Texans Kick Cowboys in the Teeth: Win 28-16

The Texans and Cowboys have faced each other six times in both preseason and regular season games, and the home teams have won each time. Big pregame tailgates that never run out of beer, ran out of beer, and in this Saturday night game, there was more trash talking in the stands than on the field. I heard reports of arrests, mostly involving instigating, publicly intoxicated Cowboy fans. Don't mess with the Texans or the HPD.

Cowboy fans talked big junk pregame and on sports talk radio this week, but by the second quarter, they started jabbering about how this was only a preseason game. Funny how Jacoby Jones' 91 yard punt return for a touchdown (he's had two in the preseason, and almost a third one) got Cowboy fans to simmer down some. They didn't completely shut up because well, they are Cowboy fans and have a certain reputation to uphold.

There should be panic in the streets in Big D, as the Texans held the Cowboy rushing game to 57 yards and the Cowboys allowed 142 yards rushing by the Texans. So much for the Dallas lines dominating in the trenches theory.

The game ball should go to Jacoby Jones, who had a great performance in both punt returns and receptions, but another game ball should go to Texan fans. In the post game quotes, many of the Cowboy players mentioned the difficulties that they had with the noise in the stadium. (The game ball should be given to Texan fans also for not killing braying Cowboy fans, unless of course, you actually did kill a Cowboy fan, and then you should receive two game balls. Three game balls if a trident was involved).

The first team cuts are on Tuesday, and even punter Chad Stanley's relatives would have to concede that the job should belong to Matt Turk. The elevation and placement of Turk's punts was impressive. Assuming that Kris Brown's miss of a 45 yard field goal is an anomaly (big assumption given his inconsistency over the last couple of years), special teams and field position for the Texans should be a strength of the team in 2007.

Even Texans owner Bob McNair was feeling it after the game:

"I said before the game that this is a good test for us to see how far we've progressed. The Cowboys, I do believe they've got the best team they've had in the last ten years. Their defense had not given up a touchdown and we scored four on them. We went in, and our second-team offense scored on their first-team defense. Their number one offense played our number two defense and they didn't score. So it wasn't just the first-team; it was our second unit that did extremely well too. I think it was a good test. It was a preseason game, but it is a good test as to where we are."

Nice sum up. So, who here has Jacoby Jones on their fantasy team? And what was interesting to you about the game?

Reader Comments (Page 1 of 2)

8-26-2007 @ 10:46AM

patrick said...

couldnt watch the game because i live in ohio, but listened to it. i could just feel that the punt return and the interception were going to happen. the sacks, schaub to andre, everything, it was just awsome.

Rick Brohmer said...

Cowboy fans are in for a rude awakening in 2007. Even with recievers like Terry Glenn, T.O. and Jason Whitten you have a young sophomore QB who easily rattles. A defensive line that is questionable, linebackers that are mediocre by NFL standards and a secondary that has not really improved. They gave up big plays all last year and that is likely to continue.

Losing a coach like Bill Parcels for a Wade Phillips is a huge loss in itself. Barring any significant injuries the Cowboys will be 10-6 tied for NFC East with the Eagles. Jerry Jones should have hired Norv Turner. This way when the Cowboys fail to meet their expectation they could blame it on Norv instead of lack of talent!

Rick

8-26-2007 @ 10:47AM

1Texan said...

Just goes to show not all Texans are Cowboys. And yes I put Jacoby on my fantasy team, and nobody knew who he was....maybe they do now.

Surface Water Runoff said...

Yeah, wow. Anybody know this was a practice game and has no bearing on how either team will do in the regular season? Just want to be sure. You know the game doesn't count, right?

D Lawrence said...

Lets see how the Texans do in the real season. I bet they CRASH like always !!!

8-26-2007 @ 11:06AM

Stephanie Stradley said...

Denial is not just a river in Egypt, Cowboy fans.

Yes, this was a preseason game, but a game where both teams played their starters in the first half, and the Cowboys chose to keep their starters in against the Texans for most of the third quarter.

