Official Texans vs. Cowboys Game Thread, 9/26/2010
 

well, we're 2-0, Cowboys are 0-2. Probably record so far doesn't mean much.

Could be a tough one, but I think we can win. Just repeat the preseason performance, right.

Obviously, the loss of Duane Brown hurts and could change some of the protection schemes if they think Butler needs help. Cushing had a good game against Dallas in pre-season so that hurts too.

I think if we establish the running game and AJ is healthy, we'll be fine.

The Cowboys are either going to fight like its the playoffs or they are going to implode. Phillips/Garrett are already feeling the heat for the 0-2 start. Even though nobody in their division is 2-0, an 0-3 start for the Cowboys could bury them after all the talk of playing the Super Bowl in their own house.

Really, all the momentum right now is with the Texans and if they can show the same intensity they showed in the first half of their pre-season match with the Cowboys, we ought to be able to win.

The oddsmakers are putting Houston as three-point favorites but I think they know a lot of Cowboy homers are going to keep that line below reality.

TV = 12pm FOX early game (Channel 26 local)

Announcers = Joe Buck, Troy Aikman

Opening Line = Texans by 2
Current line = Texans by 2.5 to 3

This is one of those Sundays where locally in Houston there are only two games.... late game on CBS in Houston is Indy vs. Denver.

Very scary game as the Cowpokers are desperate for a win and the Texans have been through a couple of wild, physical wins. I do not expect them to go undefeated this year but this would be a bad weekend to let down. This game will determine bragging rights in the state for the next 4 years.

Also, this will be an opportunity for Kubiak to take his career W/L record over .500 for the first time - he's currently 33-33 as a head coach.

I can tell you right now the Cowpukes are going to be foaming at the mouth to reserect their reputation. What a terrible time to lose our starting OLT for 4 games! And with Cushing still out for a couple more games, the rest of the squad are really going to have to suck it up to win this game.

yes, reports are Cowboys are coming here all intense, high priority on this game, more practice, player meetings, so on.

so, Texans are gonna have to bring there intense A-game as well and should be good.

http://hosted.ap.org/dynamic/stories...09-22-19-41-34

This should change the Game Plan. Who is our best blocking TE? We'll need to give Butler help by chipping a TE and Vonta for most of the game. We will need to run at Ware to set up the play-action. I'd expect to see some 3 TE sets in this game and less 3 WR sets. Can we run on Dallas and expect 4.5 ypc? Dallas has given up 3.0 ypc.

I think we can run on them well. We dominated up front in the preseason. Of course, I do realize the difference. However, we were winning the one on one matchups inside the game. Also, the Cowboys haven't played a good rushing offense yet. So, those numbers are likely skewed.

I doubt we go into the game with a plan to protect Butler. I think it's a good matchup for him... he has great feet and quickness. I'm more worried about the bull rush. I wonder how long until Ware realizes he needs to use that?

I do think Butler's presence will make it more difficult to run to the left. I would expect screens to the left and also that toss play where a WR or TE cracks back on the DE/OLB and the LT (Butler) pulls wide as the lead blocker. Other than that, I think we will be a right side dominate run team this week. Butler is excellent on the back side at the second level.

I think if Romo gets hit, a la Manning in the first game, he will press and commit timely errors.

I hope Okoye's ankle is better because the combination of a healthy Okoye and Earl Mitchell will be very difficult for the oversized interior line to handle- particularly in the passing game. There is simply no way that the combination of Doug Free, Mark Colombo, Leonard Davis, and Kyle Kosier can stand up to Antonio Smith, Mario Williams, healthy Amobi, Earl Mitchell on passing downs. Can't!

Have to admit, I'm not sure how to react to this "respect" we seem to be getting in the media. I usually like my teams flying under the radar.

Regardless, just win. Get it done. And don't make a miraculous second half a necessity again.

Dreeson would be the best bet for blocking. O.D. for routes and receiving. I DO think the TE will have to do some chipping on Ware or it will be a long afternoon for Schaub. I hope all these things have been studied out and prepared for by Kubiak and his staff.

On the other hand, so far this year Ware hasn't been that effective, or let's say just one sack so far, against Washington and Chicago, and he was playing against backup LT for Chicago as well. of course he has a great track record.

For now I think I might be more worried about our pass defense.

I expect ware to abuse our new LT unless he gets at a minimum a chip help from Vonta or one of the TEs. With the proper support, I think we will be "OK". Not perfect, but OK. Given a 3-4 second window, Matt will carve the Cowplops secondary and I thing Foster will be able to do reasonably well. We have our work cut out for us, but the opportunity is there.

Texans defensive end Antonio Smith added to injury report
 

From PFT:
Texans defensive end Antonio Smith added to injury report
Posted by Gregg Rosenthal on September 25, 2010 1:33 PM ET
The Texans added starting defensive end Antonio Smith to the injury report on Saturday as questionable with an illness, according to ESPNDallas' Calvin Watkins.

A late addition to the injury report is never a good sign, but it's difficult to know how serious Smith's issue is. The seven-year veteran has two tackles and half a sack on the young season.

We're very interested to see how the Texans defense holds up on Sunday. As great and balanced as Houston's offense has looked this year, the defense has appeared to take a step back.

I'm nervous.

