The Houston Texans and Dallas Cowboys entered week four with a combined 1-5 record (Texans being 0-3, Cowboys being 1-2) and in hopes for breakthroughs in their respective seasons. Additionally, Houston's hosting of Dallas is today is a giant callback to the very first game in Texans franchise history, in which the home team squeaked out a 19-10 victory to kickoff what would be another 25 years of football memories in the city.
Both teams suffered heartbreaking, last-second losses in their previous matchups last week, and thus both are also looking to remove bitter tastes out of their mouths in their week four Battle of Texas.
With a win, the Texans will finally get into the win column in 2026. With a loss, Houston will fall to an almost insurmountable 0-4 mark though the first month of the season, which presumably would lead to a lot of tough conversations in the following weeks. Here is a breakdown of today's matchup!
Houston Texans vs. Dallas Cowboys full game play-by-play (scoring drives)
First Quarter (Texans have an explosive start, outscoring the Cowboys 10-3)
Nico Collins dominates the Dallas defense on the opening drive, leading to an early touchdown
As if on cue, returning Pro Bowl wide receiver Nico Collins carried the bulk of Houston's first offensive possession. Most notably, he was on the receiving end of both a season-long 45-yard pass from quarterback C.J. Stroud on the first play of the drive, and then closed out the possession with a seven-yard touchdown reception to give Houston the lead (7-0 Houston).
The Cowboys respond with a Brandon Aubrey field goal to get on the board
On their first drive of the afternoon, Dallas kicker Brandon Aubrey nailed a 39-yard field goal to give his team their first points of the day (7-3 Houston).
Ka'imi Fairbairn contributes to the scoring output with a field goal of his own
Texans kicker Ka'imi Fairbairn saw Aubrey's 39-yard score and raised him a 51-yarder, as he drilled his attempt from the Dallas 33 yard line to increase Houston's lead back to seven (10-3 Houston).
Second Quarter (A kicker battle highlighted the scoring in the second frame, with Houston edging out Dallas 6-3)
Brandon Aubrey hits another field goal to double the Cowboys' scoring output
To lead off the second quarter, Aubrey once again made his presence known, hitting 50-yard bomb to double Dallas' scoring and close the gap a bit (10-6 Houston).
Ka'imi Fairbairn pushes Houston's lead back up to seven after another field goal
In what's become an impromptu battle of kickers, Fairbairn added to Houston's first-half total by hitting a 39-yard field goal for another score. It increased the Texans' lead back to seven (13-6 Houston).
Ka'imi Fairbairn shines again before the end of the first half, giving Houston a double-digit lead
In a beautiful display of clock management by Texans head coach DeMeco Ryans, Houston was awarded an opportunity to kick one final field goal before the end of the first half. Fairbairn rewarded his coach's time savviness with a booming 54-yard field goal to give his team a double-digit lead heading into the break (16-6 Houston).
First half score: Houston Texans lead Dallas Cowboys 16-6
Notable first half penalty margin:
- Houston Texans: Seven penalties for 51 yards
- Dallas Cowboys: One penalty for 14 yards
Third Quarter (Chronic errors by special teams and Kamari Lassiter highlight a touchdown-heavy third section, with Dallas winning it 14-7)
The Cowboys cut the lead to three points after a "cake walk" of an opening drive to start the second half
A 48-yard kick return by returner KaVontae Turpin, a 30-yard reception—in a blown coverage assignment—by wide receiver CeeDee Lamb and an eight-yard touchdown run by running back Javonte Williams opened up Dallas' scoring to begin the second half (16-13 Houston).
Nico Collins strikes again with his second touchdown reception of the game
Like looking in a mirror, a massive 53-yard kick return by returner Jaylin Noel and a 22-yard touchdown reception by Collins reinflated Houston's lead back to 10 points (23-13 Houston).
Kamari Lassiter's chronic penalties give Dallas another touchdown
Texans cornerback Kamari Lassiter was picked on all throughout Dallas' second scoring drive. He allowed Cowboys wide receiver George Pickens to burn him for a 53-yard reception and was rung up for two backbreaking holding penalties in coverage that ultimately led to the Cowboys' second touchdown run of the game (23-20 Houston).
Fourth Quarter
More bad secondary play leads to another Cowboys score
Cowboys quarterback Dak Prescott and Lamb connected to light up Houston's secondary all throughout this drive, linking up for 68 yards on five receptions. It resulted in a third touchdown run for Williams to give Dallas their first lead of the game (27-23 Dallas).
Houston's trickery leads to a clutch touchdown late in the fourth quarter
In one of the greatest moments of Nick Caley's play calling career, a colossal "Hook and Ladder" pitch from tight end Dalton Schultz to running back David Montgomery went for 21 crucial yards to put Houston near the goal line. Then, Marks pounded the ball into the end zone to give Houston the lead again with a little over two minutes left in the ball game (30-27 Houston).
Dak Prescott and CeeDee Lamb annihilate Houston's secondary again for the go-ahead score
In a breathtaking display of offensive greatness, Prescott and Lamb yet again combined for a prolific scoring drive. The hooked up for 41 yards on five receptions, which resulted in Lamb giving the Cowboys the lead on a 12-yard touchdown catch (34-30 Dallas).
In another gutwrenching loss, the Texans were closed out by the Cowboys' secondary on a failed Hail Mary attempt to officially drop to 0-4 on the season.
Final score result: Houston Texans lose to Dallas Cowboys 34-30
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