The math major/sportswriter who blogs at the Chronicle wrote before this game talking about how the third preseason game of the season tends to be statistically significant in corresponding to regular season winning records. Check it out:

http://blogs.chron.com/unofficialscorer/2007/08/the_one_big_preseason_week.html

You have to admit that you have some concerns about Jerry Jones' puppet, I mean coach running a team with a young quarterback and human dynamite as your #1 receiver. At least some folks feel that way:

http://blog.kir.com/archives/2007/08/cheerleading_th_1.asp

The Cowboys looked terrible on the road and had a problem with the crowd noise. Your team prides itself on its lines, but they couldn't run or couldn't stop the run. The Texans moved the ball easily, including their second string offense against the Cowboys first string offense. If you don't have concerns about that, well then, you aren't paying attention.

Thanks for reading and commenting.
-Steph

8-26-2007 @ 11:37AM

TooTallCowboy72 said...

Okay, I am a Cowboys fan, but the Texans played a great game and, unlike Steph, I refuse to trash the other team or their fans. I'm one of the few people who will not say "It's just a preseason game", because I hate having to give up the Governor's Cup! Let's check the final standings at the end of the season and I think you'll find both Texas teams have improved from last year. I can't wait until the year comes when the Cowboys and Texans match up for the first Texas Super Bowl. Let's get the season started!

8-26-2007 @ 11:27AM

Steph, I guess your approach is used to incite emotion. Hope it works for you. I prefer to direct my ire at teams like the Redskins, Eagles and Giants. The Texans are a classy organization that will improve this season and increase our undying Texas pride. Why not use this opportunity to cheer your team on and not trash a team that has been a major reason for that pride.

8-26-2007 @ 11:32AM

Oh, by the way, that human dynamite you mentioned led the NFL in TD receptions. And I will be willing to eat crow if he melts down this season. Don't hold your breath...

8-26-2007 @ 11:50AM

TooTallCowboy72-

I'm just telling it how it was. Cowboy fans were talking junk all week, talked junk in the stadium and then started saying it was just the preseason starting around the second quarter.

A particularly obnoxious Cowboy fan was sitting near me, and I tried to ignore him. At one point he actually grabbed me because I stood up cheering a play on the field. I had to threat to call the ushers on it.

There is an etiquette to being an opposing fan in a stadium, and I can't say I feel the need to apologize for feeling like obnoxious Cowboy fans should be killed with tridents.

If you are one of the few fans of the team that isn't a sore loser, well then, I'd love to have a dialogue with you. Do you have concerns with your team after this road loss that had your starters playing for so long?

I think the Texans played a nice game, but there are still pretty big concerns with the pass defense, intercepting Romo to TO pass notwithstanding.

You say my entry was all about inciting emotion, but I think I discussed the football facts the way they were, but to truly talk about this game the way it actually was, you shouldn't leave out what was happening in the stands and in bars all over Texas. Those in the press box might not have seen it, but it was everywhere.

Part of what makes blogging more immediate and real is to say the stuff you won't read in straight up boring AP articles.

8-26-2007 @ 1:24PM

Of course I'm concerned about the game. Preseason or not we did play our starters and got whooped in a grand fashion. I don't think it's the end of the world...any given Sunday, right?
I do apologize for any Cowboys fans that were showing their ass. And the guy who grabbed you should have been escorted out.
Fairly new to blogs, so excuse the etiquette faux paus. This is far better than the straight reporting on AP, or the biased crap on ESPN.

Plus, I like the way you follow your blog and comment. Too many of the blogs I've been on never respond to comments.

8-26-2007 @ 5:36PM

You go on and tell it like it is Steph. You're exactly right, they looked down their noses and ran their mouths, until it was obvious they were being humiliated. And then it was "they must really want the governers cup, as that's as close to a super bowl as they'll get", and it's only a preseason game. So if we talk trash, get over it Cowboy fans...at least we do it laughing as we type, and love watching your blood pressure go off scale. Go Steph and Texans!

8-26-2007 @ 5:58PM

Tom said...

NO,

have no mercy for Cowboy fans and show none for they have earned every bit of wrath from every fan of every Houston sports team. Class and Cowboy fan, that's an oxymoron. After the way the Cowboy fans laughed in the stands at the Texans last year I say rub their noses in it and then run a trident through their a** sideways.

8-27-2007 @ 7:48AM

bennyprince said...

Steph, I posted this on the message board but wanted to share it with the readers over here as well.

