Houston Texans: Last defeated the Dallas Cowboys in 2002

The history of the Houston Texans against the Dallas Cowboys in the regular season has been tilted to the team that resides in the NFC.

In the short history of regular season play between the Houston Texans and the Dallas Cowboys the Cowboys have won the past three meetings between the two Texas franchises, with the most recent win combing in 2014 when the Texans played at AT&T Stadium and took the Cowboys into overtime.

The all-time series has the Cowboys ahead by a 3-1 margin, with Houston winning the very first meeting — in their very first game — back on Sept. 8, 2002 by a 19-10 score. From there the Texans lost to the Cowboys by scores of 34-6 (2006), 27-13 (2010) and 20-17 (2014).

The two teams have played each other in the preseason, but in games that matter in the overall standings the Texans have just been a little off in the final score, with the Cowboys outscoring the Texans in the series history, 91-55.

This year can be different for the Texans as both teams are still working on getting their offensive schemes in order, and both teams have stars on their offense where they can take advantage of their opponent.

Take for example the battle at quarterback with Deshaun Watson of the Texans and Dak Prescott of the Cowboys. Both quarterbacks have a similar style of play, but both have had their share of struggles, including both not having the best of offensive line play when it comes to pass protection with Watson being sacked 17 times and Prescott sacked 14 times.

Watson is the better quarterback entering this Week 5 game, as Prescott is struggling with not only the offensive line, but he seems to rush and to take the easy short completions. Like with the Texans offensive game plan, the Cowboys’ game plan can make you just scratch your head and think what is really going on.

Prescott this season has completed 61-percent of his passes for 753 yards, four touchdowns and two interceptions. Watson has completed 62-percent of his passes for 1,246 yards with seven touchdowns and four interceptions as he is coming off consecutive 300-plus yard passing games.

For the rest of the offense the Texans have the edge at wide receiver with DeAndre Hopkins on their side and their overall depth is better too. The offensive line goes to the Cowboys as does running back with the Cowboys having Ezekiel Elliott over the duo of Lamar Miller and Alfred Blue.

The Texans in this game must keep an extra eye on Demarcus Lawrence as he has collected 5.5 sacks and 21 tackles though the first four games this year. His counterpart J.J. Watt of the Texans has 20 tackles, five sacks and four forced fumbles.

This game has a lot to look forward to, but the team that is able to keep the pressure off of their quarterback is the one who will win this game, but that will be easier said than done for both teams on Sunday Night Football.