Joe Mixon ran for 3 touchdowns to increase his TD streak to 6 video games since getting back from damage, Derek Barnett returned a fumble 28 yards for a rating, and the Texans beat the Cowboys 34-10 on Monday evening.
The Texans (7-4) stopped simply the second two-game dropping streak of CJ Stroud’s younger profession whereas sustaining a two-game lead within the AFC South.
Houston pulled away within the second-half per week after a 26-23 last-play loss to Detroit at house, when the Texans let a 23-7 half-time lead get away from them.
“It’s not as dangerous because it ever appears, and it’s by no means pretty much as good because it ever appears,” Stroud stated. “These sort of video games, you must come out with a win, particularly going up like that on the half [against the Lions]. However what are we going to do about it?”
Amid a woeful season for the Cowboys (3-7) on the sector, particles fell from their stadium’s retractable roof because it was opening just a few hours earlier than the sport. There was no delay and no accidents have been reported, simply one other mishap to foreshadow a fifth consecutive defeat for a workforce that misplaced 5 video games complete in every of the previous three seasons.
Cooper Rush threw a 64-yard landing go to KaVontae Turpin however misplaced his second begin since Dak Prescott’s season-ending hamstring damage.
The Dallas dropping streak is their longest since a seven-game skid in 2015, and the Cowboys dropped to 0-5 at house. Dallas are the primary workforce in NFL historical past to path by not less than 20 factors in six consecutive house video games, together with final season’s wildcard playoff loss to Inexperienced Bay, in accordance with Sportradar. The Cowboys had reached the playoffs in every of their earlier three seasons, however that run is all however over.
“Nicely, they higher be annoyed,” Dallas head coach Mike McCarthy stated. “I imply, we’re all annoyed. I believe there’d be one thing unsuitable in the event that they weren’t annoyed. So simply very sincere with all the things and keep in tune with what’s proper in entrance of us. And that’s the one manner I’ve ever accomplished it.”
The Cowboys have been down 20-10 early within the fourth quarter when Barnett knocked the ball out of Rush’s hand. Dallas rookie left sort out Tyler Guyton caught it and was attempting to run when Jalen Pitre knocked the ball unfastened once more. Barnett scooped up the ball and scored, though he nearly stepped out of bounds.
“The play he made actually modified for recreation for us,” Texans coach DeMeco Ryans stated. “It flipped the momentum. It acquired everyone juiced up on the sideline. It was simply an enormous play.”
Earlier, the Cowboys appeared to have pulled inside a landing on a 64-yard discipline purpose from Brandon Aubrey, however Barnett was penalized for slapping Terence Steele on the push. Dallas erased the factors by taking the penalty, however Rush’s fourth-down go from the Houston eight-yard line was incomplete on the one good scoring probability of the second half for the the Cowboys.
“The protection performed with elite power,” Ryans stated. “One large play that we gave up. Prefer to have that one again, however general I believe our guys performed rather well.”
Texans receiver Nico Collins returned after lacking 5 video games with a hamstring damage and took a display go 77 yards to the top zone on the primary play of the sport, solely to have it referred to as again due to an ineligible receiver downfield.
That possession ended with a landing anyway on Mixon’s 45-yard dash up the center, and he ran vast for a one-yard rating and a 14-0 lead. Mixon had 109 yards speeding on the day and arrange a discipline purpose with a 37-yard catch-and-run on a display.
“I actually love that first play as a result of it confirmed what we may do on this recreation,” Ryans stated. “Although it acquired referred to as again, I simply advised all our guys, ‘We are able to go rating on these guys once more. Simply get it in your thoughts we’re going to attain once more.’”
Already with out Prescott, the Cowboys misplaced tight finish Jake Ferguson to a concussion and perennial All-Professional proper guard Zack Martin and left guard Tyler Smith to ankle accidents. Rush was sacked 5 instances, three on the identical possession when Martin and Smith have been injured.
Stroud, who has been in a mini-slump, threw for 257 yards whereas avoiding any errors after an early interception on fourth down. It was the third time in 5 video games he has gone with out a landing go, and he has two TDs and three picks in that stretch.
Rush was 32 of 55 for 354 yards with a landing and an interception. Turpin had three catches for 86 yards.