I had the pleasure of attending last night's game with the world's biggest Cowboys fan. Even though I had to pay for the tickets, parking, food and beverages it was still an honor to host him, who is now 0-2 when attending Texans/Cowboys matchups in Reliant Stadium. He was lucky enough to have a seat next to two other "diehard" Cowboys fans with their newly purchased gear (literally that day), ready to cheer on "their" team and rub it in the faces of us lowly Houstonians. The thing I like about Dallas fans is that they always say the right things like "I just look at the trophy case" (I often wonder how many of these people have physical access to the organization's trophy case or if they have ever seen it at all) and "look at all the playoff wins". Never mind that these diehard fans had no idea Dallas' last playoff win was 11 years ago and insisted that they had won one just 2 years ago. They promised to look this up on the Internets when they got home, but were relatively certain of the fact. But even as the Texans pulled their starters and the Cowboys left their's on the field at an attempt to salvage some sense of pride, their fans stayed en mass to hopefully do the same, pointing to their rings and playoff wins all the while. The Texans second team offense and defense continued to outplay the Cowboys first stringers, but it wasn't until Rosenfels' pass hit David Anderson in the end zone that the psuedo-Dallasites began to hit the exits with their tails between their legs. Today they will claim "it didn't mean anything" and "it was just preseason", but you could see it in the eyes of their fans and on the faces of the Dallas players/coaches last night. This game was their preseason Super Bowl and all were noticeably embarrassed and sad. The online blogs and verbal excuse-making will be loud and obnoxious this week. Look for things like "it was the backup cornerback's fault", "the Cowboys played "vanilla" offense and defense", "the Texans took the game too seriously and we didn't because the game didn't mean anything to us and everything to you", "34-6" and "Mario Williams was a stupid draft pick". We will keep it classy (like we always do) and simply point to the scoreboard.

8-27-2007 @ 7:49AM

Mark in Cypress said...

Well said Steph about the game itself. And the Cowboy fans.....our usher in our section is a huge Cowboy fan and he talks the trash. I can't believe the Texans organization allows that. It seems the "employees" should be required to be Texan fans at a minimum. Kind of strange!!

8-27-2007 @ 9:58AM

James Martin said...

My father in law came up from Dallas to watch the game with me and my son ( his grandson ) Of course we had obnoxious Cowboy fans all around us ( East Club ) By the end of the first quarter he was visibly shaken, by the end of the half he liked both teams, and at the end of the game he was wearing a Texan hat, which he has to wear all week back in the Bid D ( that was the bet before kickoff ) while the obnoxious fans left before all this happened, they could have taken a lesson on how fans for the visiting team should conduct themselves in some one elses stadium.

8-27-2007 @ 1:45PM

Fran said...

Steph--Thanks for the great column! The 4 Cowboy fans (all decked out even to the player's uniform pants) who sat in front of us were terribly obnoxious...and utterly uninformed about the game. They criticized us for only making noise when the defense was on the field. They were cheering loudly for their offense at the same time we were shouting for the defense. I was dlighted. Let them add to the noise of our home field advantage!
And all they could shout about was History! R rings! Bla Bla Bla. That and standing in front of us deliberately so that we could not see. This was toward the end of the game. There were at least 6 empty rows in front of them, and no reason stand, other than to block our view.

Gotta tell you. Jacoby Jones was on the field warming up before the game, when the Cowboy team came on the field right between us. The Boos started, and his head just jerked around. I am sure he had never heard such loud Boos before!

Carlos said...

Great blog as always - yeah everywhere I read its how we took this game soo seriously and DESPERATELY wanted in-state bragging rights.

How about a little damn respect - we won. We beat a good defense and limited a decent offense.

I thought we would win but I thought the score would be much closer. Just goes to show you the diffrence a good coach and GM can make.

And JJ - what can you say - how many teams are going to be kicking themselves for not picking him sooner.

Can't wait for the KC game!!!

GO TEXANS!!!

8-27-2007 @ 10:18PM

Plain and Simple said...

I feel sorry for Cowboy fans, having had to suffer all those years of losing and then having their team moved to LA after Hugh Hefner bought it from Jerry Jones that I wrote a little cheer to cheer them up.

dallas cowboys...

OVER RATED!

dallas cowboys...

OVER RATED!

dallas cowboys...

OVER RATED!

You know it's plain and simple. Our 1's beat your 1's, and the game meant so little that your coach left your 1's in longer than us, then our 2's beat your 1's. If the rackin frackin preseason game counted last year, then it damn sure counts this year and you can take those sour grapes back to the hogs to throw up on.