It’s time for Texans to start Chris Moore

Houston Texans wide receiver Chris Moore has shown out for the team when they needed him. It is time they reward him.

Coming into today’s game in Dallas against the Cowboys, there was much consternation regarding the Texans’ passing game and how effective it would be. The Texans were playing without their top two wideouts in Brandin Cooks and Nico Collins.

If you watched the Texans game against Dallas, you would never have known they did not have their top wideout in the game.

Chris Moore did everything for the Texans in this game. He had a terrific one-handed catch down the right sideline for 36 yards that set up the Texans’ first points of the game. He made a sliding catch on an underthrown ball by Davis Mills late in the first half for 18 yards that helped get the Texans in field goal range for a 50-yard kick by Ka’imi Fairbairn as the first half ended to take a 20-17 lead at the break.

With 8:01 to go in the fourth quarter, playing special teams, Moore ran down a bouncing punt and successfully downed the ball at the Dallas 1-yard line.

Five plays later, Dak Prescott would throw an interception at his own 11-yard line that Tremon Smith returned to the Dallas 4-yard line.

On second-and-goal from the 5, Moore physically pushed through a pair of defenders and spun his way toward the end zone, being ruled down at the 1. He showed grit, determination, and toughness. He showed the Texans should have gotten the ball to him again. They did not.

On their final desperation drive, it was Moore coming up big again, hauling in a tough 31-yard catch over the middle.

Moore finished the game leading all receivers with 10 receptions (on 11 targets) and 124 yards. Moore responded with his biggest game of the season against the second-best pass defense in the NFL while being asked to be the lead dog.

Moore should be on this team next season. Brandin Cooks should not be. Moore has earned the playing time by playing better when more is asked of him. He has not pouted over a lack of playing time or the struggles of the team. He stepped up for his teammates rather than walk out on them.

It is time for the Texans to make Moore a starter at the expense of the currently injured malcontent Brandin Cooks. While we do not know when Cooks will return, when he does return, he should be pushed down to WR3. Houston must find out what Moore can do when given a greater role.

They may be happy with what they see.