The Cowboys’ struggles were on full display during their Week 11 “Monday Night Football” matchup against the Texans, where they faced a 34-10 defeat at AT&T Stadium. This loss not only marked another disappointing outing for Dallas but also made history as they became the first team in NFL history to trail by 20 or more points in six consecutive home games. How did it come to this?
Dallas Cowboys’ performance woes
Mike McCarthy’s squad was always going to face a tough test against the Texans, the AFC South leaders who entered the season with legitimate Super Bowl aspirations. Houston lived up to expectations, showcasing their skills and resilience. Yet, despite the Texans’ solid performance, the Cowboys had numerous chances to keep pace with their intrastate rivals.
Unfortunately, the Cowboys failed to capitalize on these opportunities. Instead, they responded with their own series of blunders that ultimately cost them the game. The Texans played an imperfect game, but Dallas’ miscues were glaring and frequent, leading to a disappointing outcome.
Key moments that turned the tide
From the very beginning, it was clear that something was amiss within the Cowboys’ organization. The defense quickly allowed a score from the Texans, with Joe Mixon breaking free for a 45-yard touchdown run. This put immediate pressure on the Cooper Rush-led offense to find their rhythm.
Dallas’ first possession was a microcosm of their night—marked by short gains from Rico Dowdle and a couple of incompletions from Rush. Facing a daunting 4th-and-9 at their own 33-yard line, the decision seemed straightforward: punt the ball away. Instead, McCarthy opted for a risky fake punt, which ended in disaster as punter Bryan Angler’s pass fell short of the first down marker, handing the Texans prime field position.
Offensive struggles and coaching decisions
The Cowboys’ offensive struggles continued throughout the game. Even after Dallas managed to intercept an errant pass from CJ Stroud, the momentum shift was short-lived. Just five plays later, Rush threw an interception to Derek Stingley Jr., returning the ball to the Texans and leaving fans shaking their heads in disbelief.
Rush did manage to connect on a 64-yard touchdown pass to speedster KaVontae Turpin, providing a brief glimmer of hope. However, his overall performance was lackluster. Completing 32 of 55 passes for 354 yards, one touchdown, one interception, and one fumble, he finished with a passer rating of 75.9. In comparison, Angler, whose earlier pass had set the stage for Dallas’ turmoil, ended the night with a higher rating of 83.3.
The coaching decisions made by McCarthy also raised eyebrows. His team committed nine penalties, resulting in 66 lost yards. In a curious move, he chose to take points off the board after a penalty on the Texans, opting to go for it on 4th-and-2 later in the same drive instead of kicking a shorter field goal. Given the Cowboys’ offensive struggles up to that point, many questioned whether this was the right call. Ultimately, Dallas failed to find the end zone again, further extinguishing any remaining momentum.
Defensive lapses and missed opportunities
The defensive lapses were just as troubling. After allowing a quick score to start the game, the Cowboys struggled to contain the Texans’ offense. The situation worsened when guard Tyler Guyton attempted to scoop up Rush’s fumble in the fourth quarter, only to fumble the ball himself. This miscue led to a touchdown for the Texans, further burying Dallas in a hole they couldn’t escape.
Star kicker Brandon Aubrey also had a rare miss, hitting the upright on a 40-yard attempt just before halftime. This marked his first miss at AT&T Stadium, adding to the mounting frustration for Cowboys fans.
Looking ahead: A challenging road for Dallas
All told, the performance against the Texans was emblematic of the struggles that have plagued the Cowboys this season. With the run game virtually nonexistent, questions surrounding the quarterback position, and uncertainty among the coaching staff, the outlook for Dallas appears bleak.
The statistics paint a troubling picture: the Cowboys have been outscored by a staggering 118 points in their first five home games this season, marking one of the largest margins in the Super Bowl era. As the team grapples with these issues, fans are left wondering how they can turn things around.
With the playoffs looming and the pressure mounting, the Cowboys must find a way to address their myriad issues. Will they be able to regroup and salvage their season, or will the struggles continue? Only time will tell, but one thing is for sure: the road ahead is fraught with challenges, and the Cowboys will need to rise to the occasion if they hope to regain their footing in the NFL.
