The Texans had this game right where they wanted it, then watched it slip away the same way too many of their early-season leads have gone. Houston built a 16-6 halftime cushion against Dallas, pushed back in front late, and still walked off with a 34-30 loss that leaves them 0-4.
It started cleanly enough for Houston. Nico Collins set the tone on the opening possession with a 45-yard catch from C.J.
Stroud, then finished the drive with a seven-yard touchdown to put the Texans ahead 7-0. Dallas answered with a 39-yard Brandon Aubrey field goal, but Ka'imi Fairbairn kept Houston rolling with a 51-yarder to restore the seven-point edge.
The kickers kept trading punches in the second quarter. Aubrey drilled a 50-yard field goal to pull Dallas within four, then Fairbairn answered from 39 yards out. Houston’s best sequence before halftime came when DeMeco Ryans managed the clock well enough to squeeze in one more try, and Fairbairn cashed it in from 54 yards to send the Texans into the break up 16-6.
Dallas came out of halftime and chipped away fast. KaVontae Turpin’s 48-yard kick return, a 30-yard catch by CeeDee Lamb on a busted coverage, and an eight-yard touchdown run from Javonte Williams trimmed the margin to 16-13.
Houston responded with another big Collins play. Jaylin Noel broke off a 53-yard kick return, and Collins followed with a 22-yard touchdown reception to push the lead back to 23-13.
But the Texans’ defense started giving it back. Kamari Lassiter was beaten by George Pickens for 53 yards and was also flagged for two costly holding penalties in coverage, and Dallas turned that stretch into another Williams touchdown to make it 23-20.
The fourth quarter kept the pressure on Houston. Dak Prescott and Lamb kept carving up the Texans’ secondary, and Williams finished the drive with his third touchdown run of the day to put Dallas ahead 27-23 for its first lead of the game.
Houston answered with a sharp bit of trickery. A hook-and-ladder from Dalton Schultz to David Montgomery went for 21 yards, setting up Marks to punch in a go-ahead score with a little more than two minutes left. That made it 30-27 Texans, but the lead didn’t last.
Prescott and Lamb came right back again. They hooked up for 41 yards on five receptions during the go-ahead march, and Lamb finished it with a 12-yard touchdown catch to put Dallas back on top 34-30.
Houston’s final chance ended with a failed Hail Mary, and the Texans were left with another crushing finish and a 0-4 record.
In Other News...
Texans Fans Wont Like What This Tank Dell Recovery Update Suggests
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Dells situation is especially frustrating because this is not a quick reset after a routine setback. He suffered multiple knee ligament injuries more than 20 months ago, and he is still trying to get back to the speed and explosiveness that made him such a dangerous part of the Texans offense. For now, the best that can be said is that a return does not appear imminent, with the possibility of him getting back later in the season still hanging out there. [Read more 🡒]
Texans May Be Facing A Backfield Change They Cant Ignore
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Houstons 0-3 record only sharpens the urgency, because the backfield has not produced the kind of consistent push the team needs. Montgomery still brings experience, but Marks has shown a little more explosiveness, and if the Texans are serious about changing the tone of their run game, they may not be able to keep treating the workload as settled. [Read more 🡒]
Texans Could Finally Gain The Rivalry Fans Have Wanted
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For Houston, the appeal is obvious. A built-in rivalry with Dallas would carry more edge, more attention and more of the kind of regional juice the league tends to chase when it can. There are still plenty of hurdles, and no official change has been announced, but Jones' comments at least put the idea back on the table if the NFL ever expands the schedule and finds room to rethink how it fills those dates. [Read more 🡒]