Joe Mixon had a fantastic game, scoring three touchdowns and rushing for 109 yards, as the Houston Texans snapped their two-game losing streak with a big 34-10 win over the Dallas Cowboys on Monday night in Arlington, Texas. The Texans are now 7-4, staying on top of the AFC South. This victory was much-needed after last week’s heartbreaking loss to the Detroit Lions, where they blew a big lead despite five interceptions against quarterback Jared Goff.
Playing a Full Game
Texans quarterback C.J. Stroud said the team didn’t try anything fancy this time—they just played hard for the entire game. “We didn’t change our philosophy. We just learned from our mistakes. Now, we’re focused on playing good football as we move toward the playoffs,” Stroud shared.
Houston’s offense started strong with two touchdowns in the first quarter but slowed down until Mixon added his third touchdown late in the fourth. The real stars, though, were the Texans’ defense, led by Jalen Pitre with nine tackles and Derek Stingley Jr., who snagged an interception and almost grabbed a couple more.
Cowboys Struggle Without Dak Prescott
The Cowboys, playing without injured quarterback Dak Prescott, struggled to find their rhythm. Backup QB Cooper Rush threw for 354 yards and a touchdown but also had an interception and fumbled a snap. The Cowboys couldn’t capitalize on their chances, even after a penalty on Houston gave them a fresh set of downs during a key third-quarter drive.
Houston’s defense stayed strong, and a game-changing moment came in the fourth quarter. Derek Barnett forced a fumble, recovered it, and ran it into the end zone for the Texans’ first defensive touchdown of the season. That play sealed the deal, putting Houston ahead 27-10 and energizing the whole team.
Texans head coach DeMeco Ryans praised Barnett’s play, saying, “It flipped the momentum. It was huge for us.”
A Tough Night for the Cowboys
Dallas couldn’t catch a break, losing key players like Zack Martin and Tyler Smith to injuries during the game. Tight end Jake Ferguson suffered a concussion, and safety Markquese Bell hurt his shoulder. To make things worse, the Cowboys are now on a five-game losing streak, their longest since 2015.
Coach Mike McCarthy admitted, “We’re not playing well enough to overcome our mistakes. It’s frustrating for everyone.”
With a 3-7 record, the Cowboys are third in the NFC East and falling further out of playoff contention. They’ll face the Washington Commanders next Sunday, hoping to turn things around.
Metal Roof Incident at AT&T Stadium
Before the game, a piece of metal fell from the ceiling at AT&T Stadium while the roof was being opened. Thankfully, no one was hurt. Officials decided to keep the roof closed during the game to ensure safety.
Photos showed a large sheet of metal being removed from the field, and another loose piece in the rafters was secured before kickoff. The incident is under review, and the team will decide later whether it’s safe to open the roof again.
Both teams will now look ahead, with the Texans facing the Tennessee Titans in their next game. Stay tuned for what’s next in this unpredictable NFL season!
