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The Dallas Cowboys cruised to an easy victory Sunday afternoon when they defeated the New York Giants 35-17.
The Cowboys quickly gave up an early touchdown but went on to score touchdowns of their own on their next five possessions. Quarterback Dak Prescott was unstoppable. He finished the game 25/32 for 405 passing yards, 4 touchdowns, and ZERO turnovers. Prescott posted a perfect 158.3 Quarterback Rating while connecting with seven different receivers. A few more games like this and Owner Jerry Jones will gladly be opening up his check book when they come to terms on a new contract.
With the Cowboys having their way through the air on offense, Superstar Ezekiel Elliott only carried the ball 13 times for 53 yards and a touchdown. With it being Zeke's first game back from his holdout, the light workload seemed to be exactly what was needed.
Receivers Michael Gallup and Amari Cooper appear to be in sync with Prescott as they both posted 100+ yard-receiving days. Second year man Gallup had 7 catches for 158 yards as Cooper caught 6 for 106yards.With these two outstanding playmakers on the field, opposing defenses have to worry about a lot more than just Zeke.
The Cowboys have started the season off right with a win over a divisional opponent and look ready for a great season.
Three things to watch
1.Ezekiel Elliott (Running Back): With one game under his belt, it will be interesting to see how much the Cowboys coaching staff will increase his touches.I would expect him to get somewhere around 18.
2.Randall Cobb (Wide Receiver): With the Redskins giving up over 300 yards passing last week, I think Cobb should benefit the most this week when he lines up in the slot.There is high potential for him to make some huge plays down the field; just look at what DeSean Jackson did last week to this defense.
3.Jason Witten (Tight End): Witten scored a touchdown last week in his first game back from retirement, and was targeted six times. Prescott seems to use him as his security blanket, let's see if the future Hall of Famer can keep producing as he fights father time.
Coming Up
Sunday September 15th, the Dallas Cowboys (1-0) will be taking on their division rival Washington Redskins (0-1) at FedEx Field in Landover Maryland.Kickoff is set for 12:00 pm Central time.As for the game, I expect a lot of the same from the Dallas offense.The Redskins were torched through the air last week and I believe Dak and company will be Dak'ting a fool again.Washing ton is going to be without their starting running back Derrius Guice who is out with a knee injury.This should be a good spot to pick up anther easy win.
If you have any fantasy players, the only must start players are:
Cowboys: Ezekiel Elliott (RB), Amari Cooper (WR), Dak Prescott (QB), Michael Gallup (WR)
Redskins: Chris Thompson (RB) maybe, and only in a PPR league
For you gamblers out there, the Cowboys are -4.5 and the over/under is 46.That is a pretty big line because they are on the road but I think the over is a good safe play and the only one I am going to make.
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The Texans make just their third ever visit to Lambeau Field Sunday. It’s a dandy matchup as the Texans try to run their record to 6-1 at the expense of the 4-2 Green Bay Packers. The Texans have one win and one loss in Wisconsin. In 2008 the gameday high temperature was 13 degrees. Kris Brown kicked a 40 yard field goal as time expired to give the Texans a 24-21 win over a Packers team that struggled to a 6-10 record under first-year starting quarterback Aaron Rodgers. The Texans posted their second consecutive 8-8 finish that year. In 2016 the mercury reached a balmy high of 34 degrees as the Texans fell 21-13 at Lambeau. Inexplicably, Rodgers somehow managed to win the quarterback matchup with Brock Osweiler. The Texans and Packers each won their division that year. Both Texans’ trips to “America’s Dairyland” occurred in December. No risk of frozen tundra this time around. The forecast for Green Bay Sunday calls for a high of 75 degrees! That’s almost 20 degrees warmer than normal there for October 20.
It’s a dynamic QB matchup with C.J. Stroud and Jordan Love sharing the field. Love broke out in a huge way in 2023 after serving a two-year apprenticeship under Rodgers. After a stumbling 3-6 start to their season the Packers went 6-2 the rest of the way to snag a playoff spot. They obliterated the Cowboys in a Wild Card game in Arlington (before everyone obliterated the Cowboys in Arlington...) then led at the 49ers with under 90 seconds to go before San Francisco scored to win 24-21. The Packers made crystal clear their belief in Love by signing him to a four-year 220 million dollar contract extension in July. That’s 55 mil per season. Stroud becomes extension-eligible after next season. Anyone think he won’t be in position to command at least 65 mil per season?
Stroud sure looks to be the guy to finally give the Texans the long-term stability and excellence they have never had at the most important position in the sport. The Pack is all in on Love continuing its unreal long-term QB stability and excellence. Love took the reins after Rodgers helmed the offense for 15 seasons. Rodgers took the reins after Brett Favre’s 16-year tenure. So if Love makes it for nine years as the starter, that’s three primary QBs in 40 years. Absolutely amazing.
After missing two games because of a sprained knee ligament suffered in the final seconds of the Packers’ season opening loss to the Eagles in Brazil, Love has thrown 10 touchdown passes in three games. But he has only completed 59 percent of his passes, and has thrown at least one interception per game.
The Texans’ first trip to the NFC North this season went brutally badly, the 34-7 beatdown from Minnesota. The Vikings beat the Packers 31-29 in week four of the season. That was Love’s first game back, he threw four touchdown passes and three picks. One defensive weapon the Texans will have against the Pack they did not have against the Vikes is Denico Autry. The 34-year-old Autry returns from his six-game banned substance suspension. That happens as one of the fill-ins for him, Mario Edwards, starts his own four-game substance abuse suspension. That should be a net improvement for the Texans.
X-factors
The single biggest variable in swinging the outcome of football games is turnovers. So far this season the Packers have been a takeaway machine. Last season the Packers generated just 18 turnovers over their 17 regular season games, only six teams took the ball away less often. Through just six games this season the Packers already have 17 takeaways. No other NFL team has more than 13, the Texans have just seven. The Packers have produced exactly three turnovers in five of their six games, and got two in the other. Every defense preaches turnovers, so it’s not as if first-year Green Bay defensive coordinator Jeff Hafley has introduced radical concepts that are yielding magical results. But the results are what they are.
If the Texans take care of the ball, they have a terrific chance to win. Having Joe Mixon back aids the cause on two fronts. One, Mixon is obviously the Texans’ best running back. Two, Mixon last fumbled in 2021. The Texans probably best plan to score 25 or more points to win this one because the Packers figure to score a bit. In Love’s four starts the Pack has lit the scoreboard for 29, 29, 24, and 34 points. On the other hand, the Texans’ D has been pretty stout, allowing the third-fewest yards per game (Green Bay rates 18th). It’s a strength vs. strength battle. The Texans have allowed no opponent more than 313 yards in total offense. The Packers have amassed at least 378 yards in five of their six games, and managed 328 in their worst performance.
For Texans’ conversation, catch Brandon Strange, Josh Jordan, and me on our Texans On Tap podcasts. Thursdays feature a preview of the upcoming game, and then we go live (then available on demand) after the final gun of the game: Texans on Tap - YouTube
The Astros are always in season for discussion. Our Stone Cold ‘Stros podcasts drop Mondays: Click here to watch!