With the spotlight shining brightly, Texans must avoid a case of the Mondays

Houston needs to step up and make a statement in prime time

The lights shine brighter on Broadway, and the same can be said for Monday Night Football, which has produced more legends throughout its history than even Japanese anime. From Bo Jackson running into a tunnel to Dan Marino facing off against the 1985 Bears, and even the return of the Saints to New Orleans, MNF has witnessed it all over the years.

The question is whether the Texans have a quarterback who is worthy of Prime Time. Can he create some Monday Night Football magic of his own? Before dismissing this idea entirely, let’s consider the numbers and what national audiences have observed so far in 2024.

In a pair of Sunday night games and the Halloween debacle on Amazon, Stroud has struggled with his performance, completing only 53 of 99 passes in those three contests for a total of 683 yards. He managed to throw two touchdowns, but he also had two interceptions. This performance is certainly underwhelming. If this trend continues, Netflix executives might find themselves out of a job, especially with the expectation that viewers will tune in on Christmas afternoon to watch the Texans yet again in a prime spot.

Monday in Jerry’s Palace, it will be an opportunity to adjust the chinstrap and push the preverbal reset on this growing narrative. C.J. needs a big game, and so do the Texans. Fortunately, all indications point to the return of Nico Collins who’s been sidelined since exiting a week five contest vs Buffalo. Through portions of the first five weeks, Nico was targeted 45 times. The Cowboys have allowed 15 different players to catch a TD on them this season, so opportunities should be ripe.

The 2024 Cowboys have given new meaning to Jekyll & Hyde. The team that couldn’t lose last regular season now cannot win at home. Mostly, Cowboys fans are hiding behind paper bags as cascades of boos swirl. In their last 5 home outings, Dallas has allowed a staggering 201 points.

The Texans most memorable game in franchise history might be their inaugural one back on September 8th, 2002 ironically when they took down Dallas. Monday represents an opportunity to take them down again and validate once and for all before a national audience that the stage isn’t too big for #7.