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Fortunately, the Texans beat the Cowboys in overtime, 19-16, in a match that will remain etched in their memories for the questionable calls of Bill O. Brien and Jason Garrett. O 'Brien, the Texans' fifth-year coach, started the action early (we'll go into the details below) while Garrett, in his ninth year with the Cowboys, kept his worse for the end.
After getting the ball first in overtime, the Cowboys racked up 33 yards in six games, going down the 42-yard Texans line. The fourth and first goal of the match, with one of the most dynamic defenders of the league, Ezekiel Elliott, and a chance of victory on the line, Garrett decided that giving a punting would give his team the best chance to win.
Four pieces later, this come:
And four games later, Houston kicker, Ka 'imi Fairbairn, struck out the winner. Garrett did not lose to defeat, but he did not help his team with his conservative decisions late in the game.
Texans probably do not win the division
This will probably follow us for the rest of the season and perhaps beyond, but here it is: we chose the Texans to win the AFC South. Our thinking was healthy (or at least we like to think so much): Deshaun Watson scored 19 touchdowns in seven games before breaking his ACL in November 2017, ending his Rookie of the Year campaign.
Not only that, but J.J. Watt and Whitney Mercilus were finally healthy, Tyrann Mathieu joined the team in independent attack and Romeo Crennel resumed his duties as defensive player. And the offensive line, which was an impending problem last season, had many new faces. But we did not consider Bill O. Brien, the fifth-year coach, whose curious decisions in the game have a lot to do with why Texans are not better than their record of 2 -3.
Bill O 'Brien does not help his young quarterback
These dubious calls were broadcast Sunday night, the lowlight arrived late in the first half when – to his credit! – O 'Brien scored the fourth goal and scored inside the 1-yard line. But instead of having Watson under center where he could easily run the quarterback stealth and give the Texans a 17-6 lead at half-time, O-Brien instead chose Watson in the shotgun , trying to find an open catcher in an area full of Cowboy defenders. . Watson finally tried to fight for the score and instead met his untimely death at the hands of linebacker Jaylon Smith.
It was a recurring theme, by the way; Smith spent a good part of the evening darkening Watson, who spent much of the evening absorbing brutal blows and getting off the ground. At the end of the regulation, the exhausted, exhausted fourth-year class was about to be examined by the medical staff. And that does not mean that Watson did not play well, all things considered, but his coach did not do him a favor.
In other words: there is no reason that Texans should not have easily won this game. Apart from Elliott, the Cowboys have no offense to talk about. They entered the 5th week in the 23rd rank of offensive, according to Football Outsiders, 3rd in the race and 28th in excess. So, of course, you'd think Dallas will rely on Elliott. One problem: Houston's 18th ranked overall defense is 29th against the pass but second against the race. Immovable object, irresistible force and all that.
The Cowboys seemed to understand this because in the first series, Dak Prescott hit striker Geoff Swaim for a 43-yard gain. The Texans rank last in the standings in the league in defense:
This player is finished by a field goal.
A series later, the tight half Rico Gathers got his first reception in the NFL, good for 32 yards:
This training also has a purpose.
But on the next trip, the Cowboys made three passes to big receivers. All three were incomplete and they paged. The training that followed the end of the first half, which gave rise to the odd decision of O. Brien mentioned above for the fourth goal, was good for 10 games and was a good one. is finished when Prescott missed the shot under the direction of Tavon Austin:
If the Cowboys can not take advantage of Texas' porous password defense, they should have no chance of winning, right?
You would think. But again, we would tell you where to go. Apparently, having learned nothing from the goal line series just before the half, O & # 39; Brien and the Texans found themselves in first place of the goal of the 1 Cowboys line 10 minutes from the fourth quarter and the match was tied. 13-13. A normal person might think of trying Watson in the center of the first run, to make the quarter's stealth easier.
Nope. Watson lined up in the shotgun, passed and Alfred Blue did not attempt any winnings. At the second descent, Watson was finally under the center where he was stopped without gain. That was enough for O-Brien, apparently, who found Watson in the shotgun on the third run, and he again launched incomplete and it was not even close. Texans settled for field placement.
So, instead of being seven with 8:31 to go, Houston is led by an investment. And in the very first piece of the next record, Prescott has this:
Prescott spent a good part of the evening breaking the tack in the backfield and landing well-prepared balls. Some throws were misguided; others, like this one, were breathtaking. The fact is that it should not have mattered. Yes, the Cowboys 'training was stuck at the Houston 30, and yes, they had to settle for a shot on goal, but if O' Brien had not so badly botched the the Texans would have led by no less than four points (and, realistically, they could have been up two touchdowns).
The Cowboys still have no reliable wide receivers
This is not a new team cut Dez Bryant in the spring and no concrete plan to replace it has ever materialized. Upon entry, Cole Beasley led the team with 16 receptions, followed by Elliott (15), Swaim (11), Deonte Thompson (9) and Allen Hurns (7). Against the Texans, the main receiver of the Cowboys? Elliott, with six catches, followed by Swaim, who had three. Hurns counted his booty – it was the only touchdown of Dallas:
We mention this for this reason:
And we'll take this opportunity to recall the same argument we've made since the offseason: after the Cowboys' success in 2016, it seemed like they were following the same strategy as the Eagles and Rams. Take advantage of a young quarterback in his contract with recruits and use this excess salary cap to enrich your list of players with talent and depth at other positions. Philadelphia scored this in his first Lombardi Trophy and Los Angeles spent the off-season demonstrating that it's the best team in the NFC despite the recent Eagles title. Dallas has opted for a different, less successful path, and now finds itself at 2-3 without any near-term solutions in sight.
Next up
The Texans (2-3) welcome the NFL's most unpredictable team, the Buffalo Bills (2-3), who have just won their second win of the season, thanks to the Titans, in a match that brings football back to 100 years.
The Cowboys (2-3), meanwhile, host the Jaguars (3-2), who lost to the Chiefs on Sunday.
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