Texans Top Cowboys 34-10 for First-Ever Win at AT&T Stadium
ARLINGTON, Texas – The Houston Texans secured their first-ever victory at AT&T Stadium on Monday night, defeating the Dallas Cowboys 34-10 and snapping a two-game losing streak.
Running back Joe Mixon was the star of the game, rushing for 109 yards and three touchdowns. Houston took control early, jumping out to a 14-0 lead in the first quarter, and their defense took over from there. The Texans sacked Cowboys quarterback Cooper Rush five times, intercepted him once, and scored a touchdown on a strip sack.
With the win, Houston now holds a two-game lead over the Indianapolis Colts in the AFC South. The Texans have already beaten the Colts twice this season, and their next two matchups are against the struggling Tennessee Titans and Jacksonville Jaguars.
**Key Takeaways from Monday Night: Texans vs. Cowboys**
**Houston Texans (7-4)**
**Pivotal Play:**
The game was effectively sealed early in the fourth quarter when defensive end Derek Barnett forced a strip sack on Cowboys quarterback Cooper Rush. Right tackle Tyler Guyton recovered the loose ball but was quickly stripped again by safety Jalen Pitre. Barnett scooped it up and dashed into the end zone, extending Houston's lead to 27-10 and putting the game out of reach.
**Surprising Performance:**
Texans cornerback Derek Stingley Jr. stepped up in a big way, particularly in his matchups against All-Pro wide receiver CeeDee Lamb. Although Stingley doesn't typically shadow top receivers, he did so on several occasions against Lamb and excelled. Stingley allowed just two catches for 19 yards on 17 routes, added an interception, broke up two passes, and drew an offensive pass interference penalty. Cooper Rush's passer rating when targeting Stingley was a dismal 3.5, per Next Gen Stats.
**Troubling Trend:**
Despite the win, the Texans' penalty issues continued to be a concern. Houston committed nine penalties for 69 yards, which allowed Dallas to stay within striking distance. A 77-yard touchdown pass to Nico Collins on the first play was called back due to an illegal man downfield penalty on left tackle Laremy Tunsil. On another drive, a holding penalty on left guard Juice Scruggs stalled a potential touchdown drive, forcing the Texans to settle for a field goal. As the playoffs approach, cleaning up these mistakes will be critical.
**Next Game:**
Sunday vs. Tennessee Titans (1 p.m. ET)
---
**Dallas Cowboys (3-7)**
**Season Outlook:**
The Cowboys’ losing streak hit five straight games, and while their season isn't mathematically over, the outlook remains bleak. Quarterback Dak Prescott is out for the season with a hamstring injury, and the offensive line took another hit with both guards, Zack Martin and Tyler Smith, leaving the game in the fourth quarter.
This marks the Cowboys' longest losing streak since 2015, when they dropped seven straight on their way to a 4-12 finish. It's also tied for the longest losing streak of head coach Mike McCarthy’s career. In a grim historical note, the Cowboys have now lost their first five home games of the season for the first time since 1989—a year that saw them finish 1-15.
**QB Breakdown:**
Cooper Rush showed some flashes but couldn’t overcome the mounting pressure. He finished with 354 passing yards, but a majority of that came in garbage time, including a 64-yard touchdown pass to KaVontae Turpin in the second quarter. Despite the yardage, Rush continued to struggle with consistency, and the fourth-quarter sack fumble returned for a touchdown only added to the Cowboys’ woes.
**Troubling Trend:**
Dallas' defense, which had already been struggling against big plays, allowed a 45-yard touchdown run by Joe Mixon, the longest run allowed by the Cowboys this season. This play highlighted a broader issue, as Dallas entered the game ranked 31st in the league in run defense. The Cowboys have given up 28 passing plays of 20 yards or more and 38 runs of 10 yards or more this season.
**Troubling Trend (Part 2):**
Dallas has now allowed points in 21 consecutive quarters, marking the longest streak in franchise history. The previous record was 19 quarters, set in the team's inaugural season in 1960. In yet another troubling stat, the Cowboys' defense has allowed a score on the opening possession of the second half in 8 of their last 10 games.
**Next Game:**
Sunday vs. Carolina Panthers (1 p.m. ET)
No comments:
Post a Comment