Tag: Texans vs. Cowboys

Where the Texans rank statistically heading into Week 11

Here’s where the Houston Texans stack up compared to every other team in the NFL stat-wise entering Week 11.

The Houston Texans (6-4) hit the road for a third consecutive primetime showdown against the Dallas Cowboys (3-7) in Week 11 on Monday Night Football.

Houston needs a win just to get back to its roots following a disastrous end in Week 10’s 26-23 loss against the Detroit Lions. The Texans blew a 16-point lead in the second half behind a pair of C.J. Stroud interceptions.

Jared Goff, who threw five interceptions, led two scoring drives over the final 30 minutes and helped set up two Jake Bates field goals, including a game-winning 52-yard kick as time expired.

Houston’s now the second team since 1933 to lose a game in which they caught five interceptions and led by at least 15. Previously, teams were 373-1-1 when leading by at least 15 and snagging five interceptions.

The other time a team lost in that fashion was in Week 11 of 1970, when the Chicago Bears lost to the Baltimore Colts 21-20 despite Colts quarterback Johnny Unitas throwing five interceptions.

“Definitely should have won this game,” Stroud said. “My job is to lead the offense to score points, and I didn’t do that today.

“We really should have put them away after the first half. It’s really on the offense.”

With Week 11 on deck, how do the Texans compare to the rest of the NFL this season? Looking at the major metrics (courtesy of Team Rankings, ESPN, The Football Database and StatMuse), here is where Houston ranked following Week 10:

Where are the Texans picking in the 2025 NFL draft after Week 10?

The Texans remain in the playoff hunt, but they’re inching closer to a higher draft pick following Week 10’s home loss against the Lions.

The Houston Texans are thinking of the postseason, but change is needed on the offensive line if the AFC South leaders plan on winning a Super Bowl.

After Kenyon Green suffered a season-ending shoulder injury in Week 9’s 21-13 loss against the New York Jets, conversations began on the future of the left guard spot. Juice Scruggs was serviceable in a Week 10 loss against the Detroit Lions, but the former second-round pick is better suited to play center.

The same goes for Jarrett Patterson, who likely will remain the starting center moving forward into Week 11’s matchup on Monday against the Dallas Cowboys.

Interior offensive linemen usually fall in the draft, given their value compared to tackles. Barring a trade of four-time Pro Bowler Laremy Tunsil, Houston should be content with its book ends.

Either second-round pick Blake Fisher or veteran Tytus Howard should take over at right tackle in 2025.

Howard, who inked a three-year extension before the 2023 season, could also shift inside to guard, leaving a hole at right guard in place of the struggling Shaq Mason. Houston could part ways with the veteran lineman since he’ll be paid up on all his guaranteed money from the extension signed in 2023.

If the Texans target a lineman in the draft, defensive tackle, safety, and receiver could all be options in the first round.

Here’s a look at where the Texans are listed after the Week 9 loss and the full draft order projection from Talkathon:

  • Round 1, No. 20 overall
  • Round 2, No. 54 overall
  • Round 3, No. 85 overall
  • Round 4, No. 121 overall
  • Round 5, No. 166 overall (via BUF)
  • Round 7, No. 235 overall

All those numbers could improve if the Texans can respond on primetime against the Cowboys at AT&T Stadium later this week. Houston remains the favorite to win the AFC South and could be in line for the No. 3 if they finish with the same record as the Buffalo Bills or Baltimore Ravens, given their head-to-head wins.

Houston should look better on offense with the return of receiver Nico Collins, who is expected to play this week after being activated off the injured reserve last weekend. The Texans could be without pass-rusher and Defensive Player of the Year candidate Will Anderson Jr., who left in the first half with an ankle injury against the Jets.

Kickoff from AT&T Stadium is scheduled for 7:15 p.m. CT. The game will be nationally televised on ESPN.

All 32 NFL teams (including the Texans) ranked by FPI ratings

Here’s how the Texans rank in FPI rankings among all 32 other NFL teams entering Week 11’s matchup against the Dallas Cowboys on Monday Night Football.

Ten games into the season, the Houston Texans (6-4) have a -1.2 Football Power Index (FPI) rating from ESPN, which ranks 13th among all 32 teams.

The Dallas Cowboys (6-4), who play host to Houston in Week 11 on ‘Monday Night Football’, are ranked 32nd with an 8.0 FPI rating.

FPI is “a measure of team strength that is meant to be the best predictor of a team’s performance going forward for the rest of the season,” according to ESPN.com. “FPI represents how many points above or below average a team is. Projected results are based on 10,000 simulations of the rest of the season using FPI, results to date, and the remaining schedule.”

