QUARLES: Texans, Cowboys need to bounce back in Week 2

For fans of Texas pro football teams, Week 1 of the NFL season was not good.

The Cowboys put up a fight but fell short in Philadelphia to the defending Super Bowl champs 24-20.

The loss was not necessarily because they traded away elite pass rusher Micah Parsons a week before the game, though they did have trouble containing the running of Eagles QB Jalen Hurts and not having Parsons hurt.

It was more about the multiple drops by CeeDee Lamb on passes that were on point from QB Dak Prescott.

Yeah, this time the loss couldnt be put on Dak.

After not being able to stop Philly in the first half, Dallas held the Eagles to just three second-half points.

The problem was, the Cowboys offense couldnt put any more points on the board either after trailing just 21-20 after halftime.

Dallas problems moving forward will be finding ways to pressure opposing quarterbacks without having a player the caliber of Parsons and finding a consistent running game.

Running back Javante Williams, an offseason pickup, had 53 yards rushing and two scores but averaged just 3.6 yards per carry.

Former Eagles running back Miles Sanders had 53 yards on four carries, including a 49-yarder where he was tackled from behind by Eagles linebacker Zack Baun at the 11.

A few plays later Sanders fumbled on a first-down run, ending the Cowboys threat.

Despite all those issues, the Cowboys should be able to handle the New York Giants at home Sunday and even their record at 1-1.

The Houston Texans weakness coming into the season was the offensive line, and the team put up just three field goals in a Week 1 14-9 loss at the Los Angeles Rams.

C.J.

Stroud, who has played like the best quarterback from the 2023 draft in his first two seasons, did not have a good opening week.

Stroud threw for just 188 yards on 19-for-27 passing with an interception and was sacked three times in the loss.

The sacks are basically on pace with the 52 sacks allowed last season.

The Texans were missing a pair of starters guard Ed Ingram and wide receiver Christian Kirk that caused some lineup changes, but that shouldnt have limited them to three field goals.

Houston had some of the same problems as last year with five pre-snap penalties and Stroud being pressured on more than 40% of the pass plays and being hit seven times.

There's a lot to clean up for the Texans, maybe even more so than for the Cowboys.

Houston gets its home opener on Monday against Tampa Bay, a team coming off 23-20 road win in Atlanta.

Both teams are favored this week at home and both should win and, at least for a week be .500 teams..

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