world thinks they can: defeat the Texans on Monday Night Football.
The game will be close, but the Cowboys’ defense will run out of gas in the 4th quarter after too many short drives by the offense.
Houston Texans 23
Dallas Cowboys 16