NFL Picks Week 3: 10 Bold Predictions for Cowboys-Texans Showdown
This could be the best game of the week.
You have a 2-0 Texans team that doesn't mind scoring to get the job done and no lead is insurmountable.
You have an 0-2 Dallas team that is not playing up to its potential.
You have the upstarts vs. America's team. The scoring juggernaut vs. the preseason Super Bowl favorites.
One team that has proven in its two wins that they can beat you either passing or running.
And you have another team that proved in its first game that they can beat themselves.
So what's going to happen?
10. The Quarterbacks Will Cancel Each Other Out
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Matt Schaub is on a tear, completing 47 of 69 passes for 604 yards and four touchdowns with two interceptions.
Tony Romo has completed 65 of 98 passes for 656 yards and two touchdowns with two interceptions.
Even though Romo has tossed it around nearly 30 more times they are pretty even at yards and INT's. Schaub has more touchdown passes because he was in a shoot out coming from behind and had a Redskins defense reeling.
These guys will play big, but neither of them will win the game.
9. Wade Philips Is Coaching for His Job
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Jerry Jones wants a Super Bowl team. He wants one in his own stadium this year.
He thought he had a Super Bowl caliber team and if the Cowboys start 0-3, he'll pretty much know that he doesn't have a championship team
And the saying goes, you can't fire the players.
The team has made bad mistakes, and the locker room is in question.
Another reason for concern? The "players only" meetings usually come after midseason.
8. David Buehler Is Kicking Himself out of A Job
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There will come two or three times during this game where the Cowboys' drives will stall and they have to decide whether to go for it or bring in Buehler to attempt a field goal.
He's missed two already. He'll miss one this game.
Two more makeable misses and I think he is out of a job.
Buehler?...Buehler?
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7. Mario Williams Will Add to His Sack Total
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The Cowboys have had all types of offensive line issues, but last week they got two of their starters back and Marc Columbo will be facing off against Williams.
But Williams is on a tear so far this year and leads the AFC in sacks with four already.
He'll get at least one more if not two, since Tony Romo is averaging 49 pass attempts a game and the running game hasn't been effective.
6. Arian Foster Won't Rush For 100 Yards
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After beating up the Colts on the ground with 231 yards opening week. Foster only ran for 69 last week against the Redskins.
A few things went into that.
First of all they were trailing in the second half and had to go to the pass. Secondly, they were using Foster in the passing game, so it's not like he was shut out. (He caught three passes for 69 yards.)
But the Cowboys' defense is pretty good, so he won't crack triple digits on the ground, but he will in all-purpose yardage.
5. Miles Austin Will Out-Catch Andre Johnson
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Let's get this straight, Andre Johnson is a beast. He is probably of of the top ten best offensive players in the league right now.
In fact, Johnson was just named AFC Offensive Player of the week for his game against Washington.
But right now Austin has more catches and more yards because he is the only guy that Romo trusts at wide receiver.
He is building rapport with Dez Bryant but Austin catches damn near everything tossed his way.
4. Rashad Butler Is in a Lot Of Trouble
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Rashad Butler starts in place of Duane Brown at left tackle this week against the Cowboys because on Tuesday Brown was suspended for using PED's and will miss four games.
Butler gets to face off against DeMarcus Ware, one of the best defensive players in the league.
This is going to be Butler's first career start. This quote from Ware on a Dallas radio station should tell Butler what to expect:
"...Wade never calls off the blitzes and we are going to be coming. That is the way that it is going to be."
3. The Dallas Running Game Will Show Up, Finally.
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Whether it's Marion Barber breaking tackles at the goal line.
Or Felix Jones taking a long one to the house.
Or Tashard Choice breaking one as the point man out of the Wildcat (Razorback) formation...
The three headed monster will finally give Romo and the passing game some help.
2. A Turnover Will Decide The Game
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When two teams are evenly matched at all the skill positions and most aspects overall, it is usually something unpredictable that decides the game.
In this case it will be a fumble in the red zone or a pick six.
Remember how San Francisco dominated New Orleans on Monday night at times?
But they lost the turnover battle and lost the game.
Same thing will happen here.
1. The Cowboys Win
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Matt Schaub will play well. As will Andre Johnson, Arian Foster and Mario Williams.
Tony Romo will play well. As will Miles Austin, Felix Jones and DeMarcus Ware.
It might be clutch kicking or a timely late pass, but Dallas wins.
Cowboys 31 Texans 27
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