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Cowboys rally late to edge Texans 34-30 at Reliant Stadium

Dallas overcomes a halftime deficit with fourth-quarter touchdowns from Javonte Williams and CeeDee Lamb to defeat Houston 34-30 on Sunday.

Zane Pennington

October 5, 20262 min read

Late rally - illustration, Jake Team LLC
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Dallas Cowboys34
Houston Texans30

October 4, 2026

A Late Surge Seals Victory

The Dallas Cowboys staged a dramatic second-half comeback to defeat the winless Houston Texans 34-30 at Reliant Stadium on Sunday. Despite trailing for most of the contest, Dallas found its offensive rhythm in the final periods, outscoring Houston 21-7 after the break to secure the road win.

Houston controlled the early tempo, jumping ahead 7-0 on a first-quarter touchdown pass from C.J. Stroud to Nico Collins. The Texans’ defense held firm as Ka’imi Fairbairn added three field goals in the first half, including a 51-yarder. By halftime, Houston led 16-6, built largely on special teams accuracy and defensive stops that kept Dallas off the board until the third quarter.

Turning Point in the Third

The Cowboys’ offense began to find its stride early in the second half. Running back Javonte Williams broke through for an 8-yard touchdown run, cutting the deficit to 16-13. However, Stroud responded by connecting with Collins again on a 22-yard pass, extending Houston’s lead to 23-13.

Dallas refused to fold. Williams powered in from one yard out, bringing the score to 23-20. The momentum shifted decisively in the fourth quarter. Williams scored his third touchdown of the game on a 2-yard plunge, giving Dallas its first lead of the afternoon at 27-23.

Closing It Out

Houston attempted to answer with a quick strike of their own. Woody Marks rushed for a 6-yard touchdown, tying the game at 27-all and setting up a tense final minute.

The Cowboys’ offense delivered the decisive blow late in the fourth quarter. Quarterback Dak Prescott found CeeDee Lamb on a 12-yard pass to take a 34-30 lead. The Texans were unable to mount another scoring drive, and the Cowboys held on for the victory.

Statistical Highlights

C.J. Stroud completed 21 of 31 passes for 347 yards and two touchdowns for Houston. Nico Collins was the primary target, recording seven receptions for 118 yards and both of Stroud’s scores. David Montgomery added 24 rushing yards on ten carries.

For Dallas, Dak Prescott threw for 335 yards on 32-of-45 passing with one touchdown. Javonte Williams was the offensive engine, carrying the ball 19 times for 62 yards and three touchdowns. CeeDee Lamb led all receivers with 17 catches for 189 yards and a touchdown.

The loss drops Houston to 0-4 on the season. Dallas improves to 2-2.

Sources

ESPN

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Zane Pennington

Zane Pennington covers Aubrey high school and area college sports.

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