Dallas
Cowboys
2-1
21
FINAL
45
Houston
Texans
2-1
AI Recap
AI RECAPIn a commanding performance, the Houston Texans topped the Dallas Cowboys with a final score of 45-21 in Week 4 of the 2026 season. This victory not only boosts the Texans' momentum but also showcases their offensive firepower, setting the tone for the remainder of the season.
C.J. Stroud was the standout performer for Houston, throwing for an impressive 362 yards and four touchdowns, demonstrating his ability to lead the offense effectively. Odell Beckham Jr. was his primary target, hauling in 133 receiving yards, while the Texans' balanced attack kept the Cowboys' defense on their heels throughout the game. On the other side, Christian McCaffrey led Dallas with a solid 97 rushing yards, but it wasn't enough to keep pace with Houston’s explosive offense.
The Texans' defense played a crucial role in the outcome, highlighted by Tyler Owens' remarkable three interceptions, which stifled any momentum Dallas hoped to build. Joey Bosa added to the pressure with a sack, while Talanoa Hufanga's six tackles were not enough to turn the tide for the Cowboys. The turning point came in the second quarter when Houston's defensive unit capitalized on turnovers, allowing their offense to pull away and secure a comfortable lead.
Passing
| Player | Pos | ATT | CMP | YDS | TD | INT | RTG |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| C.J. Stroud | QB | 21 | 13 | 362 | 4 | 2 | 105.7 |
| Caleb Williams | QB | 23 | 12 | 229 | 2 | 6 | 76.4 |
Rushing
| Player | Pos | ATT | YDS | YPC | TD | LNG | FUM |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Christian McCaffrey | HB | 13 | 97 | 7.5 | 1 | 24 | 0 |
| Demond Claiborne | HB | 9 | 15 | 1.7 | 1 | 7 | 0 |
| C.J. Stroud | QB | 1 | 11 | 11.0 | 0 | 11 | 0 |
| Odell Beckham Jr | WR | 1 | 8 | 8.0 | 0 | 8 | 0 |
| Jacory Croskey-Merritt | HB | 1 | 2 | 2.0 | 0 | 2 | 0 |
| Zachariah Branch | WR | 0 | 0 | 0.0 | 0 | 0 | 0 |
Receiving
| Player | Pos | REC | YDS | YPR | TD | LNG | DROP |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Odell Beckham Jr | WR | 3 | 133 | 44.3 | 2 | 73 | 0 |
| DK Metcalf | WR | 4 | 113 | 28.3 | 0 | 48 | 0 |
| A.J. Brown | WR | 3 | 82 | 27.3 | 2 | 61 | 0 |
| Christian McCaffrey | HB | 5 | 72 | 14.4 | 0 | 48 | 0 |
| Zachariah Branch | WR | 2 | 58 | 29.0 | 1 | 34 | 0 |
| DeVonta Smith | WR | 2 | 58 | 29.0 | 1 | 51 | 0 |
| Sam LaPorta | TE | 2 | 32 | 16.0 | 0 | 21 | 1 |
| Jake Ferguson | TE | 1 | 27 | 27.0 | 0 | 27 | 0 |
| Reggie Gilliam | FB | 1 | 9 | 9.0 | 0 | 9 | 0 |
| Brandon Aiyuk | WR | 1 | 4 | 4.0 | 0 | 4 | 0 |
| Demond Claiborne | HB | 1 | 3 | 3.0 | 0 | 3 | 0 |
| Zavion Thomas | WR | 0 | 0 | 0.0 | 0 | 0 | 1 |
Defense
| Player | Pos | TKL | SACK | INT | FF | PD |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Tyler Owens | SS | 1 | 0 | 3 | 0 | 1 |
| Christian Gonzalez | CB | 4 | 0 | 1 | 0 | 0 |
| Derwin James Jr | SS | 3 | 0 | 1 | 0 | 0 |
| Bobby Okereke | MIKE | 1 | 1 | 1 | 0 | 0 |
| Talanoa Hufanga | SS | 6 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 2 |
| Elijah Molden | FS | 2 | 0 | 1 | 0 | 1 |
| Jalen Ramsey | CB | 1 | 0 | 1 | 0 | 0 |
| Ifeatu Melifonwu | SS | 2 | 1 | 0 | 0 | 0 |
| Joey Bosa | REDG | 1 | 1 | 0 | 0 | 0 |
| Drew Sanders | REDG | 3 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 |
| Chidobe Awuzie | CB | 2 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 |
| Roger McCreary | CB | 2 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 |
| Terrel Bernard | MIKE | 1 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 |
| Kamari Lassiter | CB | 1 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 2 |
| Joshua Williams | CB | 1 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 |
Kicking
| Player | Pos | FGM | FGA | XPM | LNG |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Harrison Mevis | K | 0 | 0 | 1 | 0 |
| Cameron Dicker | K | 1 | 1 | 2 | 31 |
| A.J. Cole | P | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 |

