If you turned off the TV at halftime during the Texans vs Cowboys 2024 matchup, you probably thought we were in for a classic "Texas Shootout" finish. The scoreboard read 17-10. It felt close. It felt like the Dallas Cowboys, despite their mounting list of disasters, might actually defend home turf for the first time all season.
They didn't.
What followed in the second half wasn't just a loss; it was a total systemic collapse that basically summed up the entire 2024 NFL season for both franchises. On one side, you had a Houston team proving they could win ugly when they needed to. On the other, a Dallas team that looked like it had forgotten how to do the basics.
The Joe Mixon Show (And Why Dallas Couldn't Stop Him)
Let's be real: Joe Mixon was the best player on that field. He didn't just run the ball; he punished people. By the time the clock hit zero, Mixon had racked up 109 rushing yards and three touchdowns.
People love to talk about C.J. Stroud—and for good reason—but this game wasn't about the "air raid" stuff. It was about Mixon hitting the hole and finding the pylon. His 45-yard sprint in the first quarter set a tone that Dallas never recovered from. Honestly, the Cowboys' run defense looked like it was playing on ice.
Houston came in with a clear plan:
- Feed Mixon early.
- Test the edges.
- Let the defense finish the job.
It worked. Mixon has now scored in six straight games since returning from that ankle injury earlier in the year. If you're a fantasy manager or just a Texans fan, you've gotta love the consistency. He’s the engine of that offense right now.
The Weirdest Touchdown You'll Ever See
If there was one moment that perfectly captured the Texans vs Cowboys 2024 game, it was the fourth-quarter fumble return by Derek Barnett.
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It was bizarre.
Barnett strip-sacked Cooper Rush. The ball popped loose. Then, in a moment of pure chaos, Cowboys rookie left tackle Tyler Guyton actually caught the fumble. For a split second, the big man tried to run with it. You could see the "fat guy touchdown" dream in his eyes.
But then Jalen Pitre absolutely leveled him. The ball flew out again. Barnett, the guy who started the whole mess, scooped it up and rumbled 28 yards for the score.
That play turned a 10-point lead into a 17-point lead. It sucked the remaining air out of AT&T Stadium. You could almost hear the collective sigh from the Dallas faithful. It wasn't just a turnover; it was a comedy of errors that highlighted the lack of execution that has haunted the Cowboys all year.
Cooper Rush vs. The Texans' Pass Rush
Cooper Rush threw for 354 yards. On paper, that looks like a monster game. If you didn't watch it, you'd think he shredded the Houston secondary.
But yardage is a liar sometimes.
Most of those yards came while Dallas was trailing big. He was forced to throw 55 times because the Cowboys' running game was nonexistent. Rico Dowdle averaged a measly 2.8 yards per carry. When you can't run the ball, you become predictable. And when you're predictable against DeMeco Ryans’ defense, you're going to get hit.
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Rush was sacked five times. Danielle Hunter had two of those. The Texans' defense didn't just bend; they broke the Dallas offensive line, especially after Zack Martin and Tyler Smith went down with ankle injuries. It was a brutal night for the Dallas front five.
A Quick Look at the Numbers
- Final Score: Texans 34, Cowboys 10
- Joe Mixon: 20 carries, 109 yards, 3 TDs
- C.J. Stroud: 23/34, 257 yards, 1 INT (no TDs)
- Cooper Rush: 32/55, 354 yards, 1 TD, 1 INT
- Sacks: Texans (5), Cowboys (1)
What Most People Get Wrong About C.J. Stroud’s Performance
There's a narrative floating around that Stroud is in a "slump."
He didn't throw a touchdown pass in this game. That makes three out of his last five games without a score through the air. But if you look at how he handled the pocket, he was efficient. He completed nearly 68% of his passes. He didn't turn the ball over after an early fourth-down interception.
He didn't have to be a hero because Mixon was a locomotive. Expert-level quarterbacking isn't always about the stat sheet; sometimes it's about realizing the run game is working and just keeping the chains moving. Stroud did exactly that. He navigated a leaky offensive line that has allowed way too much pressure this year and did enough to win comfortably.
The "Roof" Incident and Other Dallas Disasters
We have to talk about the roof. Before the game even started, a piece of the AT&T Stadium roof fell onto the field while they were trying to open it.
Thankfully, nobody was hurt. But man, talk about a metaphor for the Cowboys' season. Everything that could go wrong, did.
Then you had the Brandon Aubrey situation. The guy is a weapon. He hit a 64-yard field goal that got wiped off the board because of a penalty. Head coach Mike McCarthy decided to take the points off and go for it on 4th-and-2 from the 8-yard line.
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They failed.
Giving up three points for zero points in a game where your offense is struggling? That’s a tough pill to swallow. It felt like Dallas was desperate to find a spark, but they ended up just dousing the fire they had.
Why This Win Matters for Houston
This wasn't just about beating a rival from up the road. The Texans (7-4) needed this to stop a two-game skid. It kept them two games clear of the Colts in the AFC South.
They showed they can win on the road in a hostile environment (though, honestly, there were a lot of "Battle Red" jerseys in the stands). They proved that even without Stefon Diggs, they have enough weapons—especially with Nico Collins back in the lineup—to keep defenses honest. Collins had a 77-yard touchdown called back on the first play of the game, but his presence clearly changed how Dallas had to defend the deep ball.
Actionable Insights for the Rest of the Season
If you're following these teams for the stretch run, here is what you need to keep an eye on:
- For the Texans: Monitor the offensive line's health. Stroud is still getting pressured too much. If they want to make a deep playoff run, they have to protect him better against elite pass rushes.
- For the Cowboys: The season is basically in "evaluation mode." With Dak Prescott out and the home record at 0-5, they need to see which young players are worth keeping for the 2025 rebuild.
- Fantasy Football: Joe Mixon is a "set it and forget it" RB1. Don't overthink it. Even in tough matchups, Houston’s commitment to the run makes him invaluable.
- Defense Wins: The Texans' defense is legit. If they can stay healthy, they are a nightmare for any backup QB or struggling offensive line in the league.
The Texans vs Cowboys 2024 game was a reality check. It confirmed that Houston is the new king of Texas football, at least for now. Dallas has some soul-searching to do, while Houston looks like a team that’s finally starting to find its identity again just in time for the December push.
To get the most out of following these teams, watch the Texans' upcoming matchup against the Titans to see if they can maintain this rushing dominance. For the Cowboys, keep a close watch on the offensive line rotations in their next game to see how they manage the injuries to Martin and Smith.