Keys for Dallas Cowboys to handle Houston Texans in Week 14

DALLAS — The Week 14 matchup with the Houston Texans won’t be a giant take a look at for the Dallas Cowboys however beating an in-state rival isn’t straightforward. On the floor, this seems like a mismatch for the Cowboys, but issues seldom play out as predicted in the NFL. 

However, this sport ought to go the Cowboys’ manner. The Texans are the worst staff in the league with only one win, one tie and 10 losses this season. They are additionally presently bringing a seven-game dropping streak with them to Dallas. 

All indicators level to one other blowout win for the Cowboys, however right here’s what the staff wants to do to keep away from the most important upset in the NFL this season:

The Texans have the worst offense in the league, however Pierce is among the few vibrant spots. The rookie runner out of Florida is eighth in the league in speeding, with 861 yards, which leads all rookie RBs.

After a stable stretch in the center of the season the place Pierce was among the many prime RBs in the league, he was slowed on back-to-back weeks, speeding for eight yards complete in Weeks 11 and 12 earlier than getting going once more final week with 73 yards on the bottom. When the Texans commit to giving him carries, Pierce helps transfer the chains for a stagnant offense. 

Pierce is a bodily runner who hardly ever goes down on first contact, so the Cowboys will want to be sure they sort out effectively on Sunday. 

On the flip facet, the Texans have struggled to cease the run, rating final in the league permitting 169.1 yards per sport and 15 speeding touchdowns. The Cowboys are seventh in the NFL, speeding for virtually 146 yards per sport on the bottom. Unlike many of the groups forward of them, Dallas does it solely with their working backs, and never a quarterback.

The tandem of Ezekiel Elliott and Tony Pollard have mixed for 136.4 speeding yards per contest, and so they praise one another effectively to put on out opposing defenses. The Texans have allowed 5 100-yards rushers this season and it may very well be six if the Cowboys get the run sport going.

However, just lately, the Texans have been higher towards the run and held the league’s second main rusher Nick Chubb to simply 80 yards final week. Dallas will take a look at the Houston run protection and see if it’s actually an improved unit. 

The Cowboys took benefit of the errors by the Indianapolis Colts final week, and so they’ll look to do it once more in Week 14. The Colts have been among the many league leaders in turnovers when Dallas added to their distress in Week 13, and the Texans are in an analogous manner. 

Houston quarterbacks have thrown 15 interceptions this season, and so they’re bringing second-year quarterback Davis Mills again in because the starter. The Texans changed Mills two weeks in the past, however his backup Kyle Allen wasn’t the reply, so Mills returns. Mills has thrown 11 interceptions on the season, which is tied for second worst in the league. Mills has additionally thrown for 11 touchdowns to equal his INT complete. 

Dallas’ protection is second in the league at forcing errors, with 21 takeaways. The Cowboys have 10 interceptions on the yr, and despite the fact that they’ll be enjoying with rookie cornerback DaRon Bland and second-year CB Kelvin Joseph entering into bigger roles, the protection ought to have possibilities to get turnovers. 

The Cowboys are closely favored in this sport and are anticipated to win. That has been the case in most of their current video games, however Mike McCarthy’s staff has began slowly in every of the final two weeks towards inferior opponents. A quick begin for the Cowboys would squash any hope of an upset and may lead to an early blowout.

There doesn’t want to be any tense moments in this sport, and the Cowboys might do some stat padding whereas they’re at it. 

Dallas has just a few gamers who might use some further relaxation, so it will be sensible to get a giant lead early and allow them to chill out as a lot as attainable. It would even be useful to get some youthful gamers some expertise in case the staff wants them to step up down the stretch.

The Cowboys can not enable the Texans to dangle round and the gamers have talked all week about not taking the Texans flippantly. Let’s see if that holds true or if it’s simply lip service.

Do you foresee a blowout win for the Cowboys over Houston in Week 14? Share your predictions with Ben on Twitter @BenGrimaldi.