Monday night football in Week 11 of the NFL regular season sees the Houston Texans visit the Dallas Cowboys at AT&T Stadium, and Mike Tyson’s performance on Friday might only be the second most embarrassing sporting display at the venue this week given how the home team’s season is collapsing.
Our pigskin prognosticator Andrew Cunneen surveys the wreckage of another disappointing season for Big D…
Texans @ Cowboys Bet Builder tips
Houston to Win
Joe Mixon to Anytime Touchdown
CJ Stroud Under 241.5 Passing Yards
Nico Collins Over 71.5 Receiving Yards
CeeDee Lamb Over 60.5 Receiving Yards
- A bet builder with these selections pays approximately 16/1 with Paddy Power. CLICK OR TAP HERE TO ADD TO YOUR BETSLIP.
Houston to Win
Now, it’s a fair point to make when people suggest that the hammering by Philadelphia last week was more indicative of the Eagles figuring themselves out than it was of the medium-term ability of the Cowboys.
But there had to be alarm bells going off in Jerry Jones’ mind. Although, I suppose when you factor in that this is the same man who openly told reporters who he wanted to draft back in April, and a man who thought running it back with Mike McCarthy was a good idea, then who really knows.
But the deflation in that building is quite something. And perhaps the biggest issue for Dallas is that McCarthy’s offense is as simple as lining everyone up and trying to win their individual matchups. Even if another player not named CeeDee Lamb manages to do so, are we really believing that Cooper Rush can pick them out?
Houston are having real issues on that offensive line, particularly at left guard, but even if they only put up sixteen points here, it should be enough.
Joe Mixon to Anytime Touchdown
While the sub-par offensive line may be okay outside of the Redzone, Houston will run into issues as get ear the goalline. That’s because the windows are tighter and Stroud will need to extend plays, meaning the line has to block for longer.
One way to counter that is by running the ball, which they’ve done well inside the twenty yard line all season, or by preparing themselves for quick dump-offs to Mixon – a real safety blanket.
Either way, it makes Mixon the most likely touchdown scorer by some distance.
CJ Stroud Under 241.5 Passing Yards
We’ve seen him really struggle in the absence of Stefon Diggs and Nico Collins. It’s not really an offense designed to have studs everywhere, either. They can conceivably get by without spreading the ball about, but in a game where pass defence is Dallas’ strength, why lean into it?
Mixon can be efficient on the ground, Dallas won’t score many points and you don’t need to put any of your more unique plays on film in a game you should be winning by a comfortable distance.
Nico Collins Over 71.5 Receiving Yards
I realise backing the under on the QB and the over on the WR1 seems counter-intuitive. But there are a few things we need to factor in.
The only answer that Stroud will have on third down is Collins. He’s also fully healthy. He was ready last week but they decided to give him extra time off to be 100%. Had this been a week ago, I feel they would have been cautious about his workload and route tree. Not anymore.
CeeDee Lamb Over 60.5 Receiving Yards
Despite the obvious limitations of this signal-caller, the only real chance that Dallas has of putting up points is by feeding Lamb time and time again.
They’ll design screens for him, pop passes, crossers – everything. Once he has the ball in his hands, he’ll give them a chance. And this tally is lower than it should be, even considering the obvious drawbacks.
NFL Monday Night Bet Builder tips
Houston to Win
Joe Mixon to Anytime Touchdown
CJ Stroud Under 241.5 Passing Yards
Nico Collins Over 71.5 Receiving Yards
CeeDee Lamb Over 60.5 Receiving Yards
- A bet builder with these selections pays approximately 16/1 with Paddy Power. CLICK OR TAP HERE TO ADD TO YOUR BETSLIP.
*All odds and lines quoted are accurate at time of publication but are subject to change
GET MORE ON THE 2024 NFL SEASON
- PP News is your home of the best NFL Tips every week
- NFL Rules Explained: Understanding the basics of American Football
THE PADDY POWER GUIDE TO SAFER GAMBLING – EVERYTHING YOU NEED TO KNOW
