The Houston Texans entered the half with a 7-0 lead after a 16-yard touchdown pass from quarterback Tom Savage to running back Chris Polk.
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The lead ended there as Houston was outscored 21-7 in the second half of the final preseason game against the Dallas Cowboys.
Both teams were using backups all game as Savage, the Texans third string passer, faced off against the Cowboys’ Dustin Vaughan, who is fighting to prove he is worthy of being their third string quarterback.
Early in the third quarter Cowboys corner Corey White intercepted a pass from Savage, deep in their own territory. He took it in three yards for the score to tie things up at 7-7.
Later in the third quarter, undrafted rookie running back Gus Johnson ran a 21-yard score to give the Cowboys the lead by a score of 14-7.
Another player fighting for a spot was Texans receiver Keshawn Martin, and he tied the game up bay taking a pass from Savage in for a score from 16-yards out.
However with just over three minutes remaining another Cowboys running back hopeful, Ben Malena, ran in the game winning score from 5-yards out. The Cowboys earned their first win of the preseason with the effort while the Texans dropped to 2-2.
The fourth preseason game really is a chance for players on the bubble to prove they belong on the 53-man roster and no player really took advantage for the Texans.
Running backs Chris Polk and Kenny Hilliard each averaged just over two yards per carry and even Martin, who scored the tying touchdown in the third, had slightly over six yards per reception overall for the night.
The one guy who may have helped his cause the most was receiver Chandler Worthy, who ran a punt back for 20 yards, reminding the team that his speed can flip field position in the blink of an eye.
Final cuts down to 53 players will happen by Saturday. It will be interesting to see if any of the borderline players change their status based on this game.