Texans vs. Cowboys Recap: Dallas Stumbles Again in 34-10 Loss

Houston came in hot, scoring early, then cruised to victory behind a strong defensive showing and key contributions from Joe Mixon. Here’s a detailed breakdown of how it went down, quarter by quarter.

First Quarter

The Texans wasted no time getting on the board. Joe Mixon broke free for a 45-yard touchdown run on Houston’s opening drive, putting the Texans up 7-0 before the Cowboys even knew what hit them. Nico Collins nearly added a touchdown on the very first play with a 77-yard catch and run, but it was called back due to an ineligible receiver penalty. No matter—Houston marched right back and scored anyway. The Cowboys answered with a 64-yard bomb from Cooper Rush to KaVontae Turpin, tying the game at 7-7. Dallas struggled on the ground, putting the bulk of the work on Rush’s arm, and ended the quarter down 14-7 after another Mixon touchdown.

Second Quarter

Dallas couldn’t get anything going, even after an impressive drive that seemed to bring them back into the game. A Brandon Aubrey 64-yard field goal was negated due to a penalty, and the Cowboys elected to take the penalty and try for more points, only for Rush to fail on fourth down from the Houston 8-yard line. Joe Mixon continued his prime-time showcase, adding another score to give the Texans a 21-7 advantage. C.J. Stroud wasn’t flashy, but he got the job done, keeping the offence moving without major mistakes. The Texans added a field goal before the half to make it 24-7 going into the break.

Third Quarter

The Cowboys had a tough time moving the ball, and with their offensive line in shambles after injuries to Zack Martin and Tyler Smith, they couldn’t establish a rhythm. Houston’s defensive line, despite missing Will Anderson Jr., found its way to Rush and piled on the pressure. The Texans recorded five sacks on the night, three of which came during a single Cowboys possession. Mixon helped set up another Texans field goal, pushing the lead to 27-7 by the end of the third quarter. Houston’s offence looked far from explosive, but with Dallas unable to capitalize on their opportunities, they didn’t need to be.

Fourth Quarter

Dallas tried to mount a comeback, but their only score of the second half came on a 64-yard touchdown catch by KaVontae Turpin. Cooper Rush ended the night with 354 yards passing, but he threw an interception and was sacked five times. The Cowboys were down 10 points in the fourth when Derek Barnett came up with a game-changing play, stripping Rush as he tried to throw. Cowboys rookie tackle Tyler Guyton recovered the ball but immediately got drilled by Jalen Pitre, forcing yet another fumble that Barnett scooped up and returned for a touchdown. That put Houston up 34-10, essentially putting the game out of reach. Dallas’ offence was listless from that point forward, and they trailed by at least 20 points at home for a record sixth straight game.

Monday Night Football Betting Recap

The Texans entered this matchup as 7-point favourites, and they easily covered the spread with their 34-10 victory. The total for the game was set at 41.5, and Houston’s strong showing pushed the combined score to 44, hitting the over. Looking ahead, the Texans have improved to 7-4, and their AFC South futures odds continue to look favourable with a two-game lead. Meanwhile, the Cowboys drop to 3-7, with their season spiraling and their playoff chances fading fast—something bettors might want to take into account for futures bets.