The Dallas Cowboys are 4-1 after their win over the Houston Texans Sunday, and former coach Jimmy Johnson had some words about the 'rivalry' between the two Texas teams.
"Texas is a Cowboys state. Houston may just be jealous," Johnson said on FOX NFL Sunday before the game.
Johnson turned out to be right with picking the Cowboys as a 'lock' to win, however with Texans fans showing up to AT&T Stadium in droves to take over the building to take away home field advantage, it may have him reconsider Houston's popularity within the Lone Star State.
Even though Dallas' popularity has come into question with home games sounding more like road games at Jerry Jones' $1.3 billion stadium, Johnson thinks this season's offense draws comparison to the Super Bowl winning teams he coached in the 90's.
"When I look at this Cowboys team, it brings back memories," Johnson said. "When Troy Aikman was up for the Hall of Fame, everybody said, 'Well what about his numbers, what about his stats?' I'd say, 'We are a power running football team and Troy is going to pick and choose when he throws the ball.'... Running that football will help that defense. We were No. 1 in the league in total defense back when we were winning Super Bowls, that's protecting that defense now."
DeMarco Murray, who ran for 136 yards on a career-high 31 carries Sunday against Houston, has 670 total yards on the season and is a major reason why the Cowboys are in a position to reach the playoffs after three-straight 8-8 seasons. In having rushed for at least 100 yards in each of his team's first five games, Murray becomes only the third player in NFL history to accomplish the feat. Hall of Famers Jim Brown and O.J. Simpson are the others with the mark.
If Murray and the rest of the Cowboys can remain healthy for the rest of the season and make a run to for the playoffs, perhaps Dallas can fully regain their throne as kings of Texas football.
Follow Shawn Ramsey on Twitter: @ShawnPRamsey
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