HOU to win-137
TLDR: Dallas has the hotter offense, but it comes to Houston between an overnight flight from Rio and a Thursday game, with a patched secondary, against an 0-3 team getting healthy.
Point
- Thursday next
Dallas hosts Tampa Bay on Thursday night, 4 days after this game, so the staff's week was split between Houston and the Bucs.
- Rio hangover
The Cowboys flew overnight from Rio and landed Monday morning, and this is game 2 of 3 for them in 12 days.
- Dallas secondary
Durant and Overshown are inactive, 2 practice-squad backs were called up, and Porter makes his debut after a trade with his snaps possibly limited.
- 0-3 urgency
Houston is 0-3, and no team has made the playoffs from 0-4 in over 30 years, so the Texans' season rides on this game.
Counterpoint
- Middle linebacker
Al-Shaair is inactive and Woodaz makes his 1st career start, which leaves Houston thin in the middle against Ferguson and Williams.
- Stalled run game
Ryans says he is open to throwing more because the run is not working, and a one-way offense is easier for Dallas to defend.
Neutral
- Weather
No weather — indoors at Reliant Stadium.
- Home crowd
Ryans expects a rowdy crowd but acknowledged the city's divided fan base, so the home edge may be smaller than usual.