The Cowboys’ path to a Week 4 win in Houston starts in the trenches.
At 1-2 and sitting third in the division, Dallas is in a spot where a road win over the Texans could do more than just add another mark in the win column. With the Philadelphia Eagles facing the Los Angeles Rams, the New York Giants taking on the Arizona Cardinals, and the Washington Commanders playing the Indianapolis Colts, the Cowboys have a chance to chip into the division gap and carry real momentum into Week 5.
But that only happens if the offensive line survives one of the league’s toughest pass-rush tests.
Houston’s defense has had its issues overall this season, ranking 19th in EPA/play, but the Texans still bring heat off the edge. Will Anderson has been playing like one of the NFL’s best defensive ends, sitting in the top 10 in both pass rush win rate and run stop win rate.
He moves around plenty in Houston’s scheme, though through three games he has spent more time on the left side of the defense. That sets up a matchup with Terence Steele on most of his snaps, and it is a dangerous one for Dallas.
Anderson is not the only problem. Danielle Hunter gives Houston another premier pass rusher, and he is a difficult assignment for Tyler Guyton. Together, Anderson and Hunter have been disruptive both as pass rushers and as run defenders, and even with the Texans off to a 0-3 start, they have already wrecked games in 2026.
The workload up front is heavy, too. Anderson and Hunter are both playing right around 80% of the defensive snaps, and old friend Jadaveon Clowney has also worked into the rotation. Clowney is questionable, so his status remains uncertain, but he has shown flashes of the same skillset he displayed with the Cowboys in 2025.
For Dallas, the answer is to make the rushers work. Long drives, clean early downs and fewer third-and-long situations are the formula.
Against a Texans front that can get after Dak Prescott, the Cowboys should be expecting quick throws early and extra protection when they decide to push the ball downfield or face obvious passing downs. That approach will limit the passing game some, but it may be necessary.
Like the Week 1 matchup against the New York Giants, the Cowboys’ tackles could swing the whole thing. Houston has been stout against the run through three weeks, which means Dallas may need a big day from the passing offense to leave with a win in this in-state Week 4 matchup.
In Other News...
Tony Romos Next Move Could Reopen A Cowboys Debate
Tony Romos split with CBS Sports leaves one of the leagues most recognizable voices back in the mix, even if his next step is still unclear. The move came after a July arrest, and Romo has said he plans to focus on his health and family before making any decision about what comes next. CBS has already settled on J.J. Watt as its lead analyst alongside Jim Nantz, so Romos path now shifts away from the booth and into whatever comes next off the air.
For Cowboys fans, the more interesting wrinkle is where this could lead in Dallas. Romo has long remained tied to the franchise that made him a household name, and any conversation about his future inevitably brings up the possibility of a front-office or advisory role. There is no official confirmation of anything along those lines, but if Romo does circle back to the Cowboys, it would reopen a familiar debate about how much the team should lean on a former quarterback whose influence still resonates around the organization. [Read more 🡒]
Cowboys Pulled Off A Comeback But Two Problems Still Loom
The Cowboys had to claw their way back against Houston, but they found enough late offense to leave Week 4 with a 34-30 win after a slow start and a brief stumble after losing the lead. The ending was the kind of response Dallas has been looking for, with the offense delivering a game-winning drive in the fourth quarter to finish off a game that never came easy.
CeeDee Lamb was the headliner, setting a franchise record with 17 catches for 189 yards and a touchdown, while Rashan Gary and Quinnen Williams each added sacks on the other side of the ball. Even with the win, the bigger picture was harder to ignore: the rushing attack never really got going, and the cornerback play was uneven enough to keep some questions alive despite the comeback. [Read more 🡒]
Dak Prescott Suddenly Gives Cowboys Fans A Short-Week Concern
Dak Prescott left the Week 4 game against the Houston Texans with his right hand wrapped, a small detail that immediately caught the eye of Cowboys fans coming off a physical divisional-style matchup. Prescott said he was stepped on and is dealing with swelling, though he described himself as otherwise fine, which at least offered some early reassurance after a game that gave Dallas plenty to sort through.
The timing is what makes it worth watching. The Cowboys are headed into a short week before their Week 5 game, and the first official injury report coming Monday should offer a clearer picture of whether this is just a postgame inconvenience or something the team needs to monitor closely as it prepares for the next round. [Read more 🡒]