The tight, confident Cowboy team can move forward with Trey Lance and Cooper Rush
Jake Ferguson stops by Sports Seriously to talk all things Dallas Cowboys. He also discusses his USAA partnership.
Everything is bigger in Texas, including the stakes of the “Monday Night Football” game between the Dallas Cowboys and Houston Texans in Week 11, albeit for very different reasons.
The Cowboys’ playoff hopes are all but dashed following Dak Prescott’s season-ending hamstring injury, which occurred during the Cowboys’ Week 9 loss to the Falcons. Prescott’s injury now places the criticism of the Cowboys and their shortcomings squarely on head coach Mike McCarthy.
While Prescott’s injury has given McCarthy a built-in excuse to avoid some of that criticism, Dallas (3-6) is coming off a 34-6 drubbing at the clutches of the Eagles. That’s the latest, complete systemic failure for a team that was expected to compete for the NFC crown this year.
On the other hand, the Texans haven’t been as stellar as last year, but CJ Stroud has still led Houston to a 6-4 record and the top step in the AFC South. In fact, Houston will see the return of wide receiver Nico Collins, who was a top target for Stroud before his hamstring injury turned out to be a lengthy recovery.
Now the Texans must prepare to hold on to their AFC South hopes and get right ahead of a potential playoff push as the 2024 NFL seasons enter their championship runs.
The stars at night are big and bright during “Monday Night Football” in Week 11. USA TODAY Sports offers live updates, highlights and more from the Texans vs. Cowboys:
Maybe the Cowboys were on to something with Cooper Rush. Or maybe the Texans aren’t that good. You be the judge, but Dallas is stuck in this.
A 53-yard field goal from auto Brandon Aubrey pushed the Houston lead back to seven with just under six minutes left in the half. Texans 17, Cowboys 10
Aubrey made the longest kick of his career during Week 3 of the 2024 NFL season. On Dallas’ first possession, he attempted a 65-yarder in an attempt to cut the Baltimore Ravens’ 7–0 lead.
The stairs split the uprights with room to spare.
A long drive by the Texans ends in disappointing fashion as Houston settles for three from Ka’imi Fairbairn to extend the lead to 10. He’s good from 33, but Houston will be kidding himself after failing to get in managed to get a touchdown on a nine-play drive that traveled 77 yards and took 5:38 off the clock. Texans 17, Cowboys 7
The Cowboys put some much-needed points on the board thanks to the speed of KaVontae Turpin.
Cooper Rush hit Turpin on a slant route and Turpin did the rest. The wide receiver went 64 yards for the score, bringing Dallas within a touchdown early in the second. Texas 14, Cowboys 7
Mixon is doing his best to break the ‘running backs don’t matter’ trend. The former Cincinnati Bengal signed a three-year, $25.5 million contract this offseason and is proving to be worth every penny for the Texans. He has rushed for over 100 yards in 5 of 7 games and looks poised to get that 6 of 8 by the end of the night. Mixon’s nine rushing touchdowns are just four shy of his career-high of 13, which he set in 2021 with the Bengals.
Houston has increased their lead and it comes from a familiar face. Joe Mixon is in the end zone for his second touchdown of the game.
He’s already extended his scoring streak to six, but it was a great first quarter for the running back who was visibly frustrated last week. Dallas has no answers for the running game in Houston so far. Texans 14, Cowboys 0
Cooper Rush has decided to join the turnover party.
CeeDee Lamb was walking on a ramp but ran into a defender, causing Derek Stingley Jr. had a chance to improve his stats and collect an interception of his own. The teams exchange turnovers and Houston takes over at their own 37.
CJ Stroud must have felt bad about the fake punt attempt because he just threw one to Malik Hooker for an easy interception. Instead of settling for a field goal, Houston opted to go for it on fourth-and-3 from the Dallas 30-yard line. Save that road for later if the score remains close.
It’s time to cross Bryan Anger off the list of potential Cowboys starting QBs.
Dallas tries a fake punt, which ends about as miserably as expected. The list of silliness continues to grow every week.
The scoreboard reads 7-0 Texans, but it already feels like a fourteen-point lead.
Dallas’ defense has already been cut to pieces early on, first on a rejected 77-yard touchdown against Nico Collins and now on a 45-yard run by Joe Mixon, who will hold. Texans 7, Cowboys 0
Welcome back, Nico Collins. Sort of.
The first play of the scrimmage for the Texans was a screen play for the returning wide receiver, and the wideout took it to the house for a touchdown. Unfortunately for the Texans – or fortunately for the Cowboys – the play was called back due to an ineligible man downfield penalty.
- Start time: 8:15 PM ET (7:15 PM CT)
- Location: AT&T Stadium, Arlington, Texas
The Cowboys and Texans kick off Monday night at 8:15 PM ET. The game will take place in
- TV channel: ABC | ESPN | ESPN2
ESPN is once again home to “Monday Night Football.” The old team of Joe Buck (play-by-play) and Troy Aikman (color) will be in attendance, with Lisa Salters adding reports from the sidelines.
