ARLINGTON, TEXAS — The Dallas Cowboys (3-7) are still without a win at home this season, losing this time to the Houston Texans (7-4), 34-10.
It’s the first time Houston has ever won inside AT&T Stadium.
The Texans scored on the first drive: no, not wide receiver Nico Collins who took it all the way on the opening play, getting called back due to an ineligible man on field, but running back Joe Mixon, who ran it up the middle for a touchdown a few plays later, making it his sixth-straight game with a rushing TD. Kicker Ka’imi Fairbairn’s point after touchdown was good.
Dallas’ opening drive culminated in a Bryan Anger fake punt and throw to linebacker Juanyeh Thomas, who could only pick up four yards, giving the ball back to Houston.
The Cowboys then ended the Texans’ second drive when safety Malik Hooker picked off quarterback C.J. Stroud. The very following drive, QB Cooper Rush’s pass was picked off by cornerback Derek Stingley Jr. Mixon would skip into the end zone soon after, for his second TD of the night. Fairbairn’s PAT was good—14-0, Houston.
Dallas’ tight end Jake Ferguson was ruled out at the end of the quarter with a concussion.
The Cowboys finally scored their first touchdown on the second play coming into the second quarter. Rush found WR KaVontae Turpin for a 64-yarder, his career-long, and K Brandon Aubrey’s PAT was good.
Houston would then make it 17-7 with a Fairbairn’s 33-yard field goal, but then Dallas’ Aubrey would answer with a 53-yard field goal of his own. It was the 20th of his career from 50-or-more-yards out; he is now the first kicker in NFL history to make 10 field goals from 50-or-more-yards in consecutive seasons.
He would miss his next field goal attempt from 40-yards out.
Houston would close out their second quarter with a three-and-out, finish the half only going 2-of-7 on third down conversions; Dallas having gone 3-of-8.
To open the third quarter, The Cowboys punted it away and safety Markquese Bell was ruled out with a shoulder injury from the second quarter.
Houston scored the quarter’s first points, giving them another 10-point lead, 20-10 over Dallas.
Then Aubrey hit a field goal from 64-yards out, just one yard short of tying his career’s longest and Dallas’ franchise record, but it did not count due to a penalty.
Houston went up 27-10 early in the fourth quarter after defensive end Derek Barnett stripped Dallas’ left tackle Tyler Guyton for a 28-yard fumble return for a touchdown. Their PAT was good.
The Cowboys would see right guard Zach Martin and left guard Tyler Smith go down with ankle injuries, and Rush get sacked back-to-back by Houston’s DEs Danielle Hunter and Denico Autry.
Mixon would close out the score with a one-yard rushing TD, his third of the night. The PAT was good.
Lamb led all receivers tonight with eight receptions for 93 yards; both Collins and WR Tank Dell with four receptions for 54 yards each. Houston’s Mixon finished with three TDs for 109 yards on 20 carries, while Dallas’ RB Rico Dowdle had just 28 yards on 10 carries.
Stroud went 23-34 for 257 yards, no TDs and one INT. Rush was 32-55 for 354 yards, one TD and one INT.
Head coach Mike McCarthy said that he “would’ve liked to have been more balanced in the pass” and that he did not want to throw more than 40 times.
The Cowboys will look to break their five game losing streak on the road, with a tough division matchup at the Washington Commanders next Sunday.–
