The Dallas Cowboys (2-1) and Houston Texans (0-2) meet in the preseason for the sixth time in the last seven years and will later meet in the regular season for only the second time during that stretch. The teams have never played each other twice in the same year, but the Texans will host the rematch again on September 26th after Dallas visits Houston as 3-point underdogs on pro football lines for Saturday.
Houston has covered the last two preseason meetings despite splitting them straight-up, dropping a tough 23-22 decision a year ago. The Texans have high expectations this season after barely missing out on the playoffs but have not looked good so far this preseason. They blew a 16-0 lead in the fourth quarter en route to a 19-16 loss in the preseason opener at Arizona and followed that up by being on the wrong end of a 38-20 blowout against defending Super Bowl champ New Orleans last week.
The biggest disappointment for Houston remains the lack of a balanced offense, particularly the production of running backs Arian Foster and Steve Slaton, who lost five fumbles last year. Slaton fumbled again near the goal line against the Cardinals – essentially costing the Texans the game – while they lost two more fumbles to the Saints that turned into touchdowns. It is essential for Foster and Slaton to make opponents respect the running game in order to make quarterback Matt Schaub and wide receiver Andre Johnson even more lethal through the air.
In 2009, Schaub and Johnson led the NFL in passing and receiving yards, respectively. Add healthy tight end Owen Daniels into the mix (he is now fully recovered from knee surgery) and Houston has arguably the best passing attack in the league. But they will be tested here against a Cowboys defense that has not surrendered a touchdown pass in the first three quarters of three preseason games. The Raiders threw one touchdown pass against them in the fourth quarter.
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The Dallas offense has also been a bit disappointment this preseason, as the team failed to score an offensive touchdown through the first two games. The Cowboys broke that drought though with a 9-yard touchdown pass from starting quarterback Tony Romo to wide receiver Miles Austin in the second quarter of their 16-14 win over the Chargers last week and followed that up with a 19-yard TD pass from backup Jon Kitna to tight end Martellus Bennett early in the fourth before the game-winning safety.
Rookie wide receiver Dez Bryant is still out of commission and may not play for Dallas in the preseason in order to rest his high-ankle sprain so he will be ready to go by the regular-season opener against the Redskins. However, Cowboys owner Jerry Jones is tempted get him some action with Romo in a game situation before getting thrown into the fire vs. Washington.
Dallas needs to be extra cautious considering offensive linemen Marc Colombo and Kyle Kosier remain out with knee injuries and may not return until the regular season. Their absence has been especially tough on running backs Marion Barber and Felix Jones, who have combined to rush for 40 yards on 14 carries in three games, including 17 on six against the Chargers.
