The Texans are staring at 0-3, and the trip into Week 4 feels like one of those games that can tilt a season fast. Houston’s offense has all the pieces on the board, but it’s still averaging fewer than 18 points a game, which is why this meeting with the Dallas Cowboys has turned into a true must-win.
The betting market has Houston as a 3-point underdog, and the first prop on the board points to a cautious start: the Texans’ opening drive is more likely to end in a field goal than a touchdown. That leaves Kaimi Fairbairn in the middle of the conversation before the game even gets rolling.
There’s at least some reason to believe Houston can finally get moving. Nico Collins and Ed Ingram are back this week, and that matters for a team that has been scraping together answers on offense.
With Tank Dell still out, Jayden Higgins on IR and the tight ends filling in on the line, Collins should be in line for a heavy dose of targets from C.J. Stroud.
That also sets up one of the more intriguing matchups in the game: Collins against Joey Porter Jr. Dallas made a notable trade with the Pittsburgh Steelers this week to land Porter, and there’s a chance he starts right away.
Texans fans, though, remember what happened when Collins saw him in the playoffs last season. The expectation here is simple - Collins gets his chance to make that matchup count, and he does.
The other big swing for Houston is on defense, where Will Anderson Jr. looks ready to take over. After the “players only” meeting he led last week, the edge rusher’s urgency is impossible to miss. He’s not operating like a guy interested in a close loss; he’s playing like someone trying to drag the whole operation to a title by force.
Dak Prescott has only been sacked three times in 2026, but Houston’s front is built to change that number. If Prescott has to hold the ball longer or starts looking for room to run, that opens the door for Danielle Hunter, Sheldon Rankins, Jadeveon Clowney and Anderson Jr. to collapse on him. Derek Stingley Jr. also gave Prescott plenty to think about the last time these teams met, with two pass breakups and an interception.
There’s also a quiet undercurrent around the offense and the play-calling. Head coach DeMeco Ryans has insisted that offensive coordinator Nick Caley will keep calling plays, but he’s also made it clear things are not working the way they should. The hope is that more voices - Stroud, QB coach Jerry Shuplinski, Ryans himself - start shaping what Houston does next, because the talent is there even if the current approach isn’t unlocking it.
The Cowboys may look like the better team on paper right now, but they haven’t lined up against a defense like Buffalo’s, and Houston nearly beat Josh Allen’s Bills. That’s where the confidence comes from: the Texans are overdue for a game where the offense finally pops, the defense adds a score, and Dare Ogunbowale sparks special teams.
If it all comes together, Houston gets its first win of 2026 and covers the spread while doing it.
In Other News...
Former Texans Safetys Carjacking Triggered A Much Bigger FBI Case
Former NFL safety Jaylen Reed was the victim of an armed carjacking outside his home in January, an alarming case that quickly escalated far beyond a stolen vehicle. The car was later recovered after a police chase, and that led investigators to suspect Montreal Frye, setting off a broader look at what had happened and who may have been involved.
What started as a single violent crime soon opened a window into something much larger. The investigation uncovered a gang known as the Young Shooters, and federal authorities ultimately mounted a major FBI sting that resulted in the arrests of more than 15 suspected gang members, turning one players ordeal into a much wider law-enforcement case. [Read more 🡒]
Texans Need To Let C.J. Stroud Change Everything Against Dallas
Through three games, the Texans rushing offense has been stuck near the bottom of the league in both total yards and yards per carry, which has left a familiar question hanging over the offense: how long can Houston keep waiting for the ground game to catch up? C.J. Stroud has done his part by keeping the passing game steady and avoiding interceptions, and with Dallas on deck, there is at least a clear path for Houston to lean into what has worked.
The Cowboys have shown vulnerability in coverage, which makes this a natural week for the Texans to let Stroud carry more of the load if needed. Houston would also love to get Nico Collins and Ed Ingram back for the matchup, since either return could help shape how aggressive the offense can be, but the bigger issue remains whether the Texans are ready to stop treating the passing game as a complement and start using it as the driver. [Read more 🡒]
Texans Face A Season-Shaping Test As Nico Collins Returns
The Texans head into Week 4 still searching for their first win, and the timing could hardly be more important with a trip to face the Cowboys ahead. Houstons offense has been waiting on a boost, and the expected return of wide receiver Nico Collins and right guard Ed Ingram gives the unit a chance to look more like the group it was supposed to be when the season began.
Collins brings the kind of target who can change how defenses play Houston, and his presence should at least make life easier for the passing game. The game also comes with the sort of high-end individual battles that can tilt the afternoon, from Collins working against Joey Porter Jr. to Derek Stingley Jr. matching up with CeeDee Lamb, with both teams looking for an edge in a matchup that could shape the direction of Houstons season. [Read more 🡒]