I definitely think we can win this hands down. I think we can actually blow them out. Only problem is, we can't take plays off. Shaub cannot make the casual pick early on. They cannot have any momentum. We have the home crowd behind us and we have to continue to apply the pressure. And by pressure I mean putting up points.

The only thing the has me concerned is the potential for them to run all over us. Without Cushing we are really light in the front seven. Over the hill Clinton Portis punched it up the gut on us for two separate TDs. We cannot let them find a running game against us. If they do. This will be a high scoring game. Bcuz our secondary is good for nothing.

Oh my god, Witten lined up on Pollard. Well at least he has had two good tests up until this point.

Late action, heavy betting on Dallas has lowered the spread to Texans by 1 on some sportsbooks.....

Gametime!

Cowboys win the kickoff and elect to receive.

Kickoff is brought back to the Cowboy 23.

Barber runs right for about 4 yards. 2nd and 6 coming up.

Barber runs up the gut for 12. 1st down.

Dump to Bennett gets about 14. Ball on the Texan 47.

Pre-snap - false start Cowboys -5. 1st and 15 coming up.

C'mon D...wake up!

Dump to Witten gets about 8. Brings up 2nd and 7.

Barber gets about 4 or 5. Brings up 3rd and a long 2.

Timeout Cowboys.

First big third down of the game.

Choice stumbles just short of the 1st down. Cowboys to go for it on 4th and 1.

F Jones looks to have barely got it. Yep, 1st down by half a ball.

Dump to Witten gets about 5. 2nd and 5 coming up.

Barber sweeps right for no gain. 3rd and 5 coming up.

Pass to Austin gets not much but illegal formation on Cowboys. Penalty is declined. 4th down and 2 - Cowboys to go for it.

Romo's pass is inc. but flag on the play. PI on Dallas! Texans ball at their own 29!

I was sure we were going to get hosed there. Good eyes, ref.

Pass to JJ good for 7. 2nd and 3 coming up.

Pass to AJ good to midfield. 1st down.

Foster hits the right side for 12 yards.

Foster up the middle for maybe 1. 2nd and 9.

Screen to OD good for about 7. Brings up 3rd and 3.

Schaub sacked - held on to the ball too long. Brings up 4th and long, Texans to punt.

Punt goes into the endzone. Cowboys ball at their own 20.

Both teams threaten but neither one scores. Texans are leaving Butler on island against Ware so far. Butler did okay, even with that sack. Schaub didn't throw and then tried to run. That was a coverage sack.

F Jones runs for 7 up the middle. 2nd and 3 coming up.

F Jones for no gain. Nice tackle Adibi. 3rd and 3 coming up.

Pass to Bennett just short of the 1st down - about 2 yards. Cowboys to punt.

JJ 6 yards on the return, brings the punt back to the Texan 29.

Nice stop. Bryant goes off limping for Dallas. JJ took the wrong return angle but we survive with a second shot at getting the lead. We've proven we can run and we can throw so we just need to relax and put it all together.

2:25 left in the 1st quarter.

Pass to OD goes inc. 2nd and 10 coming up.

Foster for 3. 3rd and 7 coming up.

Pass to JJ good for nice gain but flags on the play.... Offsides Cowboys is declined. 1st down Texans.

Foster rushes for 11. Ball at the Cowboys 44.

Slaton for -2. 2nd and 12 coming up.

End of 1st quarter.

The Slaton run had no chance. Dallas shifted to that side at the last second like they knew what was coming.

False start Winston pre-snap. Brings up 2nd and 17.

Screen to Foster sniffed out -2. Brings up 3rd and 19.

Delay to Foster gets 20 and a 1st down!

Slaton for no gain. 2nd and 10 coming up at the Cowboy 32.

Flat pass AJ drags people all the way to the 6! 1st and goal.

Wow. How demoralizing to give up a first-down run on 3rd and 19.

Foster hits the right side for about 1. 2nd and goal at the 5.

Pre-snap flag. False start Butler -5. Ball at the 10, now.

Schaub's pass over KW in the endzone. Brings up 3rd and goal at the 10.

Dump to Foster gets 4. Texans to go for the FG.

24 yarder by Rackers is good.

Texans 3, Cowboys 0

We got three out of drive that should have ended in a punt so I'm okay but a TD would have really got the crowd into the game.

Yeah, seems awfully quiet in the stadium....

Cowboys brings the kickoff back to their own 20.

Dump to F Jones goes for big gain but flag on the play..... illegal block in back on Austin. 1st and 20 Cowboys.

Delay to F Jones gets about 4. Brings up 2nd and 16.

Pass to R Williams gets 6. 3rd and 8 coming up.

Pass to R Williams good for 20. 1st down.

Pass to Witten good for 12.

Barber for about 1. Ball at the Texan 45. 2nd and 9 coming up.

Deep pass to Bryant is complete but out of bounds. Brings up 3rd and 9.

Pass to Bryant good for 11 and the 1st down.

Dump to Barber gets about 5. 2nd and 5 coming up at the Texan 29.

Pass to R Williams good for about 11 and a 1st down.

Screen pass to Bennett inc. 2nd and 10 coming up.

Barber for no gain. 3rd and 10 coming up.

Pass to Austin good to the Texan 1. 1st and goal Cowboys.

Texan timeout.

Barber runs it in from the 1.

Cowboys 7, Texans 3

3:36 left in the half.

Fasten your seat belts. Looks like this will be a game for four quarters.

Yep, Texans look kinda listless... hungover or something...