Viewers can also tune into ESPN2 for the “ManningCast” with Peyton and Eli Manning.
Dallas executive vice president Stephen Jones told 105.3 The Fan on Monday that the Cowboys believe Lamb will be able to play on “Monday Night Football” in Week 11.
Lamb appeared on the injury report with a back injury but will play against the Texans.
Collins is no longer on the injury report and is expected to take on a full workload tonight against the Cowboys.
The Texans designated Collins for return from injured reserve last Friday before their Week 10 game against the Detroit Lions on “Sunday Night Football,” marking the first time Collins was able to return after being placed on IR.
The roof of AT&T Stadium was scheduled to open for “Monday Night Football,” but it will be closed after a near miss.
The Dallas Cowboys host the Houston Texans in the interstate game on Monday night, and the home team decided to open the stadium’s retractable roof for the first time in more than two years. The stadium’s social media account even marked the occasion.
However, after the roof was opened, things quickly went wrong. According to several reporters at the stadium, not long after the opening, a piece of sheet metal fell from the roof onto the field. No one was affected, but reports say it almost came into contact with production staff on site. — Jordan Mendoza
The Cowboys are not starting Trey Lance because they believe Cooper Rush gives them the best chance to remain competitive with Dak Prescott out.
“Cooper has shown he has the ability to compete and win in games,” Jones said in an interview on 105.3 The Fan after Week 10. “He gives us our best chance.”
Rush has largely been a winner in his limited reps as a starter. He entered the 2024 NFL season with a 5-1 record in six starts with the Cowboys. He won the first five starts of his career from 2021-22, becoming just the 14th quarterback – and first Cowboy – in NFL history to achieve the feat. – Jacob Camenker
For cord cutters looking for a live stream for the matchup, they can head to Fubo TV. Fubo TV offers NBC, as well as CBS, FOX, NFL Network and the ESPN family of networks, meaning you can catch NFL action for the rest of the season.
ESPN+, ESPN’s own streaming service, will also carry the game.
Here’s how the USA TODAY Sports staff thinks the Cowboys vs. Texans “Monday Night Football” matchup will play out:
- Lorenzo Reyes: Texans 28, Cowboys 7
- Tyler Dragon: Texans 27, Cowboys 21
- Richard Morin: Texans 28, Cowboys 15
- Jordan Mendoza: Texans 28, Cowboys 10
According to BetMGM NFL odds, the Texans are the favorites to beat the Cowboys. Do you want to bet? Check out the best mobile sports betting apps offering NFL betting promotions in 2024, including the ESPN BET app and Fanatics Sportsbook promo code.
- Spread: Texans (-7.5)
- Moneyline: Texans (-375); Cowboys (+300)
- Top/bottom: 41.5
Not interested in this game? Our guide to NFL betting odds, picks and spreads features “Thursday Night Football” and “Sunday Night Football” odds.
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- CB DaRon Bland
- WR Jalen Brooks
- ILB Damone Clark
- THE KJ Henry
- CB Jourdan Lewis
- FB Jager Luepke
- OT Matt Waletzko
- CB Kamari Lassiter
- DE Will Anderson Jr.
- LB Jamal Hill
- OT Blake Fisher
- W. Steven Sims
- DT Folorunso Fatukasi
The roof of AT&T Stadium was scheduled to be open for Monday night’s game, but after a piece of sheet metal fell from the retractable roof onto the field, the decision was made to close the roof for the game.
According to AccuWeather, game times in Arlington, Texas are around 60 degrees. There is a 0% chance of precipitation during the game.
- Philadelphia Eagles: 8-2
- Washington Commanders: 7-4
- Dallas Cowboys: 3-6
- New York Giants: 2-8
- Houston Texans: 6-4
- Indianapolis Colts: 5-6
- Tennessee Titans: 2-8
- Jacksonville Jaguars: 2-9
The New England Patriots and Pittsburgh Steelers are tied for the most Super Bowl wins with six.
Pittsburgh and Dallas have the unique distinction of playing each other with three more matchups than any other team combination in Super Bowl history.
The Dallas Cowboys have won five Super Bowls, with the team’s last Super Bowl appearance coming during the 1995 season. The Texans are one of four teams to have never played in a Super Bowl.
NFL Franchises With Most Super Bowl Wins:
➤ Super Bowl Winners: All-time Scores, NFL Title Game Results
According to OverTheCap.com, the NFL’s top 18 players by average annual salary are all quarterbacks. Dallas Cowboys quarterback Dak Prescott became the league’s highest-paid player before the 2024 season, agreeing to a four-year, $240 million deal. Minnesota Vikings wide receiver Justin Jefferson is the first non-quarterback on the highest-paid list after signing a four-year, $140 million contract extension this season.
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➤ Best (and Worst) of NFL Week 11: The bills say ’72 Dolphins popping champagne🍾
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