EAST RUTHERFORD, NJ - SEPTEMBER 21: Kareem Jackson #25 of the Houston Texans breaks up a pass intended for Rueben Randle #82 of the New York Giants in the second quarter at MetLife Stadium on September 21, 2014 in East Rutherford, New Jersey. (Photo by Alex Goodlett/Getty Images)

Houston (CBS Houston) – The Texans will have a difficult task in slowing down the Cowboys rushing attack, Dallas boasts the league’s top ground game, but it could be the wide receivers presenting a bigger, literally and figuratively, challenge.

DeMarco Murray will be a tough task on Sunday, but the biggest plays will likely come from the Dallas passing attack. With so much focus on the running game, it is easy to forget a multiple time Pro Bowl quarterback, a gold standard at tight end, and one of the best wide outs in the game.

The Texans will have issues measuring up to the tall task on Sunday.

Dez Bryant and Terrance Williams are the Cowboys top pass catchers, both standing 6 feet 2 inches tall. Jason Witten rounds out the top three in receptions for the Cowboys. He is massive at 6 feet 6 inches and weighing over 260 pounds. The Texans boast no defensive back over 6 feet tall.

Kareem Jackson knows the physicality and size of the Dallas offense will be something the Texans have to account for this weekend.

“They got good size, good speed. Big physical guys,” Jackson said. “We definitely got to compete every play.”

Jackson mention the ability to “get in their chest” which alludes to being physical with the Cowboys players and knocking them off their routes. He said the Texans will try to use their hands whenever they can to help level the playing field.

Jackson and the Texans will have to be careful though with the league’s new emphasis on defensive backs and limiting their contact with receivers down the field.

Danieal Manning knows how the Texans make up for the size discrepancy.

“Technique,” he said. “Just got to be able to play your technique.”

“They’re big body guys who can position themselves on little scrappy corners,” Manning said. “They match out well with us.”

Then there is accounting for the guy who is delivering the ball, Tony Romo.

“He’ll scramble around until the last minute – he’ll find somebody open, hit them at the last minute,” Jackson said.

The running game will be the primary focus of the Cowboys offense, but Manning says the defense can’t be caught in a bad situation thinking run.

“When you got a great team that can run the ball, you got to put guys in that can match the run,” he said. “You know the offense going to try to combat that with play-action pass, throw the ball deep. They’ve been really really good with that.

Jackson trusts the defense’s game plan will put them in a position to succeed.

“If we have to be one-on-one more, stack the box, if that’s what coach [Romeo Crennel] wants to do, we have to go out and play it.”

The Texans hope the old saying proves true on Sunday as they try to improve to 4-1 on the season: the bigger they are, the harder they fall.

Get in touch with Cody Stoots on Twitter – @Cody_Stoots

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