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!