Dallas
Cowboys
0-3
23
FINAL
44
Houston
Texans
2-1
AI Recap
AI RECAPIn a commanding performance, the Houston Texans defeated the Dallas Cowboys 44-23 in Week 4 of the 2026 season. This victory not only boosts the Texans' momentum but also places them firmly in the playoff conversation as they continue to establish their dominance in the league.
Quarterback Michael Penix Jr. led the charge for Houston, throwing for three touchdowns and showcasing his ability to read defenses effectively. On the ground, Omarion Hampton was a force, racking up an impressive 153 rushing yards, while Ricky Pearsall emerged as a favorite target, accumulating 146 receiving yards. Jalen Hurts put up a respectable effort for Dallas with 209 passing yards but struggled to keep pace with Houston's explosive offense.
Defensively, the Texans made pivotal plays that shifted the game's momentum, highlighted by DaRon Bland's interception that halted a Cowboys drive and shifted the tide in Houston's favor. Roquan Smith anchored the defense with six total tackles, ensuring the Cowboys' offense never found its rhythm. The combination of timely stops and offensive firepower proved too much for Dallas to handle, marking a decisive win for the Texans.
Passing
| Player | Pos | ATT | CMP | CMP% | YDS | TD | INT | QBR |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Jalen Hurts | QB | 27 | 14 | 52% | 209 | 3 | 3 | 74.9 |
| Michael Penix Jr | QB | 9 | 7 | 78% | 162 | 3 | 0 | 158.3 |
Rushing
| Player | Pos | ATT | YDS | YPC | YAC | TD | LNG | FUM |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Omarion Hampton | HB | 16 | 153 | 9.6 | 22 | 1 | 50 | 0 |
| Bucky Irving | HB | 12 | 48 | 4.0 | 17 | 0 | 20 | 0 |
| Jalen Hurts | QB | 1 | 14 | 14.0 | — | 0 | 14 | 0 |
| Michael Penix Jr | QB | 2 | 8 | 4.0 | 4 | 0 | 7 | 0 |
| Elijah Higgins | TE | 1 | 2 | 2.0 | — | 0 | 2 | 0 |
| Tank Dell | WR | 1 | 0 | 0.0 | — | 0 | 0 | 0 |
Receiving
| Player | Pos | REC | YDS | YPR | YAC | TD | LNG | DROP |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Ricky Pearsall | WR | 4 | 146 | 36.5 | 71 | 3 | 52 | 0 |
| Jaxon Smith-Njigba | WR | 5 | 68 | 13.6 | 14 | 1 | 20 | 0 |
| Bucky Irving | HB | 3 | 56 | 18.7 | 25 | 0 | 37 | 0 |
| Elijah Higgins | TE | 3 | 51 | 17.0 | 15 | 2 | 38 | 0 |
| Ryan Flournoy | WR | 2 | 21 | 10.5 | 12 | 0 | 19 | 0 |
| Omarion Hampton | HB | 2 | 15 | 7.5 | 19 | 0 | 9 | 0 |
| Tank Dell | WR | 1 | 13 | 13.0 | 8 | 0 | 13 | 0 |
| Darnell Washington | TE | 1 | 1 | 1.0 | 1 | 0 | 1 | 0 |
Defense
| Player | Pos | TKL | SACK | INT | FF | PD |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Roquan Smith | MIKE | 6 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 |
| Grover Stewart | DT | 3 | 1 | 0 | 0 | 0 |
| Pat Surtain II | CB | 1 | 0 | 1 | 0 | 1 |
| Andrew Van Ginkel | REDG | 2 | 1 | 0 | 0 | 0 |
| DaRon Bland | CB | 0 | 0 | 1 | 0 | 0 |
| Alijah Clark | FS | 0 | 0 | 1 | 0 | 0 |
| Derwin James Jr | SS | 3 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 2 |
| Taron Johnson | CB | 2 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 |
| Jalon Walker | LEDG | 2 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 |
| Zach Allen | DT | 2 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 |
| Dru Phillips | CB | 2 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 |
| Jamel Dean | CB | 2 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 |
| Dre Greenlaw | WILL | 1 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 |
| Quentin Lake | SS | 1 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 |
| Cody Simon | WILL | 1 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 |
| Sean Murphy-Bunting | CB | 1 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 |
| Gervon Dexter Sr | DT | 1 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 |
| Chop Robinson | LEDG | 1 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 |
| Smael Mondon Jr | WILL | 1 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 |
| Jessie Bates III | FS | 1 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 |
| Bobby Wagner | MIKE | 1 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 |
| Edefuan Ulofoshio | MIKE | 1 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 |
| Michael Carter II | SS | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 1 |
Kicking
| Player | Pos | FGM | FGA | XPM | LNG |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Ryan Fitzgerald | K | 1 | 1 | 5 | 25 |
| Jason Myers | K | 0 | 0 | 1 | 0 |
| Rigoberto Sanchez | P | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 |