With that background in mind, here’s a look at how the league’s 32 teams stack up based on FPI going into Week 11 of the 2024 NFL season.

  1. Detroit Lions (8-1): 7.5
  2. Baltimore Ravens (7-3): 7.0
  3. Buffalo Bills (8-2): 6.0
  4. Kansas City Chiefs (9-0): 5.4
  5. San Francisco 49ers (5-4): 4.4
  6. Green Bay Packers (6-3): 4.4
  7. Philadelphia Eagles (7-2): 4.2
  8. Minnesota Vikings (7-2): 2.3
  9. Washington Commanders (7-3): 2.0
  10. Pittsburgh Steelers (7-2): 1.9
  11. Tampa Bay Buccaneers (4-6): 1.7
  12. Arizona Cardinals (6-4): 1.5
  13. Houston Texans (6-4): 1.2
  14. Atlanta Falcons (6-4): 0.8
  15. Cincinnati Bengals (4-6): 0.7
  16. Los Angeles Chargers (6-3): 0.7
  17. New York Jets (3-7): 0.2
  18. Cleveland Browns (2-7): -0.3
  19. Los Angeles Rams (4-5): -0.4
  20. Miami Dolphins (3-6): -0.7
  21. New Orleans Saints (3-7): -1.3
  22. Seattle Seahawks (4-5): -1.4
  23. Chicago Bears (4-5): -1.4
  24. Indianapolis Colts (4-6): -1.6
  25. Denver Broncos (5-5): -2.8
  26. New York Giants (2-8): -4.6
  27. Las Vegas Raiders (2-7): -4.8
  28. Jacksonville Jaguars (2-8): -5.1
  29. Tennesee Titans (2-7): -5.2
  30. New England Patriots (3-7): -6.5
  31. Carolina Panthers (3-7): -7.4
  32. Dallas Cowboys (3-6): -8.0

The Texans will aim to improve their rating when they take on the Cowboys in Week 11. Houston has moved down two spots since last week.

Texans vs. Cowboys: Announcers set for Week 11 game

The Houston Texans will hit the road to face off against the Dallas Cowboys on ‘Monday Night Football’ in Week 11.

The Houston Texans (6-4) hit the road on Monday night for a Lone Star showdown against the Dallas Cowboys (3-6) in Week 11 on primetime at AT&T Stadium.

Houston’s Week 11 matchup will serve as the ‘Monday Night Football’ game on ESPN at 7:15 CT. Joe Buck (play-by-play) and Troy Aikman (analyst) will serve as commentators in the broadcast booth.

Lisa Salters (sideline reporter) will remain on the sidelines and provide in-game interviews.

The Texans need a win. So does Dallas, but Houston’s woeful second-half outing on ‘Sunday Night Football’ against the Detroit Lions now has fans wondering if the AFC South favorites are a legit contender in the conference.

Houston jumped out to an early 23-7 lead in the first half after C.J. Stroud connected with John Metchie III for the 15-yard touchdown. Lions quarterback Jared Goff tossed five interceptions, but the Texans never could pressure him into fumbling the ball.

For Detroit (8-1), its defense stepped up in the second half. The front seven recorded four sacks while Stroud tossed a pair of interceptions to Carlton Davis III, including one in the end zone on a pass intended for Tank Dell. 

Jake Bates drilled two second-half 50-plus-yard field goals, including a game-winning 52-yard kick as time expired. With the loss, the Texans joined the 1970 Chicago Bears as the only franchise in league history to lose a game where the opposing quarterback throws five interceptions. 

“Definitely should have won this game,” Stroud said. “My job is to lead the offense to score points, and I didn’t do that today. … We really should have put them away after the first half. It’s really on the offense.”

The Cowboys aren’t waving the white flag for 2024, but their season has gone off the rails. Quarterback Dak Prescott will miss the remainder of the regular season after it was announced Tuesday that he would undergo hamstring surgery. 

In Sunday’s loss to the Philadelphia Eagles, backup quarterback Cooper Rush completed 13-of-26 passes for 45 yards and lost two fumbles. He also was sacked once. Former No. 3 overall pick Trey Lance filled in the fourth quarter and finished with 21 passing yards and an interception. 

For the second time in six games, the Cowboys did not score a touchdown. 

“Everybody has confidence in Coop,” Cowboys offensive coordinator Brian Schottenheimer said. “Again, it wasn’t our best performance yesterday as an offense, for sure. Wasn’t all him. We’re all involved in that.”

Houston has opened as 7.5-point road favorites against the Cowboys in primetime out in Arlington, according to BetMGM. The over/under is currently set at 42. 

Kickoff is scheduled for 7:15 p.m.