A Decisive Late Surge
The Dallas Cowboys secured a 34-30 victory over the Houston Texans on Sunday, October 4, 2026, at Reliant Stadium. The win was sealed by a late fourth-quarter touchdown reception from CeeDee Lamb, which gave Dallas the lead for good. The game featured a back-and-forth finish after the Cowboys trailed by three points entering the final minute, highlighting a resilient performance from the visitors who improved to 2-2 on the season.
Scoring Sequence
The Texans took an early lead, with Nico Collins catching a seven-yard pass from C.J. Stroud for a first-quarter touchdown. Houston extended their advantage with field goals by Ka'imi Fairbairn from 51 and 39 yards. The Cowboys responded in the second quarter with a 50-yard field goal by Brandon Aubrey, but Fairbairn struck again with a 54-yard kick to put Houston ahead 16-6 at halftime. In the third quarter, Javonte Williams rushed for an eight-yard touchdown, but Collins added another touchdown reception to keep the home team in front. Williams then rushed one yard for a touchdown to cut the deficit to 23-20.
Key Performances
The fourth quarter saw Williams rush two yards for a touchdown to give Dallas a 27-23 lead. The Texans regained the lead when Woody Marks rushed six yards for a touchdown, making it 30-27. However, Dak Prescott found Lamb for a 12-yard touchdown pass, and Brandon Aubrey’s kick put Dallas up 34-30 with no time remaining. CeeDee Lamb was the offensive engine for Dallas, recording 17 receptions for 189 yards and one touchdown. Javonte Williams contributed significantly on the ground with 19 carries for 62 yards and three touchdowns. Dak Prescott completed 32 of 45 passes for 335 yards and one touchdown.
Statistical Summary
For the Texans, C.J. Stroud completed 21 of 31 passes for 347 yards and two touchdowns. Nico Collins had seven receptions for 118 yards and two touchdowns, while David Montgomery rushed for 24 yards on 10 carries. The Cowboys' defense limited the Texans' total points to 30, but the offense's late surge proved decisive. The final score of 34-30 reflects a competitive matchup where the Cowboys' ability to execute in the final drive determined the outcome. The attendance at Reliant Stadium was 71,227. The Texans fall to 0-4, while the Cowboys move to 2-2.
Sources
ESPN
