The Dallas Cowboys will be playing their in-state rivals in Week 11, and there are things to hate about the Houston Texans. Winning the Governor's Cup on Monday Night Football might be the only thing Jerry Jones can brag about this year, but that can only be accomplished if his team ends their four-game losing streak.
It has already been a rough season for the Cowboys, and things could turn even worse in Week 11. They'll be the only game to watch, and football fans everywhere will be waiting to see Jones' franchise try to avoid another embarrassing defeat. What's worse, the game is at AT&T Stadium and the Cowboys are hoping to avoid an 0-5 start at home.
The sun can't hurt the Cowboys this week, but the Texans, who come into the contest with a 6-4 record and in first place in the AFC South, can. Here are three reasons to hate the Week 11 opponent for the Cowboys.
Once upon a time, the Cowboys had a young quarterback who balled out as a rookie and was one of the best young signal callers in the league. Now, that distinction belongs to Texans QB C.J. Stroud.
He might not be playing at as high a level as he did last year, but Stroud is still a top QB. The 2023 Offensive Rookie of the Year is seventh in the NFL in passing yards and has thrown for 12 touchdowns. Those aren't impressive numbers on their own, but when Stroud had all three of his best wide receivers, he was playing well.
In the first six weeks, Stroud was averaging over 262 passing yards a contest, threw for 10 of his 12 scores, and had two 300-yard passing games. The young QBs completion percentage was at 68% during that time as well.
Injuries to two of his top WRs have caused his numbers to dip, but Stroud is still capable to torching the Dallas defense. Stroud struggled last week, and he'll be looking to bounce back, which is something the Cowboys must hate to see coming.
The Texans' offense hasn't been as efficient since their best WR went down with an injury, but that looks like it's about to change. Top target Nico Collins is ready to come back off a hamstring injury that saw him miss the last five games, and his return is bad news for the Cowboys.
Through the first five games this season, Collins was at the top of every statistical category in the NFL. The fourth-year WR is averaging a whopping 113.4 yards per game (the only WR in the league to be over 100 ypg), has 567 yards receiving, and three touchdowns in just five games. Collins is also averaging 17.7 yards a catch, good for second in the league among receivers who have at least 25 receptions.
That's the production that's been missing from the Texans' offense, but Collins is set return to torture a Cowboys' defense that has struggled all year. Mike Zimmer's unit will hate facing one of the best WRs in the league in Week 11.
The Texans have one of the best passing defenses in the NFL, giving up a meager 174.7 ypg through the air. While that ranks fourth in the league, they are also second in interceptions with 13, and their defense boasts one of the best young secondaries in the game.
Houston's secondary has four key pieces who all have three years or less of experience, and they are dominating. Safeties Calen Bullock and Jalen Pitre have combined for five interceptions, while cornerbacks Derek Stingley and Kamari Lassiter have totaled four more. Those four players have combined for 32 passes defensed.
While Bullock has been impressive and Lassiter is excelling as a rookie, Pitre and Stingley are among the best players in the league at their positions. Pitre is an aggressive safety who's as effective near the line of scrimmage as he is in coverage. There aren't many players in the league at his position who play both at a high level.
Stingley is living up to the hype at CB, and was selected as a Top 10 CB this year by ESPN. The third-year corner is sticky in coverage and has yet to allow a touchdown through three years.
The Cowboys' offense led by QB Cooper Rush will be facing off against one of the best secondaries in the league, they can't like this matchup.