The Cowboys defeated the Texans 34-30 in the regular-season of the NFL on 2026-10-04. The away side took the victory in what proved to be a closely contested affair between two teams with contrasting recent form. It was a result that extended the Cowboys' momentum while adding another defeat to the Texans' growing list.
The Texans have not tasted victory in their last four matches, losing all of them. Their record since August includes defeats to the Panthers, Bills, Bengals and Colts, with scores ranging from a narrow 17-19 to a heavy 6-20. The loss on Sunday does little to alter that pattern, and the gap between them and any semblance of consistency remains wide.
The Cowboys, by contrast, have shown flashes of competitiveness. They suffered a narrow 31-34 loss to the Ravens one week ago, but before that managed a convincing 37-20 win over the Commanders. Their other outings have been less impressive, including two losses to the Giants and a defeat to the Saints. This result suggests they can still compete at this level.
The four-point margin tells you little about how the game unfolded, but the scoreline itself indicates both sides had opportunities to take control. The Texans were never far behind, and the Cowboys had to hold on for the full duration. It was not a match decided by dominance so much as execution when it mattered.
For the Cowboys, this is a win worth taking. They are still finding their rhythm, but beating a fellow struggling side provides a foundation to build on. The Texans, meanwhile, face the same questions they have asked themselves all season. The score says they lost, but the pattern says they have a long way to go.
